Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (5.1993(1994))

Tomb TIJ’s unique form distinguishes it from all known
sepulchral monuments in Egypt, but sits well in the context of
tombs discovered so far at Marina, adding yet another interesting
example to the catalogue of local builders’ creativity (Fig.4).
Explorations carried out west of the stepped-pyramid tomb
T2 revealed a similar monument which was designated T3. It was
a four-step pyramid erected on a rectangular base (2.30 x 1.97 m)
above a burial trench cut in bedrock. On top of the pyran id there
was a 0.5 m high base with a cornice at the top. It presumably
supported some kind of crowning element, which has not survived.
The double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt carved in limestone
and found nearby would favor the hypothesis that a statue of Horus
in falcon form was used as the crowning element. Without the
tentative sculpture at the top, the tomb was about 2.10 m high. The
trench under the pyramid monument contained a single poorly
preserved skeleton.
In the vicinity of tombs T2, T3 and the box-like tombs Tl,
T1A, TIB, TIC, T1J and T1F, yet another type of burial was
discovered, as yet unknown in Marina. It was constituted of
extensive stone prisms on an irregular rectangular plan with
slightly rounded comers. Flat limestone slabs were set up vertically
on the narrow sides next to each another, so that they formed the
outside perimeter of the construction. Inside, the construction was
filled with a mass of irregular stones and sand to a height of 0.6
m. The burials in the form of trenches were found inside the
prisms (their exploration is planned in the coming season). The
prisms, set closely together, should apparently be considered a sort
of "mass grave" and designated accordingly. The dimensions of
particular tombs range from 2-2.5 m in width and 3-4 m in length.
The graves are found on the same level as the pyramid tombs and

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