noun, plural os·su·ar·ies. a place or receptacle for the bones of the dead.

What is an ossuary and what is its purpose?

An ossuary is a chest, box, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce.

What is the difference between a columbarium and ossuary?

A columbarium (the plural is columbaria), is a structure that houses urns holding cremated remains. ... In modern U.S. cemeteries and churches, an ossuary offers a permanent resting place for co-mingled cremated remains, often in an underground vault or chamber, with memorialization on a plaque above or nearby.