Ossuary

An ossuary is a small stone coffin, vase, or box used to hold the bones or burned remains of the dead. The word comes from the Latin ossuarium. An ossuary can also refer to a burial place where bones were kept.

Sarcophagus was the name given by the Greeks and Romans to a big stone coffin. The word means “body eater.” It comes from the Greek words sarx, meaning “flesh,” and phagein, meaning “to eat.” Religious beliefs may have influenced the use of this name.

In many cases, burial was not complete when the body was first placed in the ground or in a sarcophagus. Later, people removed the bones, cleaned them, and placed them in their final resting place. This was usually a small stone ossuary.

Sometimes, one ossuary held the bones of several dead people. This practice delayed the final burial until the bones could be collected. It was connected with the belief that the dead would finally be reunited with their ancestors.