A tomb is an enclosed space for the repository of the remains of the dead. Traditionally tombs have been located in caves, underground, or in structures designed specifically for the purpose of containing the remains of deceased human beings and, often, their possessions, loved ones, amulets, or sacred items to either protect or direct the soul.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 6000 BCEBurial of the dead in Egypt.
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c. 6000 BCEEarliest Egyptian mastabas dug at Saqqara.
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c. 5000 BCEDead buried with grave goods at Banpo Village, China.
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4300 BCEFirst megalithic tombs in Europe.
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c. 4000 BCECarrowmore Megalithic Cemetery begins in Sligo, Ireland.
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c. 3300 BCEEarly Harappan Civilization of India practices burial of the dead.
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3300 BCENewgrange Burial Mound constructed in Ireland.
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3000 BCEStone tombs on Crete.
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3000 BCETomb of the Eagles created in Scotland.
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c. 3000 BCE - c. 2800 BCEMaeshowe Passage Grave completed in Scotland.
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3000 BCE - 2000 BCEFirst rock-cut burial chambers at Akrotiri.
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c. 2600 BCEMayan Culture buries their dead individually under homes.
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c. 2600 BCE - c. 2000 BCEThe Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.
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c. 2560 BCEThe Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).
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c. 2500 BCE - c. 2000 BCEThe Balnuaran of Clava (Clava Cairns) is built.
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c. 1700 BCE - c. 1600 BCEFirst shaft graves constructed at Mycenae.
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c. 1500 BCEFirst tholos tombs built at Mycenae.
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1250 BCE - 1200 BCEMycenaean chamber tombs constructed at Thebes.
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c. 1100 BCEGreeks implement use of individual tombs and graves.
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c. 700 BCETomb of Mayan King K'utz Chman of Retalhuleu constructed in Guatemala.
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c. 680 BCE - c. 660 BCEThe Etruscan Regolini-Galassi Tomb is constructed at Cerveteri.
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530 BCE - 520 BCEThe Etruscan Tomb of the Lionesses is constructed at Tarquinia.
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210 BCEFirst Emperor of China Shi Huangdi dies, buried with army of 8,000 terracotta warriors in palace tomb.
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206 BCEThe Emperor Shi Huangti is buried with a terracotta army of more than 8,000 soldiers in a palace tomb.
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c. 750 CE - 800 CEThe subterranean llama-shaped royal tomb is constructed at the Wari city of Pikllacta.
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770 CELast recorded use of Clava Cairns site in antiquity.