Necropolises—known as cities dead—dot the globe, from ancient burial grounds to modern megacemeteries. Their layouts, rituals, and buried treasures reveal the hopes, fears, and customs of the living.
Cities Dead: Why They Captivate Us
These silent settlements tell stories that span millennia, showing how societies honored the dead, defended their treasures, and sometimes turned cemeteries into strategic strongholds.
10 Us-Salaam
Wadi‑Us‑Salaam, meaning “Valley of Peace,” sprawls across more than 8 square kilometres and cradles roughly five million graves—making it the world’s largest cemetery. Nestled beside the city of Najaf in Iraq, the necropolis dwarfs its host city, which itself houses about 600,000 residents and ranks as the third‑most sacred city for Shiite Muslims after Mecca and Medina.
Shia tradition holds that every faithful soul should ultimately rest in Wadi‑Us‑Salaam, regardless of where they were first interred. For over 1,500 years, families have layered burials in hopes of proximity to Ali, the first cousin and son‑in‑law of the Prophet Muhammad.
The site continues to expand, and its modern history took a grim twist in 2003 when Iraqi militia used the labyrinth of mausoleums and crypts as cover for hit‑and‑run attacks, unintentionally enlarging the graveyard by about 40 percent.
9 The Scavi
Five stories beneath St. Peter’s Basilica lies the Vatican Necropolis, known as “the Scavi.” This underground city of the dead was built around the bones of St. Peter, martyred under Nero. The complex spans three levels, dating from 27 BC to AD 476, and contains a mix of first‑century pagan graves and fifth‑century Christian tombs.
The streets of the Scavi mirror ancient Roman avenues, only the storefronts are replaced by tombs. In 1965, archaeologists uncovered a Greek inscription reading “Peter is here,” suggesting they had found the saint’s tomb directly beneath the basilica’s altar and dome. Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit the tomb in 2013.
8 Silwan Necropolis
Perched on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, Silwan Necropolis holds the title of the world’s oldest continuously used cemetery, with a legacy of three millennia. Its 150,000 graves have become a spiritual mirror of Jerusalem itself.
Jewish tradition prophesies that the Messiah will return from the Mount of Olives, and those resting there will be the first saved. Though the necropolis lies largely in Arab East Jerusalem, it remains a cornerstone of Jewish identity.
During periods of conflict, Silwan expands, and modern technology is now being employed to map every single grave, revealing the depth of its historical layers.
7 Monterozzi
Monterozzi, an Etruscan necropolis east of Tarquinia, Italy, contains about 6,000 rock‑cut graves that replicate an entire Etruscan town. The burial chambers mimic the interiors of contemporary homes, offering a rare glimpse into pre‑Roman urban life.
The site is famed for its 200 painted tombs, some dating back to the seventh century BC, which scholars call the first chapter of great Italian painting. These vivid frescoes not only depict everyday scenes but also attracted ancient Greek painters seeking lucrative commissions, helping us infer the lost styles of Hellenistic art.
6 Kiev Pechersk Lavra
Founded in 1051, Kiev’s Pechersk Lavra Monastery crowns a hill beside the Dnieper River and rests atop a sprawling cave system used as a burial site for over 700 years. The caves house the remains of St. Anthony of the Caves, the monastery’s founder, alongside other monks, ascetics, and saints.
The unique micro‑climate and soil mummify bodies, leaving them on display for visitors. Legends once claimed the catacombs stretched from Moscow to Novgorod—an exaggeration, but the true depth remains a mystery.
Among the subterranean wonders is a museum of microminiatures, where viewers must peer through microscopes to appreciate Mykola Syadristy’s masterpieces, including a hair‑sized rose and the world’s smallest book.
5 Solnitsata Necropolis
North of Provadia, Bulgaria, archaeologists uncovered the Solnitsata necropolis, the oldest known town in Europe, dating to around 4300 BC—well before the rise of Greek civilization. The settlement, home to roughly 300 people, was fortified by a thick wall, suggesting the community guarded valuable resources.
Salt was the town’s lifeblood, serving as both a commodity and a form of currency. The most striking find is a 24‑karat gold pendant that predates the necropolis by 200–300 years, potentially the oldest processed gold in Europe.
Further analysis revealed that Solnitsata’s inhabitants drank cow’s milk long before any other known society, highlighting their advanced agricultural practices.
4 Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
Discovered by a stonemason in 1902, the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta is the world’s only known prehistoric underground temple, dating from 4000 to 2500 BC. Carved in three superimposed layers, the necropolis was excavated using stone tools and antlers.
Beyond its 7,000 human remains, the site yielded beads, pottery, amulets, and sculptures that illuminate Neolithic Maltese life. Remarkably, it also preserves the island’s only Neolithic rock art—red spirals and figures that would have faded away above ground.
Burials were staged: bodies first decomposed in open chambers, then were moved to side rooms and covered with red ochre. Communal interments stacked bones atop one another, creating a layered tapestry of the dead.
3 Necropolis Of Wari Kayan
Between 1925 and 1929, explorers ventured to Peru’s central Andes and uncovered the Wari Kayan necropolis, built by the Paracas culture. The site, dating back roughly 2,000 years, contained 429 naturally mummified bodies bundled in “fardos.”
The arid Andean climate preserved hair, teeth, and flesh, allowing scientists to determine the diet of these individuals—a mix of seafood and terrestrial crops.
Perhaps the most dazzling discoveries are the embroidered textiles, some requiring 50,000 hours to complete. These masterpieces now reside in museums worldwide, offering a vivid glimpse into the spiritual world of the Paracas people.
2 Ordek’s Necropolis
On the fringes of China’s Taklamakan Desert, Ordek’s Necropolis emerged in 1934, spanning from 2000 BC to AD 300. Roughly 300 mummies were interred in upside‑down boats covered with cowhide, a burial method that, combined with the desert’s salty soil, preserved the bodies remarkably well.
DNA analysis revealed a surprising mix of Eurasian and Siberian ancestry, and the mummies’ light hair and tall stature set them apart from typical Asian populations.
Plaid textiles suggest the use of looms—common in Europe at the time but unknown in China—supporting the theory that this site marks the eastern edge of Indo‑European speakers. The necropolis also yielded the earliest known cheese, found clumped around the mummies’ faces and necks.
1 Orthi Petra
Located 30 km from Rethymnon on Crete, Orthi Petra offers a direct portal into the Homeric world. The necropolis, part of a site inhabited from 3000 BC to the Byzantine era, contains burial chambers that echo verses from The Iliad, including an 800 BC funeral pyre.
Among its highlights is a cenotaph memorial—considered the first tomb of the Unknown Soldier in history—dated to 670 BC.
Excavations uncovered the burial of four related women: a 72‑year‑old priestess and three younger protégés. All were adorned with rich ornaments, reflecting Crete’s prosperous trade with Egypt, Greece, and the Near East, and underscoring the island’s unique gender dynamics.
Further Reading
Morbid topics are a mainstay of our archives, so here are a selection of some of the best from our collections. Memento Mori!
- 10 Incredible Images of Death
- 10 More Incredible Images Of Death
- 10 Disturbing Mass Graves Discovered Recently
- 10 Fascinating Graveyards You Must See
- 10 Horrifying Premature Burials
- Top 10 Creepiest Graves
Abraham Rinquist is the Executive Director of the Winooski, Vermont, Branch of the Helen Hartness Flanders Folklore Society. He co‑authored Codex Exotica and Song‑Catcher: The Adventures of Blackwater Jukebox.