DOI article:
M. Johnson, J. de: Egypt Exploration Fund: the greco-roman branch; excavations at Atfieh
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12421#0023
The Graeco-Eoman Branch.
11
number of bodies it contained. Occasionally there occurred two
descending steps in the end wall, but in the narrower shafts niched
steps in the side wall were more usual. The mouth of the chamber was
in most cases sealed with a wall of mud brick. There was no attempt at
orientation, but the head of the body almost invariably lay to the mouth
of the chamber.
Unfortunately the bodies in the shaft type were no better resined than
their fellows in cemetery A. Added to this were the facts that the depth
of the shaft often reached a slightly damp level, and that the roof of the
chamber, owing to the crumbling nature of the gravel, had always
fallen in.
The nature and technique of the cartonnage differed widely from that
described above. The materials were papyrus alone (usually Greek
writing), or cloth alone, the latter of a noticeably thicker texture, and
very rarely a combination of the two. The workmanship was on the
whole cruder: gilded faces with blue eyes and eyebrows surrounded by
conventional designs in red, white, and blue, usually red and blue on
a white ground (Figs. 11 and 12). The constant occurrence of Anubis,
carrying flail and crook, on the flap of the mask, was very noticeable
(Fig. 12). The design of the breast-piece was often only a succession of
spots in the three colours. On the forehead occurred wooden beads
gilded.
The elaborate nature of some of the tombs seemed to point away from
the possibility that these were the poorer burials. Many of this type
were finely cut and finished; and one in especial was noticeable, a shaft
opening into a tunnel, the tunnel opening into a second shaft which
finally ended in twin chambers.
The second main type of this cemetery was a wide and very long stair-
case shaft opening into a brick-sealed chamber containing extraordinarily
massive stone coffins. A typical section was:—
~% ~3 nxttrcL
11
number of bodies it contained. Occasionally there occurred two
descending steps in the end wall, but in the narrower shafts niched
steps in the side wall were more usual. The mouth of the chamber was
in most cases sealed with a wall of mud brick. There was no attempt at
orientation, but the head of the body almost invariably lay to the mouth
of the chamber.
Unfortunately the bodies in the shaft type were no better resined than
their fellows in cemetery A. Added to this were the facts that the depth
of the shaft often reached a slightly damp level, and that the roof of the
chamber, owing to the crumbling nature of the gravel, had always
fallen in.
The nature and technique of the cartonnage differed widely from that
described above. The materials were papyrus alone (usually Greek
writing), or cloth alone, the latter of a noticeably thicker texture, and
very rarely a combination of the two. The workmanship was on the
whole cruder: gilded faces with blue eyes and eyebrows surrounded by
conventional designs in red, white, and blue, usually red and blue on
a white ground (Figs. 11 and 12). The constant occurrence of Anubis,
carrying flail and crook, on the flap of the mask, was very noticeable
(Fig. 12). The design of the breast-piece was often only a succession of
spots in the three colours. On the forehead occurred wooden beads
gilded.
The elaborate nature of some of the tombs seemed to point away from
the possibility that these were the poorer burials. Many of this type
were finely cut and finished; and one in especial was noticeable, a shaft
opening into a tunnel, the tunnel opening into a second shaft which
finally ended in twin chambers.
The second main type of this cemetery was a wide and very long stair-
case shaft opening into a brick-sealed chamber containing extraordinarily
massive stone coffins. A typical section was:—
~% ~3 nxttrcL