Later Tombs.

55

dynasty is generally in use; though a small minority, while conforming to the new fashion of
full length coffins, still keep to the contracted position.
Supporters of the first dynasty invasion theory may say that this introduction of the full Change of
length position by the rich, and its gradual adoption by all classes, is really an argument ^ueTo°forelr
their favour — the invaders introduced the full length position, and the original inhabitants influence.
adopted it. The argument is plausible, but is not borne out by the facts. If this invasion took
place, the conditions of burial in the earlier dynastic cemeteries would be somewhat as follows.
The majority of the burials would for a time keep their old position, neither increasing nor
decreasing the contraction, but, mixed with them, we should certainly find a few in full
extended position. The tomb structures and grave deposits of the earliest extended burials
would differ considerably from those of the contemporary contracted burials. There would
be no semi-contractions such as we find in this cemetery, as those of the old inhabitants who
adopted the new custom would almost certainly adopt it in full. That is what one would
expect. What one finds is very different. To begin with, the early dynastic burials are as a
class more sharply contracted than the predynastic1 — the almost universal position of the former
is Fig. 123,1, while the predynastic conform much more nearly to Fig. 123,2 — and it is difficult to
see why the introduction of the full length position should tend to increase the contraction in
the native burial. Full length burials are absolutely unknown until the fourth dynasty at any
rate, and then the graves in which they occur are side by side with graves containing contracted
burials, and are similar to them in every way. From then onwards the evolution of the buriaj
position follows a regular course. From the contracted position (1) we come gradually, through (2),
to the semi-contracted (3), and thence to the fully extended. Next the body, though not yet
mummified, was swathed round with innumerable bandages, then superficially mummified, and
so, gradually improving the method of treatment, we arrive at the elaborate embalming process
of the eighteenth dynasty.
The burials before us then are of the same date, and there is no reason to suppose that Conclusions.
race-difference had anything to do with the variation of position. The real explanation is much
simpler. We stated above that the movement in favour of an extended position of burial was
started by the rich and gradually adopted by the poor, and in this cemetery we see the whole
process taking place. In the poorest and least elaborate graves we have fully contracted burials;
as the graves become deeper and more elaborate the contraction becomes less, and in the most
costly grave of all we find the burial fully extended. Naturally there are one or two exceptions,
but the main line of development is quite distinct.
Very little attention seems to have been paid to the direction in which the bodies were Direction
laid.2 The head to the east is the commonest position, but that may very likely be due to the burials'
fact that the majority of the pits ran E—W, and the burial was usually put into the chamber
head foremost.
One burial calls for special comment (pl. 43b). As will be seen from the plate the body was N. 4.579.
1 Compare the burials in Naqada and Ballas V, lxxxii, lxxxiii and El Amrah and Abydos V with those on plates 33*38 of this volume.
2 In cemetery 760, which contained graves of the same date, the position was much more constant, the burials almost invariably
having their heads to the north. [Due however to slope of ground. Dr A. R.]