Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (3.1991(1992))

surprisingly thin stone slabs, with the rest of the layer’s height
filled with rubble and mortar. Moreover, these slabs rested on a
rather unstable structure of overhanging blocks.

Heavy damage was then caused by the earthquake which
toppled the superstructures and by prolonged erosion. It was
decided that the bases of both tombs required radical reinforcing
to bear the weight of the superstructures to be reconstructed. To
this end all voids under the foundations, including grave-pits, were
filled with stone mbble and mortar. Chambers 1B.LN, 1B.LS and
1C.LN were likewise filled with stone blocks, mbble and mortar,
thus creating a solid foundation block resting directly upon
bedrock. All loose joints were filled with mortar. Chamber 1C.LS
was covered with new stone blocks. The original slabs were
irregular and of different dimensions, the course was levelled with
small stones and mortar. This pattem was followed in the
reconstruction,

The burial pit adjoining tomb TIC to the south (1C.SS) was
filled in with gravel to prevent the wall sliding into it. Heavy
brown gravel was used for this purpose, to distinguish the fill from
the original strata,

Meanwhile all original blocks of the superstmctures were
transported to the location prepared for the stonecutter’s workstand.
Their position within the stmcture was checked and new blocks
were cut and adjusted before reinstallment. Finally, the monuments
were reerected upon the reinforced bases. Tomb TIB was
reconstmcted in a way probably resembling the original way of its
constmction, to a large extent using wooden scaffolding and a
pulley. Each course of stones was positioned and adjusted using
wooden wedges, the inside was then filled with stone mbble and
liquid mortar. Its full penetration was ensured by plastic air-
releasing tubes that were later removed (originally the
superstmcture has been filled inside with stone mbble set in weak
mortar with a heavy admixture of ash).

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