Bamboula, Tombs (extracted from McFadden's notebooks)

3

Photo Bam '54 No. 34: NW side with Skel. IX from SE. " " 35: SE side with pots 54-56 from NE.

July 30, 1954Go below -1.62 level. Again there is no essential change in earth. However, there are many stones and large mud bricks (20-30 cm. in length) embedded in the loose earth in more or less random positions; there can be little doubt that these were thrown over burials on a lower floor to serve as a base for later burials. Come upon a level of hard mud scattered over which were many sherds. The situation at this level was as follows: along the south wall was stretched out on its back at full length a rather well-preserved skeleton; the skull, however, only existed in fragments of several others. The right arm bent at the elbow to bring the hand to the hip; the left arm laid out at approximately shoulder height; the legs stretched out and apart. To make room for this sprawling position, earlier skeletons had been swept back, apparently quite unceremoniously, to the NE and SW sides, for broken bones were found in a confused heap in both places, at the head and foot of the skeleton. All these bones are much larger and more robust looking than the bones in upper strata.

Photo Bam '54 No.36: Skeleton XI from NW. " " 37: Bones at foot of Skel. XI from S.

July 31, 1954Draw pots and skeletons and remove. The level of Skeleton XI is -1.62). Go below -1.82 and find bedrock floor of tomb anywhere from 5-10 cms. below -1.82 mud floor. Bones and many broken sherds are found clear to the floor, especially along the N. and E. sides. These obviously represent the very first burials. Probably a certain amount of earth was thrown over these to level out the floor for the burial of Skel. XI.