What does entombment refer to?

Entombment specifically refers to the act of placing remains in a crypt, which is a burial chamber typically found within a mausoleum or vault. This process involves securing the deceased in a location above ground, often for added protection and preservation. Crypts can be designed to accommodate one or multiple individuals and provide a dignified resting place that may also be more aesthetically pleasing than traditional underground burial practices.

This definition clearly distinguishes entombment from other related practices. For instance, cremation involves the reduction of remains to ashes through high-temperature burning, which is fundamentally different from entombment. Similarly, while a type of burial does encompass entombment, it broadly refers to any interment of a body in the ground. Preparing a deceased for viewing pertains to the mortuary practices involved in embalming and presentation of the body, which again does not relate to the concept of entombment.