DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49516#0194
136
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
of the compartments. In the middle of the tumulus, these pits descended to the surface
of the alluvium or to within 25-70 cm. of that surface; but in the outer part where the
height of the mound was less, the subsidiary graves penetrated into the alluvium.
Measurements of tumulus K III:
Diameter of tumulus K III 90 m.
Area of tumulus K III
Level of plain to west
Level of alluvium at entrance to K II
Level of alluvium in middle of K III
Height of walls, in center, above alluvium
Dimensions of rooms
Corridor, K HI A
Vestibule, K III B
Burial chamber, K III C .
E-W N-S
90.00 m. 2.05 m.
2.40 m. 4.00 m.
3.35 m. 2.00 m.
6358 sq. m.
226 m.
227.15 m.
227.50 m.
2.11 m.
Area
184.5 sq. m.
9.6 sq. m.
6.7 sq. m.
Total area of burial floors (excluding doors) 200.8 sq. m.
1. THE MAIN BURIAL CHAMBERS, K III B AND C
(1) The structure
The main burial chambers, K III B (pl. 6, 4) and C (pl. 6, 1), were built on the sur-
face of the alluvium after the construction of the corridor walls and before that of the long
compartment walls. Abutting on the south wall of the corridor, a rectangular enclosure had
been built, measuring 870 X 530 cm. and divided into two connecting spaces, one (B),
345 X 475 cm. in size, and the other (C), 370 X 475 cm. The walls were one and a half
bricks thick. In each of these two spaces a vault was then built, the inside measurements
of which were: for B, 400cm. (N-S) X 240 cm. (E-W); for C, 335 cm. (E-W) X 200 cm.
(N-S). Thus the area of B was 9.6 sq. m.; of C, 6.7 sq. m. The walls of vault B were also
one and a half bricks thick while the leaning-course arch was half a brick wide consisting of
one half-brick layer. The difference in size between the containing compartment and the
vault resulted in leaving a narrow space between the southern ends of the two, which was
filled with earth. The northern and southern walls of room C were each 105 cm. thick
(three bricks and plaster), and the vault was of at least three half-brick courses (or layers).
Between the southern wall of the room and the southern wall of the enclosure, a narrow
space was also left by the difference in size of the two structures and also filled with earth.
Partly under the southern wall of room C, protruding into the room, was a long stone slab
which seemed to indicate that the room had been paved. There was no depression for a
bed. The doorway from C to B had been closed by a wooden door and probably the door-
way from B to the corridor as well.
The brickwork in these burial chambers was much more carefully laid than in the other
walls. The surfaces inside the rooms had been plastered, whitened, and decorated in colors.
A winged sun-disc could just be made out on the southern end of vault B, and traces of red
and black horizontal stripes on the sides and eastern end of vault C.
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
of the compartments. In the middle of the tumulus, these pits descended to the surface
of the alluvium or to within 25-70 cm. of that surface; but in the outer part where the
height of the mound was less, the subsidiary graves penetrated into the alluvium.
Measurements of tumulus K III:
Diameter of tumulus K III 90 m.
Area of tumulus K III
Level of plain to west
Level of alluvium at entrance to K II
Level of alluvium in middle of K III
Height of walls, in center, above alluvium
Dimensions of rooms
Corridor, K HI A
Vestibule, K III B
Burial chamber, K III C .
E-W N-S
90.00 m. 2.05 m.
2.40 m. 4.00 m.
3.35 m. 2.00 m.
6358 sq. m.
226 m.
227.15 m.
227.50 m.
2.11 m.
Area
184.5 sq. m.
9.6 sq. m.
6.7 sq. m.
Total area of burial floors (excluding doors) 200.8 sq. m.
1. THE MAIN BURIAL CHAMBERS, K III B AND C
(1) The structure
The main burial chambers, K III B (pl. 6, 4) and C (pl. 6, 1), were built on the sur-
face of the alluvium after the construction of the corridor walls and before that of the long
compartment walls. Abutting on the south wall of the corridor, a rectangular enclosure had
been built, measuring 870 X 530 cm. and divided into two connecting spaces, one (B),
345 X 475 cm. in size, and the other (C), 370 X 475 cm. The walls were one and a half
bricks thick. In each of these two spaces a vault was then built, the inside measurements
of which were: for B, 400cm. (N-S) X 240 cm. (E-W); for C, 335 cm. (E-W) X 200 cm.
(N-S). Thus the area of B was 9.6 sq. m.; of C, 6.7 sq. m. The walls of vault B were also
one and a half bricks thick while the leaning-course arch was half a brick wide consisting of
one half-brick layer. The difference in size between the containing compartment and the
vault resulted in leaving a narrow space between the southern ends of the two, which was
filled with earth. The northern and southern walls of room C were each 105 cm. thick
(three bricks and plaster), and the vault was of at least three half-brick courses (or layers).
Between the southern wall of the room and the southern wall of the enclosure, a narrow
space was also left by the difference in size of the two structures and also filled with earth.
Partly under the southern wall of room C, protruding into the room, was a long stone slab
which seemed to indicate that the room had been paved. There was no depression for a
bed. The doorway from C to B had been closed by a wooden door and probably the door-
way from B to the corridor as well.
The brickwork in these burial chambers was much more carefully laid than in the other
walls. The surfaces inside the rooms had been plastered, whitened, and decorated in colors.
A winged sun-disc could just be made out on the southern end of vault B, and traces of red
and black horizontal stripes on the sides and eastern end of vault C.