Tombs

A tomb is a structure intended to enclose the remains of a deceased person and to serve as a place of remembrance. Tombs can function as burial places or as commemorative monuments. The term can denote the burial chamber itself, the tomb building, or the site of interment. In many cultures, tombs reflect social status, religious beliefs, and ritual practices, and they may be sealed with inscriptions, statues, or artwork.

Tombs vary widely. Types include mausoleums above ground, chamber tombs below ground, rock-cut tombs carved into cliffs, tumuli or barrows that cover a burial chamber under mounded earth, catacombs or crypts, and ossuaries that house bone remains. Some tombs are designed to be permanent, public monuments, while others are modest burial pits. The architecture often encodes cultural symbols and myths about the afterlife.

Across civilizations, tombs have played central roles in political legitimacy and religious practice. Examples include the royal pyramid complexes of ancient Egypt; rock-cut tombs and shaft graves in the Near East; grand mausoleums such as the Taj Mahal in India; and the tomb chambers of classical Greece and Rome. In many regions, tombs also became pilgrimage or necropolis sites with elaborate inscriptions and statuary.

Modern study of tombs falls within archaeology and art history. Excavation, conservation, and ethical considerations govern exploration of tombs, which are protected as cultural heritage in many countries. Preservation challenges include weathering, vandalism, and looting, emphasizing the need for controlled access and documentation.