CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES ITHACA, N. Y. 14853 Fine Arts Library Sibley Hall Cornell University Library DT 57.E32 Pre-dynastic cemetery at El Mahasna / 3 1924 020 528 935 /ml Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924020528935 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA BY EDWARD R. AYRTON AND W. L. S. LOAT THIR T Y-FIRS T MEM OIR OF THE EGYPT EXPLORATION FUND PUBLISHED BY OBDEE OP THE COMMITTEE LONDON: SOLD AT The Offices of the EGYPT EXPLOBATION FUND, 37, Great Edssell St., W.O and 527, Tremont Temple, Boston, Mass., U.S.A.; and by KEGAN PAUL, TEENCH, TEUBNEE & CO., Dryden House, 43, Gerrard Street, Soho, W.; BEENAED QUAEITCH, 11, Grafton St., New Bond St., W. ; ASHEE & CO., 14, Bedford St., Covent Garden, W.C., , H ^ V U i ) A--* ?37f7 LONDON : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, DUKE STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND GREAT WINDMILL STREET, W. SI £3& EGYPT EXPLOEATION FUND ©resloent THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF CROMER, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I. Wee iprest&ents The Rev., Prof. A. H. Sayce, MA., LL.D. Field Marshal Lord Grenfell, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., etc. F. G. Kenyon, Esq., C.B., D.Litt. Prop. W. W. Goodwin (U.S.A.) The Hon. Chas. L. Hutchinson (U.S.A.) Prof. Wallace N. Stearns, Ph.D. Prof. Ad. Erman, Ph.D. (Germany) Prof. G. Maspero, D.C.L. (France) Prof. Edouard Naville, D.O.L., etc. (Switzerland) Josiah Mullens, Esq. (Australia) 1bon. treasurers H. A. Grueber, Esq., F.S.A. Chester I. Campbell, Esq. (U.S.A.) J. S. Cotton, Esq., M.A. 1bon. Secretaries Dwight Lathrop Elmendorf, Esq., Ph.D., etc. (U.S.A.) Members of Committee Somers Clarke, Esq.', F.S.A. Newton Crane, Esq. (U.S.A.) Sir Arthur John Evans, M.A., D.Litt., F.R.S. Prof. Ernest A. Gardner, M.A. F. Ll. Griffith, Esq., M.A., F.S.A. H. R. Hall, Esq., M.A., F.S.A. The Rev. Arthur Cayley Headlam, D.D. D. G. Hogarth, Esq., M.A. F. Legge, Esq. Prof. Alexander Macalister, M.D. Mrs. McClure. The Rev. W. MacGregor, M.A. J. Grafton Milne, Esq., M.A. Robert Mond, Esq., F.R.S.E. The Marquess of Northampton, K.G. Francis Wm. Percival, Esq., M.A., F.S.A. Dr. Allen Sturge. Mrs. Tirard. John "Ward, Esq., F.S.A. T. Herbert Warren, Esq., M.A. E. Towry Whyte, Esq., M.A., F.S.A. CONTENTS PAGE Chapter I. Introduction ... ....... l Chapter II. Description op the Various Types of Crave ..... 3 Chapter III. Catalogue op Important Graves . . . . . . . 10 Chapter IV. Description of the Plates . . . . . . . .26 LIST OF PLATES PLATE I. Types of graves . . PAGES . 4, 10, 26 II. S3 ... . 11, 12, 26, 27 III. 33 . 13, 14, 15, 26 IV. 33 15, 16, 26 V. 33 . 16, 17, 18, 26 VI. -■ 3 • . 4, 13, 14, 18, 19, 25, 26 VII. 33 • . 4, 5, 17, 25, 26 VIII. Wood-lined graves 6, 7 / 20, 22, 26 IX. X. 33 Brick-lined graves . 6, 21, 26 7, 8, 23, 24, 26 XL Objects from graves 11, 26, 28 XII. 33 11, 27, 28, 31, 33 XIII. 33 11, 12, 26, 27, 29, 32 XIV. Painted pottery vases 13, 28 XV. Objects from graves 13, 14, 15, 26, 28, 29 XVI. „ Grave H 41 13, 16, 27, 29, 31 XVII. 33 33 16, 26, 28, 30, 34 XVIII. „ graves 16, 17 ; 27, 31, 33 XIX. 33 33 14, 18, 19, 31, 35 XX. 33 33 • 22, 24, 25, 31, 32 XXI. 33 33 • 11, 12, 17, 24, 27, 33 XXII. S3 33 . 33 XXIII. Worked flints and slates 12, 15, 19, 24, 34 XXIV. Objects from graves 10, 12, 34 XXV. Pottery vases 14, 22, 34 XXVI. 33 ... 10, 34 XXVII. Objects from graves 27, 34 XXVIII. Black-topped pottery . 35 LIST OF PLATES PLATE XXIX. Black-topped pottery XXX. XXXI. XXXII. Polished red pottery XXXIII. Wavy-handled pottery XXXIV. Rough pottery vases XXXV. XXXVI. Later „ XXXVII. XXXVIII. PAGES 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. In the month of November, 1908, we began our excavations on the ancient site of Abydos. After we had been digging there for a couple of months, a friendly Arab, with an eye to his own profit, told us that small parties of natives were setting out every night during the full moon to loot a pre-dynastic cemetery at El Mahasna, which lay some eight miles to the north of our concession. Wonderful stories were told us of the stone vases and flint knives, not to mention the gold, which were brought back each morning by the tired but happy robbers. Unfortunately one cannot believe implicitly in such rumours, and we accordingly rode north- wards to verify the news for ourselves, before applying for an official permit to excavate the spot. Although, after a cursory examination, we found that the place had been badly plundered, yet we decided to ask the Govern- ment for permission to, at least, test the ground. We knew that we should not have the time at our disposal to open every grave, plundered and unplundered, but we hoped to save the unplundered graves. The site lies so far out on the desert that to guard it would be difficult, and every day lost meant some five or six more graves dug out and lost to science. The Director-General of Antiquities, M. Maspero, with his usual kindness, at once sent us the necessary permit, and we pitched our tents at El Mahasna in the first week of the New Year. Our camp, which we set up on the edge of the north ' side of the cemetery, consisted of five tents, in which were lodged our two selves, a cook, three dogs, and twenty-five workmen, the shallow depth of the average pre-dynastic burial rendering unnecessary a larger staff of men. The desert at this spot is very flat and quite unbroken by hillocks or anything that might lessen the force of the wind, and we were con- sequently exposed to the hurricanes which, sweeping down from the north over a long stretch of level desert, were so strong as to force us to stop the work on several occasions. On such days life in tents was anything but pleasant, and the way in which our cook, in his small tent and with the most primitive apparatus, kept our food from becoming encrusted with sand was little short of marvellous. The cemetery lay at about half a mile from the cultivated land on the north bank of a broad wadi (dry watercourse). It occupied an oval stretch of ground about 180 (N. and S.) x 150 yards in area, and on a line at right angles with the southern end of the later cemetery of El Mahasna. On starting work we found that the cemetery had been dug into no less than four times. The first excavation had evidently taken place in B PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. quite early times, since, although we opened numerous graves on the east side of the site in ground which looked quite untouched, more than three-quarters of the graves were empty or contained only a solitary vase. Two halves of a flint spear-head, one of which was found in a grave and the other in the de'bris above, show a great difference in colour, pointing to the very early date of these first excavations. The second visit was marked by the shallow hollows which were distributed fairly evenly over the site. The third was even more noticeable, and the fourth was barely a month old and' the graves still lay open. This last digging had taken place on the southern part of the site, and had just touched the oldest part of the cemetery which had so far escaped notice owing to the fact that, being on the sloping side of the wadi, the sand carried by the north winds had accumulated here to the depth of several feet and thus concealed all traces of burials. It was here that we found the richest graves. The graves of the cemetery ran through the whole pre-dynastic period to the simplest form of the brick-lined tombs of the early 1st Dynasty. The later burial-ground changed its site and burials took place along the edge of the cultiva- tion. This later cemetery was excavated by Professor Garstang in 1900-1, and he here also found traces of a pre-dynastic settlement of which our site was possibly the burial-ground. A probable estimate of the original number of graves in our cemetery would be about six hundred, and of these we excavated about one half, ignoring those which had been too obviously plundered to repay digging again. Throughout the work we did not find a single intrusive burial of any other period, and we were therefore spared this difficulty. The site had never before been dug by Europeans, but it is possibly the same place that is mentioned by M. Da Morgan in his Recherche* sur les Oriqines d'E'jypte (page 76), as situated at the foot of the mountains which bound the left bank of the Nile at El Mahasna. He did not himself visit the spot, but objects from the place were brought to him by the natives. In many respects the cemetery could not be considered rich. Stone vases and the finer worked flints were rare, but on the other hand valuable ivories were found and several interest- ing objects in copper. We have therefore felt ourselves justified in publishing these results in a separate volume rather than waiting to incor- porate them in the larger publication of Abydos, which will not be published until more work has been done on that site. At the same time, the objects from a few pre-dynastic graves opened by us at Abydos are here included, since they naturally belong to this early period. These graves are the result of tentative diggings among a number of already opened graves which occupy two slightly raised spits of land about half a mile to the south-east of the early Royal Tombs. They are perhaps connected with that great cemetery which seems to have gradually crept further towards the west until the site was abandoned, apparently in the Hnd Dynasty, in favour of the necropolis on the edge of the cultivated land. These two small cemeteries had been so thoroughly dug out that we did not find a single burial intact, and we therefore did not continue the work. In the following chapters we have confined ourselves to a bare statement of facts. None of the innumerable disputed questions are discussed. The description of the plates, however, has been made as full as possible, though of a general character, without tedious references to other works which the student will know and the general reader will not require. Our sincere thanks are, due to Miss Paterson, Secretary of the Egypt Exploration Fund, for much