Tomb is any structure below or above ground built primarily to hold the dead. People began the practice of burying the dead at least 60,000 years ago. However, it is often difficult to identify the earliest tombs. Many archaeologists agree that one of the earliest known is the 16,000-year-old tomb at Saint-Germain-la-Rivière, near Bordeaux, France. At this site, four stone blocks support two slabs, covering the burial of a woman.
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Throughout history, people have built many different kinds of tombs. Beginning more than 5,000 years ago, people in Western Europe built megalithic tombs. These huge structures are made of large stones weighing several tons. They usually held multiple bodies, either buried or cremated. Other tombs hold a single person.
Large tombs sometimes signify the importance of the dead. The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, the world’s most famous tombs, for their kings. Elaborate tombs often include lavish grave goods (items buried with a body). The goods show the wealth and power of the dead. For example, the Moche rulers whose graves were found at Sipán, Peru, near Chiclayo, were buried with large amounts of gold, silver, and precious objects.
Many tombs have become famous. The Taj Mahal in India, for example, attracts millions of visitors every year. The ruler Shah Jahan built this spectacular tomb for his wife. Other tombs have become important historical landmarks, such as the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and the tomb of George and Martha Washington at Mount Vernon.
