A tomb (‹See Tfd›Greek: τύμβοςtumbos[1]) or sepulcher (Latin: sepulcrum) is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes. Placing a corpse into a tomb can be called immurement, although this word mainly means entombing people alive, and is a method of final disposition, as an alternative to cremation or burial.
This article duplicates the scope of other articles, specifically Mausoleum. (October 2023)
Burial vault – a stone or brick-lined underground space for multiple burials, originally vaulted, often privately owned for specific family groups; usually beneath a religious building such as a
Church monument – within a church (or a tomb-style chest in a churchyard) may be a place of interment, but this is unusual; it may more commonly stand over the grave or burial vault rather than containing the actual body and therefore is not a tomb.
Kokh (tomb) – a rectangular rock-cut sloping space, running inward, like tunnels into rock, sufficiently high and wide to permit the admission of a corpse
Mausoleum (including ancient pyramid in some countries) – external free-standing structure, above ground, acting as both monument and place of interment, usually for individuals or a family group
Mazar, Marqad or Maqbara (Islamic terminology for tombs of notable religious figures or saints, or mausolea):
Megalithic tomb (including Chamber tomb) – prehistoric place of interment, often for large communities, constructed of large stones and originally covered with an earthen mound
Ohel, a structure built around the grave or graves of HasidicRebbes, prominent rabbis, Jewish community leaders, and biblical figures in Israel and the diaspora
Pillar tomb – a monumental grave. Its central feature is a single, prominent pillar or column, often made of stone.
Rock-cut tomb – a form widespread in the ancient world, in which the tomb is not built but carved out of the rock and can be a free-standing building but is more commonly a cave, which may be extensive and may or may not have an elaborate facade.
Sarcophagus – a stone container for a body or coffin, often decorated and perhaps part of a monument; it may stand within a religious building or greater tomb or mausoleum.
Samadhi – in India a tomb for a deceased saint that often has a larger building over it as a shrine
Stećak – in medieval Bosnia individual stećaks or grouped in stećak necropolises were a form of sepulchral burial culture between 12th and 16th century;
Other forms of archaeological "tombs", such as ship burials
Tumulus – (plural: tumuli) A mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgräber or kurgans', and can be found throughout much of the world. A cairn (a mound of stones built for various purposes), might also be originally a tumulus. A long barrow is a long tumulus, usually for numbers of burials.
As indicated, tombs are generally located in or under religious buildings, such as churches, or in cemeteries or churchyards. However, they may also be found in catacombs, on private land or, in the case of early or pre-historic tombs, in what is today open landscape.
Merueñas, Mark (4 November 2012). "Where emperors sleep: Japan's keyhole-shaped burial mounds". GMA News Online. Retrieved 11 January 2017. The Nintoku-ryo tumulus is one of almost 50 tumuli collectively known as "Mozu Kofungun" clustered around the city, and covers the largest area of any tomb in the world.
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