kind help. Edward K. Ayrtost. W. L. S. Loat. CHAPTBE II. DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GRAVES. In the following pages the plan has been followed of grouping the burials according to the form of grave in which they were found. Within these classes they are again subdivided, so far as has been found practicable, according to their date in the whole period. For this subdivision Professor Petrie's method of " sequence dating " (hereafter referred to as s.D.) has been utilised. This system is fully explained in Diospolis Parva (Chapter I.), but for general convenience it may be as well if a short summary of the results obtained be given here. By a careful study of the pottery found in several cemeteries, the entire pre-dynastic period is artificially distributed over a scale of fifty divisions numbering from 30 to 80, the earliest graves falling on the date 30 (called s.D. 30) and the latest on the date s.D. 80, thus forming a most convenient means of accurately dating any object to its place in the period, by a com- parison of the pottery or objects found with it with those already so placed, irrespective of the actual length in years of the whole period, which is at present unknown. The later sequence dates probably overlap, to some extent, the period of the 1st Dynasty, since many graves such as the brick-lined tombs have recently been shown to belong to that date. As regards the earlier dates, however, the sys- tem is, as a whole, sufficiently accurate, and has been therefore adopted here, though to give the student a more complete control over our results, we have thought it better to publish drawings of all the types of pottery found on the site Such a large corpus of this pottery, however, has already been made by a convenient system of numbering used in Nagada, Diospolis Parva, and El Amra and Abydos that we have chosen to interpolate our pottery vases in the general numbering rather than to number them afresh. In this way it will be a matter of no difficulty to make a complete corpus of all the known pre-dynastic pottery at some future date. The last-named publication has been followed in the arrangement of the graves. The following are the various classes of tombs found in the cemetery at El Mahasna : — (A) Round shallow graves. (B) Oblong or roughly oval graves. (C) Burials in pottery coffins. (D) Woodlined graves. (E) 'Mud and reed-lined graves. (F) Brick-lined graves, simple quadrangular. It will be seen from the above that two types of the earlier graves which occur at Nagada and El Amra, namely, — G-raves with a recess cut in the rock, and Graves with a rock recess and a coffin, are absent from our list. Graves were found with a slight recess in which pottery was placed, but these are not of quite the same type, and they have therefore been included with Class B. Of the brick graves the only type found was the simple quadrangular grave without recess or partition, and the cemetery was apparently abandoned early in the 1st Dynasty. B 2 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. Class A. Round Shallow Grav ES. Burials of this class were rare in the cemetery, only five examples in all having been found. The graves were circular in shape and of a depth not exceeding 4 feet, though from the great quantity of blown sand over the ground it would be impossible to estimate exactly the original depth. The body in most cases lay in a contracted position (cf. PI. i. 2) and wrapped in a reed or grass mat. Traces of a goat-skin wrapping, which is usually found with this type of burial, were lacking ; but this may have been owing to rapid decay, since skin was in no case found on the bones, and the matting itself was so decayed as to be excessively difficult to detect in many cases. Three of the graves contained burials of children. Grave H 90 contained the bodies of three children, two of which were buried with head to the south and facing west, whilst the third looked towards the east and lay with head to the north. None of these burials contained objects of much value, and the majority had only a single pottery vase. One case was found in which the bones lay in a heap in the centre of the grave, but from the scattered fragments of matting it is evident that this was due to an ancient opening of the grave, and not to intentional dismemberment before burial. These round shallow graves obviously come first as regards the evolution of tomb shapes, but they also overlap in date with the next class and are found as late as s.d. 46 ; whilst several graves of Class B are as old as the five graves recorded by us on the site. After s.d. 40 they become rare and are soon quite replaced by burials of Class B. Class B. Oblong or Roughly Oval Graves. (1) Unroofed oblong or roughly oval shaped graves were the commonest type found in the cemetery and are certainly the most typical of the pre-dynastic period. The body, as a rule, lay in a contracted position on the left side, with head to the south. One or two exceptions to this were found, notably the burial H 143 (PI. vii. 32), where the skeleton lay on its back, with arms folded on the breast, the thighs straight in line with the body, but with the shins and feet bent back on the right side until the heels almost touched the pelvis ; indeed, a good deal of force must have been used unless the knee tendons were first severed. The direction of the graves varied around due magnetic north and south, the majority being N.N. -West and S.S.-East, whilst several were N.-West and S.-East and a few N.-East and S.-West. The corpse was laid on a mat (cf. PI. vi. 29), which was then doubled over and the edges apparently tied together (cf. grave H. 137). In some cases the whole of the funerary furniture was included in the mat, in others all of the larger vases were placed either on the mat or between it and the side of the grave. As the matting was of stiff coarse type, very similar to the coarse hasira still used in Egypt, traces of it generally extend up the sides of the grave for some 12 inches, and it must have acted as a kind of roofing over the corpse until the weight of the sand above forced it down. In a few instances, traces, of very tindery cloth were discovered on the bones, generally at the neck, in which the corpse may have been wrapped. As has been said above, no traces of goat-skin were found, probably owing to decay. No cases of disarticulated burials were noted which could not more readily be attributed to ancient plundering. The graves, of course, varied considerably in size. The commonest were only large enough to contain a single skeleton and a few vases, whilst others were of big dimensions and held a large amount of funerary furniture. One or two of these larger graves had a ledge at one end slightly raised above the bottom of the grave, on which the larger vases were placed. DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OE GRAVES. Thus grave H 33 measured 75 x 64 x 48 inches deep, and had at the north end a ledge 20 inches broad and standing 8 inches above the floor of the tomb. In this grave was found the only instance of the valuable black incised pottery discovered on the site. In one or two instances in the smaller graves the pottery was placed in a slight recess. Double interments were found in several of the large graves, and were placed side by side. (2) A certain number of graves were found of a' late date in the period (in fact H 122 is certainly contemporary with the graves of Class F), roughly oval in shape and about 50 inches deep, which, from the numerous fragments of wood and clay found in them which bore impress of reeds or twigs on one side, must have been roofed over. In grave H 66 we were so fortunate as to find a piece of this roofing intact, and from it were able to reconstruct a typical roof of this class of grave. Long lathes of wood 2 inches broad and 1 inch thick were placed across the breadth of the grave, and on this was laid a thick layer of reeds or grass ; this was then covered with a layer of mud | to 1 inch thick. In the photograph (PI. vii. 34) the mud has been partially broken in one corner to show the successive stages. The measurements of the grave at a depth of 25 inches from the surface were 58x36 inches broad, but the measurements of the roofing were only 47 X 22 inches broad. It is of course possible, since this was a plundered grave, that the edges of the roofing were broken away and that these measurements do not represent its original length or breath ; but at the same time the broad lathe shown in the photograph had left no fragments in the side of the grave, as one would have expected had it been properly imbedded. This certainly lends some force to the theory that these were not true roofs, but were laid on the top after the grave had been partially or completely filled with sand. Most of the other graves of this type, however, show a layer of mud, wood, and twigs running round the sides of the graves at some height above the burial, and there is no reason to suppose that these were not properly roofed at a few inches below the level of the ground. In grave H 68 the upper part of the shaft had been cut back some distance, and under two stones remaining in position on each side were found fragments of reeds and mud, as if these stones had been placed there to weigh down the sides of the roof. In another case lumps of mud had been used for the same purpose. It is most un- fortunate that no grave of this class was found intact. From the pottery found in these graves they seem to belong to a very late date, and are to be placed at quite the end of the pre- dynastic period, if not in the 1st Dynasty. The bodies were wrapped in mats and laid on the left side in a contracted position with the head to the south. Two interesting cases occurred in which a narrow strip of wood had been placed under the corpse. In grave Hill (PI. vii. 36, 37) this board measured 38 inches long and 4 inches broad. In another grave, H 142, the body of a child had been laid on a tray of matting stiffened with strips of wood round the sides. Another mat was laid over the corpse, and from the fragments of mud and wood in the debris (the grave had been opened anciently) the burial had probably been roofed in as has been described above. Class C. Burials est Pottery Coffins.. Only two burials of this class were found, and they seem to be connected with Class D, since there was not a true pottery coffin, in that the bottom is made of matting, but what is rather to be regarded as the clay counterpart of the wooden lining. Grave H 92 (PI. vii. 38) was fortunately discovered unplundered. The bottom of the "coffin" consisted of a thick mat, and the unbaked clay sides rose to a height of 11^ inches and were rounded at the top. A lid had also been formed of matting and mud, PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. a fragment of which was found tightly wedged between a large flat stone and the side of the coffin. The skeleton lay in the usual position, but the only objects found with it were glazed faience beads, the pottery (six vases) being placed between the coffin and the side of the grave. The measurements of the coffin were 45x21xll| inches deep (inside measurements) x | inch thick. In H 105 (a plundered grave) the dimensions of the " coffin " were 18x10x7 inches deep (inside measurements) xl| inches thick. It was also of sun-dried mud and intended probably for a child's burial. Class D. Graves with a Wooden Lining. The above name has been chosen, in default of a better, for the particular type of tomb into the construction of which woodwork enters either as a lining, a " fence " round the body, or a lidless box enclosing the corpse. The name perhaps scarcely covers the last variation, but since this is obviously derived from the two preceding types, the name may be allowed to remain until a better is found. The graves may be divided into three types : — (1) Graves in which the sides and ends are lined with boards. (2) Graves in which the body and a few vases lie within the woodwork, the larger vessels standing outside. (3) Graves in which the body lies in a lid- less (?) wooden box. To take these types separately in the above order : — (l) The graves are oblong in shape and about 4 feet deep. They are of no great size, the largest measuring 53 x 27 inches broad. Single planks 1 inch to 1^ inches in thickness were placed around the bottom of the grave against the side or a few inches from it. Within this lining lay the body in the usual contracted position and wrapped in a mat, together with the necessary funerary furniture (PI. ix. 43 and 45). The woodwork was in all cases too decayed to admit of, our ascertaining with certainty, except in one instance, how far up the side of the tomb the woodwork was carried or in what manner the boards were joined together. In grave H 108, at a height of 12 inches above the body and running round the sides of the grave, were horizontal traces of wood (f to 1^ inches thick) covered with a layer of mud ; this had evidently formed a roof over the whole burial, and is especially important as showing that in this grave at least the total height of the wooden lining could not be more than 12 inches, and 'therefore, in all probability, consisted of single boards about 12 inches broad. This breadth is not too great, as will be seen by referring to grave H 21 in the (2) type of this class where a board lt| inches thick and 12 inches broad was found in position at one end of the grave. (2) The majority of the graves of this type were large and contained a great deal of pottery. The body, wrapped in a mat, lay in the usual contracted position and, with a varying number of the finer vases, was surrounded by a " fence " of boards similar to that described above. Out- side the planks were placed the larger vases. In tomb H 107 (PI. viii. 42) the body, with two or three vases at the face, was surrounded by planks of wood 1 inch in thickness. Traces of this woodwork can be seen as a dark patch opposite, the knees of the skeleton in the photo- graph. Outside the woodwork to the south were placed the finer vases of polished red pottery, and along the west and north sides were placed the large coarser vessels. The same plan was followed in grave H 48 (PI. ix. 46, 47), though here large vases also occupied the eastern side of the grave outside the woodwork. H 21 (PI. ix. 44) included more vases inside the wooden " fence," but the large coarse ones were placed outside. In all these graves there were no signs of wood DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GRAVES. under the burial which might lead one to think that the woodwork had originally been a large box. The planks were probably joined at the corners, but they were too decayed to enable one to come to any sound conclusion on this point. The thickness of the boards varied from |to 1 inch, and in H 21a board was found in position with a breadth of 12 inches. This seems to have been the general height of the " fence," since in H 21 and H 48 at a height of 13 and 14 inches respectively from the floor traces of a roof of twigs covered with mud were found running round the sides of the graves. An interesting innovation was found in the plundered grave H 112. Here the body had been surrounded by the wooden lining, but outside this lining before the face a hollow had been scooped in the rock to accommodate three pottery vases. (3) To this type only two graves can be assigned, and that not with absolute certainty. Since, although the bodies lay on boards and were surrounded by boards, it would be quite impossible to say whether the lower boards were properly attached to the sides so as to form a box or coffin, or were merely separate planks laid down rather as a bier beneath the body. Grave H 124 did not differ from the graves of the second type, except that both the sides and bottom of the grave had been lined with wood 1^ inches thick. Three vases had stood outside the woodwork and two lay within, but the skeleton had been carried off. A roof consisting of a coarse mat over which had been spread a layer of mud, the whole probably resting on branches, had been laid on a level with the tops of the vases. In H 23 (PL viii. 39, 40), the only other grave of this type found, the skeleton and weapons were discovered lying on boards of wood, and, on the right side, remains of a plank placed on edge which formed one side of the " box." The woodwork was 2 inches thick and the "box" must have measured at least 30 inches across. The grave was of a large square type, and the body in a semi-contracted position lay in the coffin at the north end. The tomb had un- fortunately been excavated anciently, and the position of the pottery is therefore uncertain. Class E. Mud and Reed-lined Graves. This type of tomb, which by the pottery is certainly of a late date, is represented by only one grave from this site. The grave (H 126) was oblong in shape and measured 42x27x60 inches deep, lying N.N. -West and S.S.-East. The sides had first been coated with a layer of mud, against which on three sides had been pressed a single row of reeds, placed close together in an upright position. On the fourth side the reeds were perhaps placed in the ground at some distance from the mud-coated side, thus forming a recess in which had stood at least two vases, or it is possible that they stopped at the recess. The tomb had been plundered anciently. Class F. Brick-lined Graves. The graves of this type lay almost entirely on the north side of the cemetery. The greater number had been completely gutted of their contents, but those that remain (although no single one was found intact) furnish us with one or two interesting points, especially as regards the use of wood in lining these tombs. All the graves were simple four-sided enclosures of brick, beginning at about 3 feet below the desert surface and with a depth of brickwork of 10 to 40 inches. The graves varied considerably in size, one tomb (H 116) measuring 88 x 40 x 27 inches deep, whilst another (H 115, PL x. 50) was only 46 x 24 x 11 inches deep. The brickwork was only one brick thick and was plastered on the inside with a layer of mud, and in tomb H 120 a thin coating of clay also covered the floor, which was bare desert sand in the other cases. In all the graves which had not been completely cleared out it was found that a wooden lining PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. had been placed within the brickwork. In tomb Hl20(Pl.x.49) this lining was formed of boards 1 J inches thick, which completely surrounded the burial and vases, but did not quite touch the sides of the grave. It must therefore have been pinned or dovetailed at the corners to give it sufficient strength to stand alone ; but as no bottom was found and there were not sufficient fragments of wood lying about to justify one in assuming that it had a lid, we are forced to regard it as a plain wooden lining formed of four boards, and not, in any sense of the word, as a coffin. In tombs H 128 and H 129 the wooden lining seems to have been of the same type, but was too fragmentary to enable one to draw any conclu- sions as regards form, etc. In tomb H 115 (PI. x. 50) the wooden lining is much smaller, and only the body and six of the smaller vases are placed within it, the larger vases occupying spaces at the north and south ends and on the west side between the lining and the brickwork. This is more nearly an approach to a box or coffin, though again no wooden bottom or lid were found. It is possible that this was the next step in the evolution of the rectangular wooden coffin of the Old Kingdom, which would thus be the outcome of an attempt to keep back the sand by a simple lining of boards which, losing its original object on the introduction of brickwork for tomb construction, was yet retained and finally became merely an extra protection for the body in the form of the coffin. The graves were roofed (PL x. 48) by beams or planks laid on the top of the brickwork and thrust back some distance into the sand, occa- sionally a single layer of bricks being placed on them to steady them. Over these were laid twigs or reeds, and the whole was then covered with a thick layer of mud, thus making a strong and compact roof. Whether the hollow above was then filled in or not is