DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50021#0059
V. Description of Tombs.
41
As all these vaults are longer than they are broad, the sides meet over the middle line
of the vault and the ends do not meet.
The angle at which the sides meet varies with the height to which the walls are carried
after they have approached to within a brick’s length of each other.
No case was found where the projecting corners of the bricks were chipped off to pro-
duce a curved surface inside the vault. On the contrary, a smooth surface was obtained by
plastering.
Where doorways were necessary, the vault was supported over these by wooden logs
or saplings.
As the surface was denuded and broken in the neighbourhood of all the vaulted tombs,
traces of superstructure were preserved in only one case (1514). In this case we find a central
mass covering the pit, consisting of a outside wall filled with gravel and rubbish. The walls
have only a slight batter and are broken by alternating simple and compound niches on the
south, west and north (?) sides. Around the whole, runs a low enclosure wall marking off
the sacred place of offerings. The surfaces of all these walls are plastered white; the niches
are in addition painted red.
It is probable that all the larger tombs had such superstructures. But no evidence whatever
in regard to the smaller vaults has been preserved.
It is to be noted that in the one case of superstructure preserved, the superstructure
crosses the stairway leading into the tomb and was therefore built after the burial had been
made and the stairway filled up.
The chronological order of the tombs of this class is apparently: 1571, 1514, 1515, 1513, 1586,
1584, 1572, 1605, 1626. N. 1572 and 1626 have the stairway on the north as a result of their being
crowded in between older tombs. The best preserved tombs are 1586 and 1584. N. 1586 is
described first therefore for convenience. The other tombs are described in order as above.
N. 1586. A rectangular pit cut in the alluvial
strata, Pl. 32, 33 and Fig. 71—75. Axis points
about 550 east of south. Occupied by a
mass of brickwork containing five groined
corbel vaults, — a main chamber with two
smaller chambers on each end, see Pl. 32,33 a
(shows holes broken into the two chambers
on the south end) and 33 d (shows groin in
south east corner of main chamber).
The facing of the corbel consists of
about three stretcher courses to one header
course. The filling consists of headers. The
inner surfaces are all heavily plastered pro-
ducing a smooth curved surface (Pl. 33 c>d).
The packing (makeweight) of the vault
over the main chamber is carried up at least
71. N. 1586, plan, I : IOO.
Early Dynastic Cemeteries I.
6
41
As all these vaults are longer than they are broad, the sides meet over the middle line
of the vault and the ends do not meet.
The angle at which the sides meet varies with the height to which the walls are carried
after they have approached to within a brick’s length of each other.
No case was found where the projecting corners of the bricks were chipped off to pro-
duce a curved surface inside the vault. On the contrary, a smooth surface was obtained by
plastering.
Where doorways were necessary, the vault was supported over these by wooden logs
or saplings.
As the surface was denuded and broken in the neighbourhood of all the vaulted tombs,
traces of superstructure were preserved in only one case (1514). In this case we find a central
mass covering the pit, consisting of a outside wall filled with gravel and rubbish. The walls
have only a slight batter and are broken by alternating simple and compound niches on the
south, west and north (?) sides. Around the whole, runs a low enclosure wall marking off
the sacred place of offerings. The surfaces of all these walls are plastered white; the niches
are in addition painted red.
It is probable that all the larger tombs had such superstructures. But no evidence whatever
in regard to the smaller vaults has been preserved.
It is to be noted that in the one case of superstructure preserved, the superstructure
crosses the stairway leading into the tomb and was therefore built after the burial had been
made and the stairway filled up.
The chronological order of the tombs of this class is apparently: 1571, 1514, 1515, 1513, 1586,
1584, 1572, 1605, 1626. N. 1572 and 1626 have the stairway on the north as a result of their being
crowded in between older tombs. The best preserved tombs are 1586 and 1584. N. 1586 is
described first therefore for convenience. The other tombs are described in order as above.
N. 1586. A rectangular pit cut in the alluvial
strata, Pl. 32, 33 and Fig. 71—75. Axis points
about 550 east of south. Occupied by a
mass of brickwork containing five groined
corbel vaults, — a main chamber with two
smaller chambers on each end, see Pl. 32,33 a
(shows holes broken into the two chambers
on the south end) and 33 d (shows groin in
south east corner of main chamber).
The facing of the corbel consists of
about three stretcher courses to one header
course. The filling consists of headers. The
inner surfaces are all heavily plastered pro-
ducing a smooth curved surface (Pl. 33 c>d).
The packing (makeweight) of the vault
over the main chamber is carried up at least
71. N. 1586, plan, I : IOO.
Early Dynastic Cemeteries I.
6