Burial Timeline

Burial of the dead in Egypt.

Earliest Egyptian mastabas dug at Saqqara.

Evidence of burial in Sumer.

Dead buried with grave goods at Banpo Village, China.

First megalithic tombs in Europe.

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery begins in Sligo, Ireland.

Early Harappan Civilization of India practices burial of the dead.

Newgrange Burial Mound constructed in Ireland.

Stone tombs on Crete.

First rock-cut burial chambers at Akrotiri.

Tomb of the Eagles created in Scotland.

Maeshowe Passage Grave completed in Scotland.

Later Harappan Civilization turns to cremation over burial.

Mayan Culture buries their dead individually under homes.

The Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).

First shaft graves constructed at Mycenae.

First palace structure and Treasury of Atreus tomb built at Mycenae.

First tholos tombs built at Mycenae.

Greeks implement use of individual tombs and graves.

Tomb of Mayan King K'utz Chman of Retalhuleu constructed in Guatemala.

Rich Scythian burials.