uncertain, though the roofing would probably have been quite strong enough to bear the strain. The objects from these graves, which are fully enumerated in Chapter III., consisted chiefly of pottery and a few beads and slate palettes. An ivory cylinder seal and an ivory spoon with a hawk in relief on the handle were the most valuable objects found in this type of tomb. All the evidence which we possess at present •as to the dating of these brick-lined tombs points to the early 1st Dynasty as the most probable • period , at which they were constructed. This was pointed out by Mr. Eandall-Mclver in his publication of the excavations carried out by the Egypt Exploration Fund at El Amrah. These graves are identical with the " tombs of domestics " around the Royal Tombs at Abydos and Neqadah, and from the shape of the pottery and stone vases (of the latter of which a greater number were found at El Amrah than on our site) there is "no evidence for putting them earlier " than the 1st Dynasty. CLASSIFICATION OF GRAVES. CLASS A. CLASS B 1. CLASS B 2. CLASS C. CLASS D. CLASS E. CLASS F. H13 Before s.d. 41. Before s.d. 56. H65 H92 (a)H4 U 126 H 115 H 14 H15 H 1 H66 H 105 H76 H 116 H 19 H 17 H5 H68 H 108 H120 H 28 H26 H6 H78 H 121 H 128 H35 H29 H 10 H84 (b) H 21 H 129 H 90 H30 H22 H 109 H48 H34 H25 H 111 (c) H 23 H36 H38 H 122 H 107 H37 H41 H 112 H45 H49 H 124 H 53 H52 H88 H57 H97 H 58 H 135 H93 H134 Before s.d. 46. H 137 H12 H27 Before s.d. 61. UNPLACED H32 H60 GRAVES. H42 H74 • H51 H55 H77 H 59 H56 H82 H 104 H99 H86 H 102 H 143 Before s.d. 51. H136 H 16 HIS After s.D. 60. H20 H2 H 24 H 8 H33 H47 H39 H70 H40 H72 H46 H75 H50 H79 H54 H80 H 61a and b H81 H133 H83 i H 140 H85 ! H89 . ; '• | H 110 ! H 134a j 1 10 CHAPTER III. CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. (Pottery vases. B = Black topped. P= Polished red. D = Deco- rated. R = Rough. W = Wavy handled. L = Late pottery.) This catalogue includes all graves which were worth noting in full. Class A. Bound Shallow Graves. H 13 (PI. i. 2). — Circular grave 18 inches deep. Body of a child lying on the left side in a slightly contracted position with the head to the south. On the right forearm lay a black- topped pottery vase (B 22m). The whole burial had been wrapped in a mat. H 14 (PI. i. 3). — Circular grave 25 inches deep. Skeleton lying on the left side in a slightly contracted position with the head to the south. Behind the neck stood a black- topped pottery vase (B 19e.) H 19 (PI. i. 4).— Circular grave 37 x 32 x 24 inches deep. Body of a child lying on the left side in a contracted position with the head to the south-east. Before the face stood a large black-topped pottery vase (B 2ld). H 28. — Circular grave 42 x 41 x 38 inches deep, south-east and north-west, plundered. Bones of a child lying in a heap in the centre. Two vases (P 16a 7 , B 74a) stood against the west side of the grave. H 35. — Circular grave 54 x 54 x 60 inches deep. Plundered. The body had lain on the left side with the head to the south. A piece of sulphate of lime was found before the breast, and before the face stood a polished red pottery bowl decorated with white triangles on the inside (cf. Naqada, PI. xxviii. 30 ; but with centre also filled with pattern). The burial had evidently been wrapped in a mat. A few small beads were found by the neck. H 90. — Circular grave 48x52x46 inches deep. The bodies of three children lay in contracted positions. The central and western skeletons with heads to the south south-east, the eastern skeleton with head to the north north-west. The central skeleton had the face turned to the north north-east, though the body faced south south-west. The other two faced respectively south south-west and north north- east. Before the western skeleton stood a pottery bowl (P 15). Behind the back of the central skeleton were two vases (B 22c, P 26d) and a few cornelian beads were found at the head. Before the breast of the eastern skeleton lay a rhombic slate palette and a small basket, and at its head were found a crystal pendant, large shell discs, and some black stone beads. The three bodies had been wrapped in a large mat. Class B. Roughly Oval or Oblong Graves. Graves before s.D. 41. H 15. — Grave roughly oval, 42 x 32 x 54 inches deep (N.W. and S.W.). Plundered, and skeleton broken up. Fragments of reed matting amongst the bones. At the northern end of the grave were two red pottery bowls decorated with designs in white (PL xxiv. 1 ; xxvi.. 2), a smaller bowl (P 17a), and a black-topped pottery vase (B 72g). Fragments of green malachite were found in the debris. H 17 (PI. i. 5). — Shallow, roughly oval grave 25 inches deep. Plundered. The bones of a woman and child lay in a heap in the centre. A few fragments of reed matting were found. Mixed with the bones and scattered around CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. 11 were five small pottery bowls (F lie; F 12; i 12a; F 126; P 11#), a larger vase containing grain (B 63c), one large and two smaller slate palettes of rhombic shape, and a small slate pendant of the same type (PI. xiii. 3). Fragments of ivory bracelets, a fragment of an ivory comb, a cornelian pendant, two gold, three cornelian beads, and one glazed composition bead were also found in the debris, and also a small red polished pottery bowl decorated inside with ordinary criss-cross pattern in white. H 26 (PL ii. 6). — Eoughly oval grave, 48 X 30 x 48 inches deep. The body of a man lay in a contracted position on the left side with the head to the south-east. The skeleton had been wrapped in a reed mat. A pottery vase (B 22/) had been wedged in between the matting and the side of the grave, before the face. H 29 (PL ii. 8, 9, 10). — Large square grave 87 x 80 x 90 inches deep. This was the richest grave found on the site and yielded objects of great interest. It was quite un- plundered, but owing to the size of the grave the pottery and skeletons were badly crushed by the weight of the debris above, which included several comparatively large stones. In the centre of the grave lay a skeleton on its left side with the head to the south-east ; the legs were slightly drawn up and the arms were stretched out, the hands being in line with the face. Between the forearms was a mass of ivory bracelets (PL ii. 9) in a very crushed state, but from these fragments we were able to restore several perfect specimens (PL xii. 2). On the ribs lay a ma'ce head made of clay (PL xii. 2), and at the top of the head were several more ivory bracelets. At the back of the head were several strings of cornelian and green glazed steatite beads ; the former roughly made, the latter very well cut (PL ii. 9 ; PL xii. 1 and 2). To south of this mass of beads and bracelets lay an ivory figure and four ivory wands (PL xi. 1). These were all rather fragile, but by the judicious use of paraffin wax we were able to remove them almost entire. Behind this skeleton (between it and the side of the grave) was a slate palette, rhomboid in shape (PL xi. 2), and on, apparently, a small ledge in the side of the grave (or possibly this side of the burial had been tampered with), lay a small vase of white limestone at the level of eight inches above the floor (PL xii. 2, central vase). Against the south-east end of the grave were three large black-topped vases (B 25o; B 25p ; B 25q), under which were great frag- ments of resin and sulphate of lime, and a great deal of burnt organic matter, also a very large slate palette of the usual rhomboid shape (PL ii. 10), two valves of mussel shells, and a small bowl (P 4b). In front of this central skeleton and compressed against the west side of the grave lay another body in the same position. At the top of its head lay a broken vase of black-topped pottery (c/. B 27c), two polished red pottery vases (P 64a ; P 656), and a superb bowl of polished red pottery decorated with a pattern in white lines on the interior and with four figures of hippopotami modelled on the rim (PL xi. 3). To the south of these were a few bones of an ox under a mat. At the feet of the skeleton lay two shells, containing fragments of green malachite, and some beads ; here were also found two polished pebbles with which the malachite was perhaps ground on the slate palettes. At the north end of the grave were found, lying in a heap, a small pottery bowl (P 7a), a limestone vase (PL xxi. 2), two small ivory vases (PL xii. 2), the fragment of an ivory comb (PL xi. 2), two ivory hair-pins (PL xii. 2), another small ivory comb, and a small ivory donkey which may have originally belonged to it (PL xii. 2). Here were also found several well cut beads of resin and haematite. The skeletons-were unfortunately badly crushed. That in the centre was the larger of the two, and was apparently that of a woman, having a thigh- bone of 16 inches long, that of the other being only 14 inches in length. The whole burial was c 2 12 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. covered with matting (PI. ii. 8), and the central skeleton seems also to have been laid on a mat the side of which, behind the skeleton, was strengthened with a lathe of wood 1 inch thick. Just at the back of the shoulder-blades of this skeleton were two large pieces of clay, painted red, but too broken to be examined, which may perhaps have originally formed part of a clay steatopygous figure, or a group of clay animals. H 30. — Large square grave, 72x72x66 inches deep. Plundered. The remains of two skeletons lay in a contracted position on the left side, with head to the south-west. Behind the pelvis of the western skeleton lay a black stone vase (PI. xxi. 2) and a fragment of a worked flint flake. In a similar position behind the other body were found a small pottery bowl (P 7) and a decorated bowl similar to that on PI. xxiv. (No. 8). On a ledge 6 inches broad, which stretched across the northern end of the grave, were found two vases (P 17a, B 84a). H 34 (PI. ii. 7). — Koughly oval grave, 36x28x42 inches deep. Body of a man lying on face in a very contracted position, with head to the south-east. Between the body and the western side of the grave were two vases (B 22b, B 62). In the rubbish of the shaft was found