Dhamek Stupa is a huge stupa in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 13 kilometres from Varanasi. Pre-Buddhist tumuli known as chaitya, in which ascetics were buried sitting down, were the forerunners of today's stupas. After the Buddha's death, his ashes were burned and buried in eight mounds, with two more mounds encasing the urn and the flames, in order to protect them from the elements. Since the original ten stupas cannot be located, very little is known about these ancient structures. Thought to be adornments of ancient mounds, stupas like those at Sarnath and Sanchi appear to be later additions. There were numerous additional monuments constructed to commemorate the Buddha's efforts at this area around 249 BCE, including Ashoka's magnificent Mauryan king Dhamek Stupa in 500 CE. Massive stones ring the original circular stupas, which were little more than earthen mounds. Small bits of calcinated bone and other relics of the Buddha and his followers were preserved in stupas erected by King Ashoka. There is an Ashoka pillar at the spot with an edict etched on it.