Bamboula, Tombs (extracted from McFadden's notebooks)

NB VII pp. 25 ff. NB VIII, p. 27

20 March 1939 Start clearing a tomb on the northwest slope of the Bamboula, at the edge of the rock ledge, close to the old Paphos road. This tomb was plundered in 1935 by villagers, and the sherds brought to me. The tomb has been open ever since. The plunderers (and we) entered by the dromos. The chamber is intact.

24 March We have dug through earth thoroughly ransacked by at least two plunderers, who investigated two thirds of the tomb. The southern third, however, is intact. 30 cm. over the rock floor we found the remains of at least two burials in situ. The bones are beautifully preserved. Skeleton I was buried in a crouching position, the right shoulder up, the face down, and the knees brought up towards the chest, the legs stretching east. Skeleton II, apparently laid out flat at the east of the tomb, is represented only by part of the legs. A third skull (III), is visible at this level, but may belong to a lower burial. Skull II does not necessarily belong to skeleton II. Only one pot is found, L.C. III, belonging to skeleton I (pot no. 1). The burials lie over stones on gritty grey earth. Photos Bam '39, 10-12, also 13 and 14 of Tomb 5 a t L.C. III level. The bottom of the pot, no. 1, is knocked out, possibly to receive a libation.

25 March Remove the skeletal remains of the 30 cm. level. There are numerous fragments of wood-charcoal in the earth about and under the skeletons, perhaps representing ceremonial fumigation before burial.

29 March Digging below the 30 cm. level through clayey red soil we reach a lower burial stratum ··· above the floor. Skull III and other parts of a skeleton belong with this level. These bones, the pot no. 2, and numerous sherds, lie on a bed of grey gritty earth.