loculi

Loculi refer to the wall niches in catacombs, used since antiquity for burying the deceased.

Loculi are small niches carved into the walls of catacombs that were used to place the bodies of the deceased, often sealed with a stone slab or other materials. This practice was common in the Roman Empire, especially in Rome and cities with large Christian or Jewish populations. Loculi optimized space in underground catacombs, allowing multiple rows of burials to be stacked vertically. The dimensions of loculi could vary but were generally large enough to accommodate an adult.