cista

Cista is a term rooted in Latin, meaning a box or chest. In archaeology, a cista refers to a small, chest-like burial container used in Bronze Age and Iron Age Europe. The form is typically a rectangular or sometimes stone-slabs chest, made of stone or brick, with a lid stone or cover, and placed within a tomb or tumulus.

Cista tombs are usually above-ground or partially dug into rock and can occur singly or as part of a larger necropolis. They were employed to hold cremated remains or, less commonly, inhumations, often accompanied by grave goods such as pottery, ornaments, or personal implements. The arrangement and construction of cista tombs vary by region, reflecting local building traditions and funeral beliefs.

Geographically, cista-type burials are found in parts of Europe, especially in Italy (notably in Etruscan and Italic contexts) and surrounding regions, with broader Bronze Age to Early Iron Age distribution. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with “cist” in English-language archaeology, though “cista” emphasizes the chest-like form.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin cista, “box” or “chest.” In modern archaeology and museum labeling, cista describes this specific burial container and its associated grave architecture, distinguishing it from other tomb types such as trench graves or rock-cut chambers.

See also: cist tomb, necropolis, funerary archaeology.