Charnels, also known as charnel houses, are buildings or rooms used to store human bones and remains. Synonyms for this word can include ossuary, catacomb, tomb, vault, mausoleum, crypt, and sepulcher. These words all refer to places of burial and storage for the dead, with varying connotations and associations. Ossuaries, for example, are often associated with religious rites and traditions, while catacombs bring to mind underground tunnels and caves. Vaults, mausoleums, crypts, and sepulchers are often associated with monuments and tombs for the wealthy and elite. Regardless of the specific synonym used, each refers to a place of final resting for the departed.