This was the way it was done in ancient times. The dead were left in tombs
for six months to a year during which time the flesh was eaten away. The
limestone container in which the dead reposed was called in Greek a 'sarcophagus'
that is 'flesh eater'. Afterwards the bones were gathered up and put into a
much smaller container (about the size of a bread box) called the 'ossuary' =
'bone box'. The smaller ossuaries took up less space and the sarcophagus
could be used over and over.
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