Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (11.1999(2000))

TELL QARAMEL

SYRIA

recorded, particularly in the lowermost
explored layers. The decoration usually
consists of brown and reddish bands,
resembling Khabour ware. It may be an
indication that MB layers are near.
It is essential to note that numerous
PPNA and younger flint artifacts have
been discovered in secondary contexts on
the tell surface and in the layers excavated
on the southern slope. They were often

found inside of mudbricks, blocks of tauf
{pise) and between blocks in the walls.
These as well as the collections of flints
from Matters' and Mazurowski's surveys
were re-deposited from a PPNA settlement
with the mud and topsoil that the inhabi-
tants of successive villages on the tell had
carried. The actual PPNA settlement was
located outside the tell, the latter perhaps
covering only its northern extremity.

TOMB 1

Trench E-15 was meant to uncover the
southern wall of the tomb in order to pro-
vide the easiest access through the modern
opening. Once the stones from the southern
wall had been removed, the tomb turned
out to be a slightly trapezoidal, elongated
chamber with a door opposite the secondary
entrance. Modern rubbish (plastic bags, can-

dles) appeared in the fill up to 70 cm above
the floor, indicating that the tomb had been
robbed not that long ago. Two burials were
found below the fill.
The tomb was built of white and pink
limestone blocks {Fig. 7.). This stone is
common in the vicinity of the tell even
today. The chamber measures 550 cm in


Fig. 7. View of Tomb 1 from the south
(Photo R. F. Mazurowski)

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