DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50021#0090
72
VIII. Description of Tombs in cem. 3000.
4. Corbel vaults with stairway, type B. 2. b.
N. 3017. Rectangular hole cut in the gravel to the solid limestone, containing a corbel vault with
three chambers and a stairway. Axis $6° east of south. See Pl. 58, 59, 69a- b and fig. 138 and 139.
The walls of the corbel were apparently
1 brick thick below and thickened to a heavy
make-weight at about 1 m up. This was further
weighted by a packing of limestone chips, laid
in, pari passu with the courses of the vault.
And the whole space between the vault and
the surface was filled with such limestone chips
(see Pl. 59). The lower part of the vault was
rectangular. In the SE corner, a slab of lime-
stone was laid across to support the corbel above
(see Pl. 59 d) which was rounded (not groined).
The cross-walls must have been | brick
thick, but only traces of them were found.
The doorway was roofed with branches of
wood (or saplings), and blocked with brick work.
A slab of limestone formed the inside
of the threshold next to the chamber.
The approach was a slanting incline sofi-gebei
plastered with mud and lined on the
x hd-rcl gebel
sides with | brick walls. The incline
was occupied by a limekiln (Pl. 59d)
and had been damaged in the building
of the kiln.
139. N. 3017. Section A—B, I : 100.
At the northeast corner, the retaining wall of the superstructure was preserved (Pl. 57 d
and fig. 138 marked Mffi) There was another bit of it preserved on the front. The north
end and the desert side did not have niches: the bit on the valley side was not sufficient to
give any evidence. This retaining wall was built on the filling on both sides. Behind the
north end of the desert side at an interval of 45 cm was an inclosing wall. The outside of
the retaining wall, the floor of the space between that and the enclosing wall and both sides
of the enclosing wall were plastered with mud.
On the floor of the main chamber were found some scattered fragments of bones. The
most of the pottery and stone vessels were in the northwest corner, see Pl. 56. If the tomb
had been disturbed by plunderers the disturbance was ancient; for the debris over the vault
was compact and undisturbed. The vault had collapsed, crushing the cross-walls and of
course, breaking and scattering the contents of the chambers.
The objects found on the floor of the tomb (see Pl. 69^b) were:
1—Jars °f red painted rough brown or red ware, type vb mostly with flat tip at
base, Pl. 74b.
VIII. Description of Tombs in cem. 3000.
4. Corbel vaults with stairway, type B. 2. b.
N. 3017. Rectangular hole cut in the gravel to the solid limestone, containing a corbel vault with
three chambers and a stairway. Axis $6° east of south. See Pl. 58, 59, 69a- b and fig. 138 and 139.
The walls of the corbel were apparently
1 brick thick below and thickened to a heavy
make-weight at about 1 m up. This was further
weighted by a packing of limestone chips, laid
in, pari passu with the courses of the vault.
And the whole space between the vault and
the surface was filled with such limestone chips
(see Pl. 59). The lower part of the vault was
rectangular. In the SE corner, a slab of lime-
stone was laid across to support the corbel above
(see Pl. 59 d) which was rounded (not groined).
The cross-walls must have been | brick
thick, but only traces of them were found.
The doorway was roofed with branches of
wood (or saplings), and blocked with brick work.
A slab of limestone formed the inside
of the threshold next to the chamber.
The approach was a slanting incline sofi-gebei
plastered with mud and lined on the
x hd-rcl gebel
sides with | brick walls. The incline
was occupied by a limekiln (Pl. 59d)
and had been damaged in the building
of the kiln.
139. N. 3017. Section A—B, I : 100.
At the northeast corner, the retaining wall of the superstructure was preserved (Pl. 57 d
and fig. 138 marked Mffi) There was another bit of it preserved on the front. The north
end and the desert side did not have niches: the bit on the valley side was not sufficient to
give any evidence. This retaining wall was built on the filling on both sides. Behind the
north end of the desert side at an interval of 45 cm was an inclosing wall. The outside of
the retaining wall, the floor of the space between that and the enclosing wall and both sides
of the enclosing wall were plastered with mud.
On the floor of the main chamber were found some scattered fragments of bones. The
most of the pottery and stone vessels were in the northwest corner, see Pl. 56. If the tomb
had been disturbed by plunderers the disturbance was ancient; for the debris over the vault
was compact and undisturbed. The vault had collapsed, crushing the cross-walls and of
course, breaking and scattering the contents of the chambers.
The objects found on the floor of the tomb (see Pl. 69^b) were:
1—Jars °f red painted rough brown or red ware, type vb mostly with flat tip at
base, Pl. 74b.