a pottery bowl (L 19c). A few fragments of matting were found under the pottery. H 36. — Boughly oval grave, 54x48x72 inches deep. The body of a man lay in a contracted position on the left side, with head to the south-east. No traces of matting were found. Before the face and against the western side of the grave stood a pottery vase (P 69). H 37. — Eoughly oval grave, 48 X 36 X 60 inches deep. Plundered. The body lay in a slightly contracted position on the left side, with head to the south-east. The skeleton had been wrapped in a reed mat. Four' fragments of a slate palette of rhombic shape (PI. xxiii., slates) were found by the left elbow, and a pottery vase (P 66a) in the debris filling the shaft. H 45 (PI. xiii. 1, 2, 4). — Roughly oval grave, 80 x 70 inches long. The north end of the grave had been broken into and the upper part of the body destroyed. The skeleton was lying in a contracted position, with the head to the north. Against the east side of the grave stood a pottery vase (P 65a), and between this and the pelvis of the skeleton lay two small ivory objects (PI. xiii. 2). Slightly to the south of these were two small ivory pendant " wands " (PI. xiii. 4) and a large bowl (P le). To south of this again was a small heap of two ivory pins, an ivory comb, and a mass of white clay (PI. xiii. 4). Against the south side of the grave lay alarge stone corn-grinder (PI. xiii. l). Behind the skeleton were two dishes (PL 11/, two dishes), a decorated bowl (PL xxiv. 4), and three vases (B 11/; B 18d ; B 72g). Two small clay cup-shaped objects painted red and pierced with small holes round the upper lip (PL xiii. 4) were also found here. In shifting the rubbish several small cornelian and green glazed beads were found (PL xiii. 4). H 53. — Rectangular grave, 48 x 42 x 40 (app.) inches deep. Plundered. Body on the left side, with head to the south-east and lying in a somewhat contracted position. Four vases (B 22n ; P 13a; P 13c; F lie) and the end of a small slate palette of the usual rhomboid shape (PL xxiii. slates) were found in the debris. H 88. — Roughly oval grave, 52x28x36 inches deep. Plundered. Boj es from two male skeletons were scattered about. Three vases (B 266 ; P 66 ; F 146) and two glazed steatite beads were found. In the debris filling the shaft was found a decorated bowl (PL xxiv. 3). H 97. — Roughly oval grave, 60 X 48 x 48 inches deep. Plundered. No skeleton found. A few fragments of matting. At the south end and possibly in their original position were found three vases (B 22/> ; B 29e ; P 13c?) and some fragments of sulphate of lime. In the rubbish 12 inches from the surface were found fragments of a red pottery bowl, decorated both on the inner and outer surface with figures of animals CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. 13 in white (PI. xiv.) ; and also a large clay head coloured red and green (PI. xv. i.). H 135. — Roughly oval grave, 48 x 32 inches broad. Plundered. The bones of a child lay in a heap on the east side. Four vases (B 21d, two vases; B 111; P lc) stood against the west side of the grave. In the north-west corner was a heap of matting, and in the centre were found five small balls of decayed wood of 1 inch diameter each. Graves before s.D. 46. H 12 (PL iii. 11). — Eoughly oval grave, 43x30x43 inches deep. The body of a man lay in a very contracted position on t*he left side, with head to the south. Between the skeleton and the western side of the grave stood two pottery vases and a bowl (B 72e ; B 72c ; P 16c). In the angle of each elbow lay a shell. That in the right arm contained a fragment of wood, in the other was a piece of resin which showed traces of having been wrapped in cloth. H 27 (PL iii. 12). — Eoughly oval grave, 42x31x30 inches deep (app.). The skeleton of a woman lay on its back in a Contracted posi- tion, with legs, arms, and face turned towards the west, the head lying to the south-east. Before the face lay a slate palette of rhombic shape. The whole burial had been wrapped in a reed mat. The north-west end of the grave was slightly undercut to form a recess for the feet. H 32. — Roughly oval grave, 50 x 39 x 54 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south-east. The skeleton had been wrapped in a mat. At the southern end of the grave were two vases (B 22;', two vases). In the debris of the shaft was found a vase (B 25/). At a depth of 20 inches from the surface at the southern end of the grave was a layer of burned wood. H 42 (PL vi. 31). — Circular grave (?), 60x60x48 inches below the surface. The burial was under the south-east end of grave H 41 (q.v.) with a few inches of sand between. The tops of the large vases, however, came up slightly into H 41 grave. These large vases have in the photograph been tipped slightly back to get rid of the shadow. The burial was a curious one in many ways. The matting, which had spread over the whole burial, was, as can be seen from the photograph, intact ; the burial had apparently not been plundered. Under the matting in the centre lay a slate palette 1 5 inches long, of rhomboid shape ; on the right of this lay the ribs and collar-bone of one side of a goat or antelope. On the other side were the complete fore-leg bones of a similar animal, and the scapula, collar-bones, and humerus of a man and three human vertebrae, a little below were the bones of two human feet ; no- thing else, however, was found of the skeleton. This can hardly be a case of dismembered burial : the people who dug H 41 probably raised the matting of the grave below and destroyed the skeleton before burying their own dead, for at that time, of course, the matting would be quite hard and could be lifted. At the south end of this small burial were several vases (B 27^ ; B 55b; B 26d, five vases; P 63a) and the remains of a clay female steatopygous figure which had crumbled to pieces. The length of the body of this figure seems to have been about 10 inches by 2 inches thick, and the legs about 7 inches by 3. Near the animal bones was a small clay cup-shaped object painted red and perfor- ated round the upper lip (cf. similar objects in H 41, PI. xvi. l). The size of the grave, as given above, refers only to the size of the reed matting. The original size cannot of course be estimated with certainty. H 55. — Roughly oval grave, 36 x 27 x 46 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south-east. Against the western side of the grave stood a pottery vase and bowl (B 41a ; B 12a). The whole burial had been enclosed in a reed mat. 14 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. H 56. — Roughly oval grave, 48 x 37 X 48 inches deep. The body of a woman lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south-east. Before the face lay a slate palette of rhombic shape. H 99. — Roughly oval grave, 48 X 36 x 72 inches deep. The body lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. The skeleton had been wrapped in a reed mat. Outside the mat, at the head, stood a single vase (B 27 g, var.). Graves before s.r>. 51. H. 16. — Shallow grave in the sand. The skeleton of a woman lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. At the head stood a large vase in which was a smaller vase (B 25i ; B 72d). H 18 (PL iii. 14). — Roughly oval grave, 84x48x42 inches deep. The body lay on the left side in a half-contracted position, with head to the south. Before the face were a large slate palette of rhomboid shape, on which lay two ivory pendants, and underneath it was another broken rhombic palette (PL xv. 4). — These and the burial were wrapped in a reed mat. Behind the body was a long strip of wood, possibly forming an edge to the lower mat. Before the body were three vases (B 35^ ; B 52; R 81) and a large flat polished red pottery bowl. Round the left wrist were found eight glazed steatite and four cornelian beads (PL xv. 4). H 20. — Roughly oval grave, 40 X 28 x 36 inches deep. The body of a child lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Before the face stood a vase (B I8g). H 24. — Roughly oval grave, 56 x 26 x 36 inches deep. The body lay on the left side in a slightly contracted position, with head to the south-east. Under the cheek was a thin layer of mud. Behind the neck stood a vase (B 18/). H 33. — Roughly oval grave, 95 x 64 x 48 inches deep. Plundered. Only the backbone and one thigh-bone remained. If these were in their original position, as is possible, then the body lay at the south end of the grave on its right side in a contracted position, with head to the north-west. The whole of the north-west end of the grave was occupied by a ledge 20 inches broad and 8 inches high. Between this and the assumed position of the skull were found the legs of a very large steatopygous clay figure painted red. Both this and the skeleton had been covered with a mat. On the ledge stood five vases (B 26b ; B 27/; B 69a ; P 19c; R 82c), a vase in yellowish pottery (PL xxv. i.), and a black incised bowl. H 39 (PL xix. 2, 3). — This grave had been opened and the skeleton and objects completely disturbed, only a few bones of the former being found. Several objects were, however, found in the rubbish. On sifting the sand, on the floor of the grave were found a string of glazed steatite beads (PL xix. 2) and a large cornelian bead of cylindrical shape. Loose in the rubbish were also found an ivory cow or dog, a small diorite mace head, an ivory comb, and a small flint flake (PL xix. 2), also several vases (B Hi ; F 14a ; B 65a ; B 65b, two vases ; B 77 ; P 15c), and five fancy forms of vases — two of each of the types shown on PL xix. 3, and a piece of a curiously shaped bowl (F 18). H 40 (PL vi. 29). — Roughly oval grave, 36 x 48 inches broad. The body of a woman 'lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Before the face stood two pottery vases (B 19 ; B 12a). At the elbow lay two flint flakes (PL xxiii. 2). The whole burial had been enclosed in a reed mat. H 46. — Roughly oval grave, 48x26x48 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south-east. The skeleton had been wrapped in a reed mat. At the head stood a vase (B 19). H 50 (PL iii. 13).