DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49516#0470
THE TUMULUS K X 375
ii. The grave containing a multiple bed-burial may be longer (E-W) than it is wide (N-S), but
is still much wider than the usual grave:
(а) The chief bed may be on the south, with the principal sacrifice on a second bed beside it
on the north and with the other sacrificial bodies mainly north and south of the chief
bed; K 1053.
(б) One bed may be on the south and the other on the north of grave with the sacrifices
between and around the southern bed; K 1065.
It is obvious that a multiple bed-burial requires a grave of more than usual width. When,
therefore, this width is obtained without lengthening the grave, as in the case of a grave
which is wider (N-S) than it is long (E-W), the inference is clear that the change from
the usual grave-proportions was made to accommodate a multiple bed-burial, and I have
classified without question the burials of all such graves as multiple bed-burials. The very
large graves of the usual form, but wide enough to take more than one bed, may also have
contained multiple bed-burials, but in those cases where there is no confirmatory evidence,
the conclusion is doubtful. The confirmatory evidence is to be sought in the distribution
of the sacrifices and in the traces of the existence of a bed on the north of the grave.
It has been laid down as a rule that the bed was on the southern side of the grave, with
the sacrifices at the two ends or in front. A number of cases have been described, however,
where one or two bodies were found behind the bed, especially in well-filled graves, but
these were not sufficient to vitiate the general rule. In the Nubian Cemetery, on the other
hand, and in the circular graves in particular, the rule is different; there the chief body is
usually in the middle of the grave on a bed with the human sacrifices behind him, and the
animals at the foot or in front. Now in K X, there are two graves in which the chief person
is on the north with the sacrifice behind, K 1064 and K 1096. Both of these were among
the latest graves in the cemetery, K 1064 in particular having been intruded in the debris
of K 1067, and present without doubt the forerunners of the arrangement customary
in the Nubian period. With these examples before us, it is plain that the mere fact that a
bed stood on the north of the grave in K X or later is not sufficient reason for classifying
the burial as a multiple bed-burial.
i. Taking these facts as a basis, the graves K 1004, K 1030, K 1045, and K 1090, which are
wider (N-S) than they are long (E-W), are to be grouped with K 1052 as having multiple
bed-burials. K 1004 and K 1030 have evidences of a bed on the north of the grave but
also bed-trenches the whole width, and while not large are large enough to have contained
two beds (cf. K 1052).
ii. K 1047, longer than wide, had a bed on the north, an empty space south of it, and sacrifices
at the foot of the grave, and is without doubt to be grouped with K 1053 and K 1065.
iii. The large graves of usual form, with longer axis E-W, K 1091 and K 1000A, and the square
grave, K 1033, appear from the position of the sacrifices also to have resembled K 1053
and K 1065, but the evidence is doubtful.
To summarize, the multiple bed-burial, Type 1-a, was represented in K X by three
absolutely certain examples, K 1052, K 1053, and K 1065; by one practically certain ex-
ample, K 1047; by four very probable examples, K 1004, K 1030, K 1045, and K 1090;
and possibly by three additional examples, K 1033, K 1091, and K 1000A. The total
may be taken as eight to eleven examples.
ii. The grave containing a multiple bed-burial may be longer (E-W) than it is wide (N-S), but
is still much wider than the usual grave:
(а) The chief bed may be on the south, with the principal sacrifice on a second bed beside it
on the north and with the other sacrificial bodies mainly north and south of the chief
bed; K 1053.
(б) One bed may be on the south and the other on the north of grave with the sacrifices
between and around the southern bed; K 1065.
It is obvious that a multiple bed-burial requires a grave of more than usual width. When,
therefore, this width is obtained without lengthening the grave, as in the case of a grave
which is wider (N-S) than it is long (E-W), the inference is clear that the change from
the usual grave-proportions was made to accommodate a multiple bed-burial, and I have
classified without question the burials of all such graves as multiple bed-burials. The very
large graves of the usual form, but wide enough to take more than one bed, may also have
contained multiple bed-burials, but in those cases where there is no confirmatory evidence,
the conclusion is doubtful. The confirmatory evidence is to be sought in the distribution
of the sacrifices and in the traces of the existence of a bed on the north of the grave.
It has been laid down as a rule that the bed was on the southern side of the grave, with
the sacrifices at the two ends or in front. A number of cases have been described, however,
where one or two bodies were found behind the bed, especially in well-filled graves, but
these were not sufficient to vitiate the general rule. In the Nubian Cemetery, on the other
hand, and in the circular graves in particular, the rule is different; there the chief body is
usually in the middle of the grave on a bed with the human sacrifices behind him, and the
animals at the foot or in front. Now in K X, there are two graves in which the chief person
is on the north with the sacrifice behind, K 1064 and K 1096. Both of these were among
the latest graves in the cemetery, K 1064 in particular having been intruded in the debris
of K 1067, and present without doubt the forerunners of the arrangement customary
in the Nubian period. With these examples before us, it is plain that the mere fact that a
bed stood on the north of the grave in K X or later is not sufficient reason for classifying
the burial as a multiple bed-burial.
i. Taking these facts as a basis, the graves K 1004, K 1030, K 1045, and K 1090, which are
wider (N-S) than they are long (E-W), are to be grouped with K 1052 as having multiple
bed-burials. K 1004 and K 1030 have evidences of a bed on the north of the grave but
also bed-trenches the whole width, and while not large are large enough to have contained
two beds (cf. K 1052).
ii. K 1047, longer than wide, had a bed on the north, an empty space south of it, and sacrifices
at the foot of the grave, and is without doubt to be grouped with K 1053 and K 1065.
iii. The large graves of usual form, with longer axis E-W, K 1091 and K 1000A, and the square
grave, K 1033, appear from the position of the sacrifices also to have resembled K 1053
and K 1065, but the evidence is doubtful.
To summarize, the multiple bed-burial, Type 1-a, was represented in K X by three
absolutely certain examples, K 1052, K 1053, and K 1065; by one practically certain ex-
ample, K 1047; by four very probable examples, K 1004, K 1030, K 1045, and K 1090;
and possibly by three additional examples, K 1033, K 1091, and K 1000A. The total
may be taken as eight to eleven examples.