The tombs of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptians believed that dead people may need the same things they used during their life. Maybe it is connected with the fact that Ancient Egyptians believed that the body of the person consists of the body and the soul so the continuation of life after death must be connected somehow with the body. That meant the body had to be prepared well for resurrection and all things that would need should be also prepared. The tradition of mummification and putting different necessary things to the tomb were based on such belief. In such way Egyptians believed that the death doesn't finish life.
First bodies of dead people were kept by the dry climate of desert but with the lapse of time the unique technique of body conservation developed. The first tomb was built in 2700 BC and was the stepped pyramid built in Sahara. This is the most ancient stone construction built by the person. The idea of stepped pyramid is probably connected with the rising to the sun and to the sky. Pharaohs usually had the greatest and the richest tombs because they had money and power to build them and because ordinary people were ready to support and to build the great tomb for the son of the god. To make one pyramid 100 thousand workers worked during 20 years. Those who didn't have money to build it made the deposits to pay the service of priests that would watch good self-feeling of souls. The majority of poor people were mummified elementary and the majority of them were buried in holes. Pyramids usually had the pictures of other world.