— Roughly oval grave, 48 x 36 x 44 inches deep. The body of a woman lay on the left side in a contracted CATALOGUE OP IMPORTANT GRAVES. 15 position, with head to the south. Traces of reed matting were found. Before the face stood a vase (B 19a). A niche 14 inches deep had been cut in the rock at the south end of the grave, but it was empty. H 54. — Koughly oval grave, 42 x 24 x 42 inches deep. The body lay on its back, with head to the south-east. The arms were crossed on the breast and the legs slightly drawn up on the left side. At the head were two vases (B 19; B 13c). No traces of matting were found. H 61, A and B. — These were originally two separate roughly oval graves, but the partition between had collapsed. H 61 A seems to have been slightly the earlier in position. A 40 x 34 x 40 inches deep. The body of a woman lay on its back, with head to the south, arms and legs both pulled over to the left side, the latter being drawn up at right-angles to the body. On the left of the head were two pottery vases (B 216; B 63a). Against the left breast lay an ivory pendant (PL xv. 2) and a slate palette of rhombic shape (PL xxiii. 1). An ivory comb (PL xv. 2) had been in the hair. The burial had been enclosed in a reed mat. B 44 x 34 x 40 inches long. The body of a man lay on the right side in a contracted position, with head to the south. The skeleton had been wrapped in a mat. Fragments of black-topped pottery were found in the shaft. H133 (PL iii. 15).— Boughly oval grave, 50 x 36 x 36 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Before the face lay a painted pottery vase (cf. Naqada, xxxiv. 41). The body and this vase had been wrapped in a reed mat. Against the east side of the grave stood three pottery vases (B 456, two vases ; P 40c). Traces of cloth were found on the lower jaw of the skeleton. H 140. — Roughly oval grave, 43 x 36 x 48 inches deep. The body of a woman lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Before the face stood a vase (B 18c (2)) and before the breast lay a slate palette of rhombic shape and a vase (B 77e). The whole burial had been enclosed in a reed mat. Graves before s.d. 56. H 1. — Roughly oval grave, 36 x 38 x 45 inches deep. Body on left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. The skeleton had been wrapped in a mat. Against the east side of the grave were four pottery vases (B 64c ; B 74c ; B 79 ; L 4a). H 5. — Roughly oval grave, 36x21x52 inches deep. The body lay on the left side in a slightly contracted position, with head to the south-east. The skeleton had been wrapped in a mat. Before the face were two pottery vases (B 12a ; B 22o). H 6 (PL iv. 16). — Roughly oblong grave, 54x32x60 inches deep. The body lay on the left side in a slightly' contracted position, with head to the south-east. At the southern end of the grave stood three pottery vases (B 27i; B 26c; B 57b), and before the face lay a re-used breccia staff head. The whole burial had been enclosed in a reed mat. H 10 (PL iv. 17). — Roughly oval grave, 43 x 38 x 64 inches deep. Body lying in a con- tracted position on the left side, with head to the south. The left arm was outstretched. The skeleton had been wrapped in a reed mat. Against the west side of the grave were standing two pottery vases (B 22& ; B 255). The larger vase is marked with the drawing of a lion and a sign resembling a double axe-head. H 22 (PL iv. 18).-— Roughly oval grave, 50 x 33 X 24 inches deep. The body of a woman lay on the left side in a slightly contracted position, with head to the south. Before the face lay two slates (PL xv. 3). The skeleton and slates had been wrapped in a reed mat. Above the head stood three vases (B 49a ; B 72/; B 746), and an oval dish, black inside. H 25 (PL iv. 19). — Roughly oval grave, 40 x 16 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. 23 inches broad. The body lay in a slightly contracted position on the left side, with the head to the south-east. Behind the back stood a vase (B 74e) and a broken bowl (B Hi ?). A mat seems to have been placed over the body, no traces of it were found beneath the skeleton. In the rubbish filling the shaft were found three ivory pendants (PI. xv. 2). H 38 (PL iv. 20).— Roughly oval grave; 90x78x42 inches deep. The skeleton of a woman lay in the centre on the left side, with head to the south-south-east. At the head were a white limestone vase and a pisciform slate palette (PI. xviii. 5). Before the body lay a great mass of broken vases, and this and the body had been covered with a mat (54 x 54 inches square), apparently strengthened at the edges with lathes of wood two inches thick. Outside this mat on the south stood a large black-topped pottery vase (B 255), and against the south corner was another mass of broken pottery. As the grave had not been plundered, these had probably been crushed by the weight of the debris (R 80a; P 36e ; F 15a; B 25k, two vases; B 251- ; B lira; F 15a). H 41 (PI. v. 22). — Large roughly rectangular grave, 106 x 64 x 42 inches deep. In the debris of the shaft were found numerous beads and fragments of pottery. In the centre of the grave lay the skeleton of a woman on the left side, with head to the south-east, and in a con- tracted position. Before this skeleton lay the skull and bones of a child in a heap, and at its back was a similar heap of adult bones without a skull. The tomb had evidently been broken into and partly plundered. Fragments of grass matting were found in the debris. The central skeleton had, however, not been so roughly handled as the other two, and both forearms were loaded with ivory bracelets (PL xvi. 2), whilst under the left cheek-bone was found a small ivory pendant (PL xvii. 2). On the breast lay a small diorite staff head, and along the line of the spine lay a curious female (?) figure made of clay, painted red, the legs of which were bent back in the characteristic burial position of the period (PL xvi. 1, 2). It is impossible to say whether this was in its original position or not. It was badly broken, and it was only by the copious use of paraffin wax that the upper part of the figure was saved. At the extreme north- west end of the grave on a little mound of sand were lying a black-topped pottery vase (B 26 a 7 ), a clay cup-like object painted red and pierced round the lip (PL xvi. l), and a small clay table (PL xvii. 1, 4), the top surface of which was divided by pricked lines into eighteen squares. Several small cubes of unbaked clay were also found here, which may have served as pieces in a game. To the south of the skull of the child lay, at a higher level, an ivory comb (PL v. 22 ; PL xvii. 2). The south-west end of the grave was filled with a line of pottery vases (B 655 ; B 62d; B 265; B 27m; B 25;'; B 52a; B 25/* ; P 1 Id), among which were found seven baked clay objects, pear-shaped, pierced for suspension, and hollow. These rattled when shaken (PL xvii. 3). Above, south of the head of the central skeleton were found a small whitened unbaked clay pen- dant (PL xvii. 2), two of the cup-like objects (PL xvi. 1), and bunches of model garlic (PL xvi. i.). Amongst the bones of the second adult were more of the small, and two larger, cubes of un- baked clay. Round the neck and at the feet of the central skeleton were large masses of resin (cf. PL xvi. 2). At its neck and on sifting the rubbish generally round the skeletons were found cornelian, shell, one haematite, silver, green glazed, and gold beads (PL xvi. 3). As may be seen from the photograph (PL v. 22), the whole bottom of the tomb is on a slanting level from the rows of vases on the south-west to the small group of objects at the north-east end, and the line of the matting can be traced in the sand at the side and goes down in a similar slope. The reason for this seems to have been that under the south- west of the grave was already an older deposit or burial. This is dealt with under H 42 (p. 13). CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. 17 H 49 (PL v. 21). — Eoughly rectangular grave. 62x60x60 inches deep. On the east side of the grave lay the skeleton of a woman in a slightly contracted position, with head to the south-east and on the left side. On the right forearm, which was drawn up before the face, were several ivory bracelets and an ivory comb (PL xviii. 4). Between the body and the side of the grave lay a long slate palette (PL xviii. 3), broken into two pieces which lay side by side. Between the skull and the south-east end of the grave was a vase (B 27k) and a small slate palette (PL xviii. 4). At the feet lay a large black granite corn grinder (PL xviii. 3). Against the east side of the grave was the upper part of the skeleton of a child, lying on its left side, with head to the south-east. On the right forearm, which was before the face, were an ivory bracelet and a string of beads (PL xviii. 4, on right). Near the child's body were found further beads of cornelian glaze, and two of resin or amber (PL xviii. 4). The body of the woman and such of the child's skeleton as remained were found covered with reed matting, which was still intact. But the north-west corner of the grave had evi- dently been plundered. Behind the head of the child were four pottery vases (B 686 ; P Id ; P 116 ; P 15d). H 52. — Eectangular grave, 40 X 30 X 58 inches deep. The body lay on the left side in a slightly contracted position, with head to the south- east. Before the face stood a single pottery vase (B 18g). Fragments of reed matting were found in the grave. H 57. — Eoughly square grave, 36x36x48 inches deep. Plundered. Bones heaped in the centre. Traces of matting round sides of grave, but none over the bones. Three vases (B 25l ; P 16c; B35) and a slate palette of rhombic shape lay at the bottom of the grave. H 58.— Eoughly oblong grave, 48x44x36 inches deep. The body of a woman lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south-east. On the breast lay a, pottery vase (B 78a 7 ), and against the western side of the grave stood numerous vases and bowls (B 25 k ; B 11m ; B llifc ; B 35e ; B 78c, two vases ; B 256 ; B 350 ; B 72b • B 746 ; P 22c?). The body and the single vase were enclosed in a reed mat, but all the other vases stood on the outer edge of the mat. H 93 (PL v. 23).