tombthats

Tombthats are a fictional category used to describe a class of memorials whose design foregrounds dialogue between the viewer and the deceased. The term is not widely used in professional archaeology and is mainly found in speculative discussions, contemporary art criticism, and design discourse.

Design and features: Tombthats typically take the form of upright slabs, wall panels, or architectural inserts that incorporate concise inscriptions addressing the viewer in the second person. They may integrate multimedia elements such as projected light, sound, or augmented reality, to create an ongoing conversation with memory. Materials range from traditional stone to modern composites, and scales vary from intimate markers to large public installations.

Context and use: In speculative literature and art practice, tombthats explore memory, mortality, and the ethics of remembrance. They are uncommon in formal cemetery practice and are more often encountered in gallery presentations, temporary memorials, or digital simulations that simulate a memorial space.

Variants: Some discussions distinguish participatory tombthats, which invite audience actions to reveal a memory or story, from immersion tombthats that rely on VR or AR to reconstruct scenes from the past.

See also: memorial, grave marker, public art, interactive installation, memorial design.