Cist
Cist, prehistoric European coffin containing a body or ashes, usually made of stone or a hollowed-out tree; also, a storage place for sacred objects. βCistβ has also been used in a more general sense to refer to the stone burial place itself, usually built in the form of a dolmen, with several upright stone slabs supporting a flat roofing stone.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Cist
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
06 November 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026