Bamboula, Tombs (extracted from McFadden's notebooks)

NB VII, pp. 53 ff.

28 March 1939Tomb 12 lies 0.80 m. south of Tomb 9.

Bed-rock (sand) is found 0.25 m. below the surface, and pottery begins to appear 0.25 m. below (0.50 below surface) in the west.

29 MarchIn the east burnt earth, a patch only, appears 0.80 below the surface. The gold earring, find no. 1, is found at this level.

31 MarchWe have made some progress in clearing Tomb 12, which is apparently completely unplundered.

Two skeletons are found stretched out at length in the southeast part of the tomb. These seem to be the latest burials in the tomb. One White Slip II, one Base Ring, and one plain pot seem to belong with them (nos. 11, 12, and 13).

In the west there is a large mass of pottery and bones, including L.H. IIIA. This seems to be the remnant of early burials, swept away to make room for later ones.

In the north and northeast part of the tomb is another group of objects, partly fusing with the western group. It seems to be of L.C. I date.

1 AprilClean the tomb to the level of the southeast skeletons (I and II).

Photos Bam. '39, 33-35 of Tomb 12 at this level, 0.90 below surface, center east.

Pots 11-13 belong with these skeletons, also object 5.

3 AprilRemove skeletons I-II. They lie on a layer of dark sand.

Dig down, finding traces of an earlier burial below. The relation of the west and north groups now becomes clear. The north (L.C. I) slopes down to the lower floor, while the west lies over a layer of sand over the floor, and over the west end of the north group.