DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7525#0153
.-).•] I.
The Prehistoric Tombs of Knossos.
ran from east to west, like the major axis of the chamber. The covering slabs
when brought to light proved to be a row of rough irregular blocks not by
any means comparable to the slabs of the better class of shaft-graves at Zafer
Papoura. This in itself was a discouraging feature, and it was considerably
heightened by the fact that at the east end, near the entrance to the chamber,
a block was wanting, and a piece of the end masonry of the cist had fallen in.
On the removal of these rough slabs the cist itself was brought to light, solidly
constructed of limestone blocks, the inside surface of which showed traces of
a stucco facing. The cell within was 2'33 metres long by 72 centimetres in
width, and proved to be 1*12 metres deep, the bottom being formed by the
soft virgin rock. The upper part was filled with a clayey stratified deposit, the
infiltration of which into the grave was due to winter rains. This deposit con-
tained no remains, but at the east end of the grave, where a covering slab was
missing, fragments of painted pottery belonging to the group of finds on the floor
of the chamber had found their way. Beneath the clay deposit there came to
light two fallen blocks, a clear sign of former disturbance, and the whole grave
proved to be filled with mere debris. Near the bottom, however, some small
vestige of its former contents was discovered, in the shape of fifteen lapis lazuli
beads like those found above the fore-hall, and another ape pendant of the same
material. Part of a human leg bone was also brought out.
The fact that the niches of the fore-hall and principal chamber had been
re-used for interment in very late Minoan times makes it probable that the cist
itself may also have been used for a secondary interment during this period. This
would account for the rough covering slabs, answering to sepulchral usage, but
evidently not belonging to the orginal grave, that had been placed over it. No
doubt the Royal Tomb itself had already been long since plundered.
Next came the still later plunderers, who left their traces in the discarded
relics found in the upper layer of the fore-hall. These intruders evidently
removed the covering slab at the east end of the cist and a block of the actual
masonry, and would have begun their operations by throwing out the secondary
interment. Grubbing down below this they seem to have found a few objects
belonging to the original burial which earlier plunderers had left, including the
bowls of porphyry and alabaster. From the way in which the porphyry boAvl was
smashed up, it does not seem that those who extracted these objects, at the
cost of much labour and probable risk, were gratified with the results of their
undertaking.
That the silver goblets of which the remains were found near the edge of
The Prehistoric Tombs of Knossos.
ran from east to west, like the major axis of the chamber. The covering slabs
when brought to light proved to be a row of rough irregular blocks not by
any means comparable to the slabs of the better class of shaft-graves at Zafer
Papoura. This in itself was a discouraging feature, and it was considerably
heightened by the fact that at the east end, near the entrance to the chamber,
a block was wanting, and a piece of the end masonry of the cist had fallen in.
On the removal of these rough slabs the cist itself was brought to light, solidly
constructed of limestone blocks, the inside surface of which showed traces of
a stucco facing. The cell within was 2'33 metres long by 72 centimetres in
width, and proved to be 1*12 metres deep, the bottom being formed by the
soft virgin rock. The upper part was filled with a clayey stratified deposit, the
infiltration of which into the grave was due to winter rains. This deposit con-
tained no remains, but at the east end of the grave, where a covering slab was
missing, fragments of painted pottery belonging to the group of finds on the floor
of the chamber had found their way. Beneath the clay deposit there came to
light two fallen blocks, a clear sign of former disturbance, and the whole grave
proved to be filled with mere debris. Near the bottom, however, some small
vestige of its former contents was discovered, in the shape of fifteen lapis lazuli
beads like those found above the fore-hall, and another ape pendant of the same
material. Part of a human leg bone was also brought out.
The fact that the niches of the fore-hall and principal chamber had been
re-used for interment in very late Minoan times makes it probable that the cist
itself may also have been used for a secondary interment during this period. This
would account for the rough covering slabs, answering to sepulchral usage, but
evidently not belonging to the orginal grave, that had been placed over it. No
doubt the Royal Tomb itself had already been long since plundered.
Next came the still later plunderers, who left their traces in the discarded
relics found in the upper layer of the fore-hall. These intruders evidently
removed the covering slab at the east end of the cist and a block of the actual
masonry, and would have begun their operations by throwing out the secondary
interment. Grubbing down below this they seem to have found a few objects
belonging to the original burial which earlier plunderers had left, including the
bowls of porphyry and alabaster. From the way in which the porphyry boAvl was
smashed up, it does not seem that those who extracted these objects, at the
cost of much labour and probable risk, were gratified with the results of their
undertaking.
That the silver goblets of which the remains were found near the edge of