Bamboula “A Tomb of the Early Classical Period” Benson (photos)

by J.L. Benson

The tomb published here is designated as Tomb 4 in the series of tombs excavated by J.F.Daniel under the auspices of the Curium Excavations of the University Museum, Philadelphia, during the years 1938-1939 at the site of Bamboula, near Episkopi, Limassol, Cyprus.1 This tomb, however, is at a considerable remove from the actual Bronze Age settlement, which lies on the opposite side of the hill known as Bamboula. Since the tomb is of entirely different date as well, it is desirable to separate its publication from that of the main site.

Tomb 4 is located at the junction of two wagon roads from the village of Episkopi, about 300 meters south of Area E of the Bronze Age site (see Fig.1).2 It was destroyed by chavara cutters, who, perhaps inadvertently, destroyed the dromos. They are said to have removed six pots (Nos.1-6) which they subsequently restored to the Curium Excavations; I do not know by what inducements this occurred nor how the matter came to Daniel's attention. The location of the tomb is on gently rising terrain where bedrock is only a few feet below the surface. It measured 2.66 meters by 2.82 meters, being roughly square in shape with the dromos on the west side (see Fig.2).

Since the tomb had already collapsed in antiquity, it was opened from above.3 Dark earth was mixed with large blocks of chavara (the local bedrock: a soft limestone) fallen from the roof. The chavara blocks went directly to the skeletal remains and pots. No. 27 was found in the wall of the tomb at 60 centimeters above the floor. It was in an adjacent tomb, cut into when Tomb 4 was being hewn out. The excavator thought this adjacent tomb had already