DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45582#0076
206
Division II Section A Part 3
Nabataean Tomb. This is the earliest and the most important of the tombs dis-
covered by us at Umm idj-Djimal. It lies far to the southeast of the ruined city, where
the ground is flat and level, and is almost entirely sunk below the surface. It is given
the number 10 in Map No. 1. A flight of steps on the east side descends to a door-
way with moulded jambs and lintel. Within the doorway are two more steps, of loose
stones, by which one descends to the present level of the floor of sand which is probably
not the original floor level. The plan of the interior (Ill. 185) consists of a chamber,
Ill. 185.
4.77 m. wide and 8.30 m. long, divided by three transverse arches into four unequal
bays. The first two bays within the entrance are equal, being 1.30 m. deep, and their
sides are closed with highly finished walls; they constitute a sort of chapel in front of
the tomb proper. The other bays measure 1.80 m. and 2.50 m. deep, respectively;
their side walls are composed of the ends of loculi (Ill. 185, Sect. A—B) arranged in
three tiers, two on each tier in the first bay, and three in each tier in the second.
A fourth tier may be buried in the sand below the present floor level. The loculi are
separated laterally by thin walls of basalt, and the tiers are divided by thin slabs like
the division walls. The bodies of the dead were slid into the loculi, probably upon a
board, the funeral offerings, objects of ornament, vases of pottery and glass were placed
around the body, and then the opening was closed by a single thin slab which fitted
it nicely. When the loculi were all closed, the interior of the tomb presented much
the effect of an oblong church spanned by transverse arches. The stonework of the
interior is most highly finished. It is not impossible that a building of some kind was
constructed over the whole, or a part, of this underground tomb. Two long steps are
still to be seen extending on either side of the entrance. The chief interest of this
Division II Section A Part 3
Nabataean Tomb. This is the earliest and the most important of the tombs dis-
covered by us at Umm idj-Djimal. It lies far to the southeast of the ruined city, where
the ground is flat and level, and is almost entirely sunk below the surface. It is given
the number 10 in Map No. 1. A flight of steps on the east side descends to a door-
way with moulded jambs and lintel. Within the doorway are two more steps, of loose
stones, by which one descends to the present level of the floor of sand which is probably
not the original floor level. The plan of the interior (Ill. 185) consists of a chamber,
Ill. 185.
4.77 m. wide and 8.30 m. long, divided by three transverse arches into four unequal
bays. The first two bays within the entrance are equal, being 1.30 m. deep, and their
sides are closed with highly finished walls; they constitute a sort of chapel in front of
the tomb proper. The other bays measure 1.80 m. and 2.50 m. deep, respectively;
their side walls are composed of the ends of loculi (Ill. 185, Sect. A—B) arranged in
three tiers, two on each tier in the first bay, and three in each tier in the second.
A fourth tier may be buried in the sand below the present floor level. The loculi are
separated laterally by thin walls of basalt, and the tiers are divided by thin slabs like
the division walls. The bodies of the dead were slid into the loculi, probably upon a
board, the funeral offerings, objects of ornament, vases of pottery and glass were placed
around the body, and then the opening was closed by a single thin slab which fitted
it nicely. When the loculi were all closed, the interior of the tomb presented much
the effect of an oblong church spanned by transverse arches. The stonework of the
interior is most highly finished. It is not impossible that a building of some kind was
constructed over the whole, or a part, of this underground tomb. Two long steps are
still to be seen extending on either side of the entrance. The chief interest of this