Stele

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In ancient Western societies, a monument stood tall - a stone or wooden slab erected as a lasting tribute, often for the deceased or to commemorate significant events. These monuments, known as stelae, could be used to post official notices in ancient Greece and Rome, or to mark boundaries and claim ownership of land. The surface of these slabs frequently featured intricate designs, inscriptions, and carvings, which added to their visual appeal. While modern gravestones may share similarities with ancient stelae, the term is rarely used to describe them. In non-Western cultures, similar structures may be referred to by different names, but in archaeological contexts, the terms "stele" and "stelae" are primarily applied to artifacts from Europe, the Middle East, Egypt, China, and occasionally pre-Columbian America.