Burial Timeline

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c. 6000 BCE - c. 3150 BCE

Burial rituals develop during the Predynastic Period in Egypt.
c. 6000 BCE

Burial of the dead in Egypt.
c. 6000 BCE

Earliest Egyptian mastabas dug at Saqqara.
c. 5000 BCE

Dead buried with grave goods at Banpo Village, China.
c. 5000 BCE

Evidence of burial in Sumer.
4300 BCE

First megalithic tombs in Europe.
c. 4000 BCE - c. 2300 BCE

Depictions of ships in stone (in burial settings) and metal found in Scandinavia.
c. 4000 BCE

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery begins in Sligo, Ireland.
c. 4000 BCE

Depictions of gods and afterlife on walls of Egyptian tombs.
c. 3300 BCE

Early Harappan Civilization of India practices burial of the dead.
3300 BCE

Newgrange Burial Mound constructed in Ireland.
c. 3200 BCE

Hieroglyphic script developed in Egypt.
c. 3150 BCE - c. 30 BCE

Burial rituals in Egypt are strictly observed to ensure the eternal life of the soul, including mummification, grave goods, and elaborate funerary rites.
3000 BCE - 2000 BCE

First rock-cut burial chambers at Akrotiri.
3000 BCE

Stone tombs on Crete.
3000 BCE

Tomb of the Eagles created in Scotland.
c. 3000 BCE - c. 2800 BCE

Maeshowe Passage Grave completed in Scotland.
c. 2800 BCE

Later Harappan Civilization turns to cremation over burial.
c. 2670 BCE - c. 2650 BCE

The Step Pyramid is built by Imhotep under reign of King Djoser.
c. 2613 BCE - 2181 BCE

The pyramid tombs of Giza are constructed during the Old Kingdom period of Egypt.
c. 2600 BCE - c. 2000 BCE

The Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.
c. 2600 BCE

Mayan Culture buries their dead individually under homes.
c. 2560 BCE

The Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).
c. 1700 BCE - c. 1600 BCE

First shaft graves constructed at Mycenae.
c. 1550 BCE - 1070 BCE

Composition of the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
c. 1500 BCE - c. 1400 BCE

First palace structure and Treasury of Atreus tomb built at Mycenae.
c. 1500 BCE

First tholos tombs built at Mycenae.
c. 1100 BCE

Greeks implement use of individual tombs and graves.
c. 700 BCE

Tomb of Mayan King K'utz Chman of Retalhuleu constructed in Guatemala.
500 BCE - 300 BCE

Rich Scythian burials.
c. 425 CE - c. 450 CE

Earliest Anglo-Saxon burial in Britain.

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6000 BCE 5500 BCE 5000 BCE 4500 BCE 4000 BCE 3500 BCE 3000 BCE 2500 BCE 2000 BCE 1500 BCE 1000 BCE 500 BCE 0 CE

6000 BCE - 3150 BCE: Burial rituals develop during the Predynastic Period in Egypt.

6000 BCE: Burial of the dead in Egypt.

6000 BCE: Earliest Egyptian mastabas dug at Saqqara.

5000 BCE: Dead buried with grave goods at Banpo Village, China.

5000 BCE: Evidence of burial in Sumer.

4300 BCE: First megalithic tombs in Europe.

4000 BCE - 2300 BCE: Depictions of ships in stone (in burial settings) and metal found in Scandinavia.

4000 BCE: Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery begins in Sligo, Ireland.

4000 BCE: Depictions of gods and afterlife on walls of Egyptian tombs.

3300 BCE: Early Harappan Civilization of India practices burial of the dead.

3300 BCE: Newgrange Burial Mound constructed in Ireland.

3200 BCE: Hieroglyphic script developed in Egypt.

3150 BCE - 30 BCE: Burial rituals in Egypt are strictly observed to ensure the eternal life of the soul, including mummification, grave goods, and elaborate funerary rites.

3000 BCE - 2000 BCE: First rock-cut burial chambers at Akrotiri.

3000 BCE: Stone tombs on Crete.

3000 BCE: Tomb of the Eagles created in Scotland.

3000 BCE - 2800 BCE: Maeshowe Passage Grave completed in Scotland.

2800 BCE: Later Harappan Civilization turns to cremation over burial.

2670 BCE - 2650 BCE: The Step Pyramid is built by Imhotep under reign of King Djoser.

2613 BCE - 2181 BCE: The pyramid tombs of Giza are constructed during the Old Kingdom period of Egypt.

2600 BCE - 2000 BCE: The Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.

2600 BCE: Mayan Culture buries their dead individually under homes.

2560 BCE: The Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).

1700 BCE - 1600 BCE: First shaft graves constructed at Mycenae.

1550 BCE - 1070 BCE: Composition of the Egyptian Book of the Dead.