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The explanation of such a buttress could be the following: in a chamber of ellipsoidal shape, it is certain that a very strong thrust must be exerted at the ends of the major axis of the ellipse. It was therefore necessary to reinforce the brick vault from the outside. The E - W wall is precisely intended to counterbalance the thrust but it had itself to be reinforced by a lateral buttress on the south side. The north side unfortunately could not be explored owing to later constructions.
Drawing: plan showing a curved wall, stone masonry, and two directional arrows; labels: chamber; rock
This buttress is surmounted by a witness whose stratigraphic study is interesting: from the rocky ground the succession of layers is as follows: a layer of earth mixed with debris of brick 0,30 m. high; a thin layer of pebbles (0,03 m. c.) whose top is at 0,20 m. below the upper part of the buttress; a layer of grey, ashy earth, 0,40 m. thick, poor in stones and containing a whiter line which could represent a floor. This layer passes over the buttress, the upper stones of the latter being
65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain