Description Secondary burial

artificial mounds , other, visible, above-ground structures have been re-used since new stone age (and in later times, later cultures) burials of bodies, bones or cremated remains (in urns). these more recent burials, of whatever form, referred archaeologists secondary burials. found in grave mounds, in areas of site @ same time extended. in larger dolmens, passage graves, stone cists, etc. re-use of interior space available closer in time original burial (e.g. globular amphora culture), if necessary accompanied removal or addition of secondary chambers (as in megalithic tombs of hagestad). mounds of megalithic tombs, covered earth, re-used following similar shape original grave mound.

secondary burial in holy land involved initial interment in tomb, example, prone on bench, until body decayed. subsequently, decayed remains relegated nearby receptacle within same tomb. later, person, typically later member of same family, placed on same bench, , process continue. practice described in article on ketef hinnom.

this practice of secondary burial should distinguished continual use of natural caves, when falls during same historical period, because did not involve artificially constructed monuments.