— Roughly oval grave, 52 X 32 x 44 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Before the face stood three vases (P 35# ; B 78 ; R 82a). The skeleton and vases had been enclosed in a reed mat, and fragments of cloth were found on the arms. H 134. — Eoughly oval grave, 54 X 36 X 42 inches deep. The skeleton lay on the left side, with head to the south, in a contracted position. Before the face lay a vase (B 26). A reed mat enclosed the burial. H 137. — Eoughly oval grave, 44 x 30 x 54 inches deep. The body of a woman (?) lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Between the body and the west side of the grave stood three vases (B 61 ; B 746 ; P 22a). The whole burial had been enclosed in a reed mat, the edges of which had apparently been tied together over the body, since several fragments of cord made of twisted grass were found on the ribs of the skeleton (PL xxi. 3). - Graves before s.D. 61. H 60.— Eoughly oblong grave, 37 x 30 x 38 inches deep. The body of a child lay in a half- contracted position on its left side, with head to the south-east. Before the breast lay a vase (B 75d). At the south end stood a vase (B 68c), and against the eastern side of the grave were two vases (L 7e ; L 16a). The whole burial had been enclosed in a reed mat. H 74 (PL vii. 33). — Eoughly oval grave, 36 x 30 x 48 inches deep. The body of a child lay on its left side in a half-contracted position, with head to the south-west. At its feet stood two vases (E 67 ; E 67a) and a large lump of D 18 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. clay. Fragments of matting were found under the body. H 77. — Square grave. Plundered. Eight vases (B 55a ; P 406 ; P 45a ; K 44a ; E 81a, two vases; L 16e; L 16g) and a few fragments of matting were found in the debris. H 82. — Roughly oblong grave, 46 x 28 x 40 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south-east. The skeleton had been wrapped in a mat. Against the west side of the grave stood several vases (B 1/; P 40 ; P 95c ; L 16A ; L 16?). H 86. — Large roughly oblong grave, 60x56x48 inches deep. Plundered. The whole of the west side of the grave was cut back into the rock, thus forming a recess about 20 inches deep. At the south end of this recess was a single vase (W 14). In the shaft at the south end were seven vases (B 53 ; P 40e ; R 80a, grain ; B 80a, three vases ; R 26). H 102 (PI. v. 24). — Roughly oval grave. 48 x 40 x 42 inches deep. Body lying on the left side in a contracted position, head to S.S.- east. In front of the body stood six vases (R 69/, two vases ; P 40 j ; L 36 ; L 4=a]; P 40d). H 136 (PI. v. 25).— Roughly oblong grave, 36x48x38 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position. Fragments of matting were found on the body. Before the face lay a pottery vase (B 47). Be- hind the neck stood two other vases (B 49a ; L 16e); in the latter vase were small balls of grain. Graves after s.d. 60. H 2. — Roughly oval grave, 46 x 33 x 46 inches deep. The grave lay east and west. At the west end was the skeleton of a child lying on the right side, with head to the west, in a con- tracted position. Under the skeleton were found the remains of a reed mat. A large mass of cloth lay between the hands and the mouth. On the left wrist was a small copper bracelet. At the neck were found a few glazed steatite cylindrical beads and a cornelian pendant. Be- hind the body was a white pottery vase and a pisciform slate palette (PI. xix. i.). H 8. — Roughly oval grave, 66 x 28 X 48 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side, with head to the south-east, and in a very contracted position. Before the body lay a pottery vase (W 62a). At the northern end of the grave stood two vases (L 53p). The burial had been plundered. H 47. — Roughly oval grave, 48 x 30 inches broad. Body of a child lay on the left side in a half-contracted position, with head to the south- east. Behind the body stood three vases (R 45a ; P 40i; R 96a 7 ). The skeleton had been covered with a mat, but the vases stood on the outer edge. H 70 (PI. vi. 26). — Roughly oval grave, 55x30x56 inches deep. The body of a young person lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the S.S.-east. Before the face stood a pottery vase (L 12c). At the southern end of the grave stood three vases (L 30a), one of which was filled with ashes. A mat had covered the skeleton and bowl, but did not extend to the larger vases. Some green steatite and cornelian beads were found before the face. H 72. — Roughly oblong grave. Plundered. No skeleton. A few fragments of matting, some scraps of green malachite, and four vases (L 58d; R 84a; D 66/; D 66#) were found in the rubbish. H 75 (PI. vi. 27). — Roughly oblong grave, 44 x 25 x 52 inches deep. The body lay on its left side in a contracted position, with head to the S.S.-east. The skeleton had been wrapped in a reed mat. Against the southern, western, and northern sides of the grave stood three vases (L 30a ; L 30, two vases), two of which (L 30 type) were filled with ashes. At the top of the skull were found a few green glazed steatite and cornelian beads. H 79. — .Roughly oval grave, 44 x 22 x 52 CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. 19 inches deep. The body lay on its left side in a contracted position, with head to the S.S.-east. Against the breast lay a vase (P 88a), and a small bowl and flint flake were found by the right elbow. No traces of matting were discovered. H 80. — Large square grave, 72 x 72 x 72 inches deep. In the rubbish were found six vases (B 536 ; P 43a ; P 82d ; E 80a, two vases, one with mud ; E 76). H 81. — Eectangular grave, 74 x 50 x 58 inches deep. Plundered, no skeleton. At the southern end was a ledge 8 inches high and 22 inches broad, on which lay a flint knife and six vases (E 94c; E 8 la, three vases, two with clay; L 16c; E 666). One of the vases (E 81a) stood in a stand made of a ring of twisted grass. H 83. — Eectangular grave, 84x54x60 inches deep (app.). Plundered, no skeleton. Eound the southern (and western?) side ran a ledge on which stood several vases (P 92a; P 936, six vases ; W 436, six vases ; B 53 ; E 816; E 94a; L 46; L7d, five vases). On the ledge was also found a finely worked flint knife (PL xxii. 4). Fragments of woodwork were found in the rubbish. H 85 (PI. xix. 4, 5, 6).— Large roughly rectangular grave, 126 x 82 x 46 inches deep (S.E. and N.W.). The burial had been dis- turbed anciently and the contents scattered. On the west side of the grave were the remains of three large baskets, 26 inches long (PI. xix. 6), on one of which were found a great many fragments of clay modelled to imitate bunches of garlic and painted white (cf. H 41, PI. xvi. 1). At one end of these was a pottery dish. At the south-east end of the grave were a crushed black-topped pottery vase (B 25m?), a diorite staff head (PL xix. 4), some clay beads painted red, both cylindrical and globular (PL xix. 4), and three small copper implements (PL xix. 5). In the centre of the grave were a few bones from a child's skeleton mixed with fragments of ivory. Here were also found four cornelian beads and two stone pendants (PI. xix. 4). To the east of these was a great mass of clay beads painted red, in a very fragile state (PL xix. 4). In the rubbish were a few fragments of clay painted red, which may have belonged to one of the steatopygous female figures such as was found in H. 33; H 89. — Eoughly oval grave, 36 x 18 X 18 inches deep. In the rubbish were found three vases (E 82 ; L 30c ; L 53a). H 110 (PL vi. 28).— Eoughly oval grave, 43 x 28 x 44 inches deep. Body lying on its breast in a contracted position, head to the south and resting on the palm of the left hand, the right hand being before the face. Three vases were found at the south end of the grave (P 816; E 26e; E 80a), the last being filled with ashes. Near the body were found cornelian, green-blue glazed steatite, and serpentine beads. H 118. — Plundered grave. A few green- blue glazed steatite and cornelian beads, a broken slate-palette (PL xxiii. slates), and eight vases (E 4a, three dishes ; L 30, two vases, ashes; W 50, ashes ; D 25) were found in the rubbish. H 134a. — Plundered grave. The skull of a goat and several vases (E \g ; E 26c ; E 42a ; L 38a ; L 47a ; L 36a ; W 69, mud ; W 70 ; w 714 H 138. — Eoughly oval grave, 66 x 34 x 44 inches deep. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the S.S.-east. Before the face stood a vase (D 20a). One of the tibia was missing, and there was no trace of matting. Class B 2. Eooped Graves. (After s.d. 60.) H 65. — Eoughly oval grave, 48 x 40 x 56 inches deep. Plundered. In the debris were found fragments of clay, on the under side of which were the marks of matting or twigs, and numerous pieces of wood. These are probably from a roofing similar to that found in H 66. In the debris were also found several pottery vases (E 26, two vases ; P 316 ; W 71c, L 53/fc), D 2 20 PRE- DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. a plain ivory pin and the remains of a clay mace head. H 66 (PI. vii. 34). — Eoughly oblong grave, 58 x 36 inches broad. Plundered. At one end of the grave a fragment of roofing (measuring 22 inches across) was found intact (c/. Chapter II.). Two pottery vases were found in the de'bris (W 71c, L 656). H 68. — Eoughly oval grave, 50 x 38 x 57 inches deep. Plundered. The body (no head) lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south-west. At the knees lay a vase (P 86a), and two others stood at the feet (L 19a ; and a mud bowl of almost same shape). At the neck were found six cornelian beads, and at the feet was found a larger cornelian bead. From the fragments of mud and wood in the rubbish the grave had probably been roofed as H 66. The upper part of the shaft was ap- parently cut back and the roof laid on the ledge thus formed and weighted with stones (?), a stone with matting under it was found on the ledge. H 78. — Eoughly oval grave with remains of similar roof to H 66. Two vases (L 65b ; W 80). H 84 — Eoughly oblong grave, 43 x 21 x 57 inches deep. The body of a woman lay on the left side, with head to the south-east. At the feet lay three vases (E 96a"; L 31c; W 60a). At a height of twelve inches above the floor were the remains of a mud and twig roofing. H 109 (PI. vii. 35).