Necropolis << neh KROP uh lihs >> is a Greek word which means city of the dead, that is, a cemetery. Archaeologists and historians usually call the cemetery of an ancient city a necropolis.
Archaeologists have found large and well-known necropolises in Egypt, near such ancient cities as Memphis and Thebes. The tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, near Luxor, is one of hundreds of tombs in the huge necropolis there. A necropolis also surrounds the pyramids at Giza. Another necropolis, dating from the Bronze Age, is at Hallstatt, Austria. Many necropolises have also been found in America. One at Paracas, an archaeological site in Peru, dates back to the days before the Inca ruled.
Loading the player...Valley of the Kings in Egypt
Ancient peoples often buried tools, weapons, and personal belongings with the dead. Sometimes they also carved or painted religious texts, information about the dead, and scenes from everyday life. Archaeologists and historians have learned much about ancient civilizations from necropolises.
