tumulus

A tumulus, or burial mound, is an artificial mound of earth, sometimes faced with stones, raised over one or more graves. The structure encases a burial chamber or pit and may include a passage or shaft, with the mound formed by successive layers of earth and rubble. The surface is often finished with turf, limestone, or other material and can be circular, oval, or rectangular in plan. Burials inside tumuli may be single or multiple and often accompanied by grave goods.

Forms and distribution: Tumuli occur in many parts of the world, but are especially characteristic of Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe, where they are known as barrows or mounds, as well as in East Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Notable European examples include Ireland’s Newgrange, an enclosed passage tomb within a large mound, and England’s Silbury Hill, a large chalk mound whose interior has no known burial. In North America, mound-building cultures raised earthen platforms and graves that served ceremonial and elite functions.

Function and significance: Built for funerary, ritual, and territorial purposes, tumuli reflect social organization, status differences, and beliefs about the afterlife. They are often the focus of later reuse and disturbance by later communities.

Archaeology and study: Excavation of tumuli yields artifacts and osteological data that illuminate past lifeways, burial practices, and kinship. Many tumuli have been damaged by natural erosion, farming, and treasure-seeking, but some remain well-preserved.

See also: Barrow, Cairn, Dolmen, Mound, Earthwork.