Kaloriziki, Tombs (extracted from McFadden's notebooks)

Tomb 44

(Extract from McFadden, 5-10 April, 1952:

Dug Trench 4 down to bedrock except where this has been cut, probably by modern tomb robbers. See plan and photo Film 166-18. In the S. corner of trench some pots were found..... (Nos.1-7). In addition to above numbered finds removed also 1/10 bucket sherds which came from various parts of trench and various levels. The soil filling the trench everywhere is about the same - light brown, very sandy soil - 7 rough stones from foot to bucket size - otherwise hardly any stones at all. These stones came from S. corner about - 0.40 m. The rock is everywhere ammo-chavara. If one were to dig deeper near S. corner he might find the Archaic tomb from which these sherds and pots came.)

July 26, 1954On the strength of McFadden's suggestion about the possibility of there being a tomb in this area, re-open Trench 4 and look for it.

Remove earth replaced by McFadden. In south corner begin finding pots at about 40 cm. below present surface. These must belong to the same complex as the finds listed on p.12 of this notebook. Although no bones were found, either in the form of a skeleton or of fragments in an urn, there can be no doubt from the nature, condition and disposition of the finds t at this complex was a tomb. It was not possible to establish its shape, particularly as much of its area was previously dug. Because of its nearness to the surface it can only have been a shallow pit grave.

Sketch of objects in situ: p.91 Photo " " : Kal. 1950 No.1 taken from east.

Continue excavating the cutting found by McFadden in north part of trench. It is filled with loose light brown earth and rather large irregular stones to "bedrock" which slopes down gradually toward west. "Bedrock" in this instance appears to be merely a very firm earth, of earthlike color. The cutting is actually a dromos leading to a chamber filled with loose earth and sherds of pots, none in situ. It appears that this tomb has been greatly disturbed by plunderers who must have reached it from the west by way of a tunnel. This is Christo's idea; however, a preliminary plotting of our excavation over the plan of McFadden's trench seems to allow the supposition that the plunderers went in from the top disturbing the archaic pit grave, perhaps destroying the skeleton.

A rectangular stone, 70 x 28 x 15 cm. served as the threshold to the tomb; the rough stones found over and in the tomb and dromos may have been those blocking the stoma. The height of the chamber - if indeed it had a definite roof - appears to have been about 1.2 m. Remove one large gunney sack of sherds, but decide not to clear tomb completely.