Premature burial
（重定向自Burial Alive）
![Antoine Wiertz's painting of a man buried alive](/Images/godic/202501/02/Wiertz_burial4056.jpg")
![A burial vault built c. 1890 with internal escape hatches to allow the victim of accidental premature burial to escape.](/Images/godic/202501/02/Premature_Burial_Vault4056.JPG")
![Chinese civilians being buried alive during the Nanking Massacre](/Images/godic/202501/02/Chinese_civilians_to_be_buried_alive4056.jpg")
Premature burial, also known as live burial, burial alive, or vivisepulture, means to be buried while still alive. Animals or humans may be buried alive accidentally or intentionally. The victim may accidentally be buried by others in the mistaken assumption that they are dead. Intentional burial may occur as a form of torture, murder, or execution; it may also occur with consent of the victim as a part of a stunt (with the intention to escape). Fear of being buried alive is reported to be among the most common phobias.