In the Hellenistic period, the clusters of necropoleis surrounding the city and aligned with the urban plan and main axes became more crowded. Funerary architecture grew more complex and varied with the construction of monumental hypogea and proper mausoleums. The funerary landscape was populated with grave markers (semata), ranging from small monuments (columns, pillars, milestones) over the pit graves to large richly decorated aediculae over the chamber tombs. Inhumation was still the prevailing burial custom, but there were numerous examples of primary incineration in pits or secondary incineration with the collection of the ashes in metallic jars of urns (made out of lead). Grave goods composed of miniature ritual vessels - unguentaria, amphoriskoi, lamps and cups - were quite standardized with the exception of a few valuable items (mainly jewels).