— Oval grave, 54 x 42 x 54 inches deep. The tomb had been anciently plundered, but only the head and hands were out of position. The skeleton lay on its left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Three vases lay at the feet (L 53n; L 62a, fine brown dust ; W 80, grey powder). The body lay on a piece of wood about £ inch ' thick, and showed signs of having been wrapped in cloth. Traces of mud and wood were found round the sides of the grave at a depth of 32 inches below the surface ; this had probably formed a roof over the burial. . Hill (PI. vii. 36, 37).— Oblong grave with rounded corners, 60 X 36 x 48 inches deep. Body lying on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Three vases were found, one touching the knees (L 19a) and the other two in front of the face(L 60a, L 58a"). The body, which had been wrapped in a coarse mat, was partly resting on a piece of wood 38 inches long and 4 inches wide. About 12 inches above the body and running round the sides of the grave were traces of mud and wood, with wood just below it, which had evidently formed a roofing to the grave. H 122. — Plundered grave. The burial had originally been covered by a layer of coarse grass or fibre, with a thick coating of mud on the top. In one corner was a goat's skull. A few cornelian and glazed steatite beads were found, and also some of a dark green stone. Several vases were found (L 36e, a little mud ; W 55 a, three vases with mud on top of sand ; W 55, ashes ; W 55a, sand and mud ; W 60a, sand and mud ; W 30, ashes). Class C. Burials in Pottery Coffins. (After s.D. 60.) H 92 (PI. vii. 38). — Eoughly oval grave, 62 x 45*j x 55^ inches deep. Body of a man lying in a contracted position on left side, with head to the S.S.-east. The body lay on a mat in a bottomless coffin of unbaked clay. The internal dimensions of the coffin were 45 x 21 X 11^ inches deep, and | inch thick. As the burial had been previously opened, we could not find out whether the body had been rolled in the mat or not, but the mat which supplied the place of a bottom to the coffin curved up slightly at the edges, and may quite possibly have been folded over the body. A fragment of matting was found wedged tightly between the west side of the coffin and a large stone, and it is possible this was part of a roof to the coffin. Five pottery vases stood against the west side of the CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. 21 grave (L 30c, three vases; W 49, two vases). Beads of a light blue glazed faience were found near the skull (cf. Chapter IV. PL xxiv.). Fragments of cloth were found on the skull. H 105. — Roughly oval grave, 29 x 22 x 14 inches deep, containing a small empty coffin of sun-dried mud, 18x10x7 inches deep (inside measurements), sides of the coffin, 1^ inches thick. Coffin lying N.N. -west by S.S.-east. Class D. Wood-lined Graves. (1) H 4 (PL ix. 45).— Oblong grave, 52 x 28 x 43 inches deep. Grave lined at the sides and ends with boards 1 inch thick. Body of a woman lying on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south. Fragments of a mat were found at the head. At the south end of the grave stood seven pottery vases (L 17 ; L 65 ; L 65d ; L 65/; D 25c ; D 66a ; L 33a). Between the third and fourth were the remains of the skull and skeleton of a goat (?). Before the face lay a pottery bowl containing fragments of malachite and resin, and a small clay bowl in which was found a spherical blue glazed bead and a few scraps of resin. The bone of a small animal (goat ?) lay across the bowl on some sand. At the top of the head lay a slate palette, a plain ivory pin, and a long green glazed bead. At the neck were found a small green glazed bead and a few cornelian beads (PL xx. 2). (2) H 21 (PL ix. 44). — Large oblong grave, 78x65x50 inches deep. Plundered ancient- ly. The skull of a man and a few human vertebrae lay in the centre of the grave. The grave lay south-east and north-west. The grave had evidently been partially lined with wood- work, remaining intact only at the south-east end. Here stood a long board, 12 inches broad by lj inches thick, some 2 inches above the bottom of the grave and close against the side. At 13 inches from the western end of the board, another board was joined which went off to the north, enclosing several vases (B 52 ; B 77 c; W 19 ; R 696 ; R 75 ; R 766, two vases) in the lining, whilst outside stood two large coarse vases (R 80a; R 81a). Against the east side of the grave stood a large vase (R 80a), but the woodwork here had disappeared. At the height of 16 inches from the bottom of the grave at the south end were traces of matting and mud, which probably formed a roof to the grave. (S.D. 52-66.) H 23 (PL viii. 39, 40).— Large oblong grave, 84x63x48 inches deep. Partially plundered. The body of a man lay on the left side in a semi-contracted position, with head to the south-east, but had evidently been slightly shifted and the skull moved. Before the face lay a diorite staff head, a stone mace head, two stone picks (these all had wooden handles), a copper harpoon head, and two flint flakes (PL xx. 3). Under the upper part of the body and under these objects were the remains of flat boards, and traces of a board 2 inches thick laid on its edge can be seen on the right of the photograph. It seems probable that this was a wooden box or coffin in which the body was placed. There was a great deal of decayed wood in the shaft, and some fragments of matting were found under the body. At the head were three vases of pottery (B 72d ; P 46 ; P 22a) and an ivory vase and clay mace head. Near the knees was a broken pottery vase. On the west of the wooden box lay two skeletons of dogs on their backs wrapped in a mat, at their heads were numerous imitation bunches of garlic in whitened clay. Fragments of pottery vases lay in the north-east corner, but it is uncertain whether they formed part of this burial or not. H 48 (PL ix. 46, 47). — Large irregular grave, almost triangular in shape, 88 x 75 (S.E. end) —60 (N.W. end) x 50 (app.) inches deep. Partially plundered. The body of a man lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the north. Against the back of the skeleton stood a board 8x2 inches thick and forming an angle at the foot end with the PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. remains of another board, outside of which, stood two large coarse pottery vases (both R 81a, grain) ; outside the board behind the body lay three large vases of the same type (R 81a), also containing grain. At the head lay six small vases which may have been within the lining (W 43a; R 91a; W 43a; P 956; W 43a; W 43a). Against the south-west side of the grave stood three large dishes and a vase (L 16g ; three dishes, grain, P 40c) ; under the dishes were two vases (R 68a ; P 93a") ; a slate palette formed like a fish was found at the south end. At a depth of 39 inches the remains of a mat were found in the sides of the grave and also the remains of woodwork. This may have formed a roofing to the grave, (s.d. 59-65 ?) H 76 (PI. ix. 43).— Oblong grave, 53 x 27 x 55 inches deep. Partially plundered, right leg bones missing. Grave lined at the sides and ends with boards 1^ inches thick, and at least 1 6 inches high. Body of a woman lying on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the S.S.-east. In the corner before the face stood four pottery vases (R 65 c, var. ; R 65 c, and similar broken vase ; R 81a, grain). At the head were found a few beads. (After s.d. 60.) H 107 (PI. viii. 42). — Very large oval grave. Body lying on the left side in a contracted position, head to the S.S.-east. The skeleton was almost surrounded by vases which in places were piled one on top of the other and resting on a ledge scooped out at a somewhat higher level than occupied by the body. The remains of goats were found between vases on the west side of the grave. The body itself had been originally surrounded by boards of wood (1 inch thick app.), fragments of which were still found in position near the head, knees and feet. The inside measurements of the woodwork were 55 x 22 inches. Within the planking and before the hands was a single decorated vase (PI. xxv. 4), the remainder of the pottery lay outside (W 3b P 40a", two vases ; P 40/j, four vases ; P 45e R 69 ; L 44c ; L 47 ; R 81a, five vases ; R 94c L4a; L 16g ; L 16/, two dishes; L 7/; B 25o). Traces of a mat were found underneath the body and also covering the whole burial. Beneath the head was a tindery mass containing traces of cloth. Near the head were found a number of lapis lazuli and a few cornelian beads, also a single long cylindrical bead. H 108. — Oblong grave, 46 x 27 x 60 inches deep. Grave lined at sides and ends with boards \\ inches thick. Body lying in a contracted position, head to the S.S.-east, right hand placed beneath the head. Traces of mat were found underneath the body. At a height of 12 inches, above the body and running round the sides of the grave, were traces of wood from § to 1 \ inches in thickness, covered with a layer of mud ; this had evidently formed a roof over the whole burial. Four vases lay at the feet (L 17a; L 65c ; W 69a; W 71). One vase (W 69a) was filled with a fine grey powder. On the neck were some greenish-blue glazed steatite and cornelian beads. (After S.D. 60.) H 112, Plundered grave. Head and shoulders disappeared, but remainder of body in usual position on left side. Of the burial vases, three (R 84c, two vases, ashes and charcoal ; R 81a, brown matter) were found undisturbed in a hollow scooped out of the side of the grave in front of the body. Along three sides of the grave were distinct traces of a wooden lining, 1^ inches thick. The interior measurement of this lining was 30 inches square. Other vases found were of the types L 7c; L 16g ; P 40/; R 66, three vases. (After s.d. 60.) H 121. — Plundered grave. Traces of a wooden lining and roof of mud and wood. In the rubbish were found a few glazed steatite and cornelian beads, and two vases and a dish (L 36g ; L 42a ; R 4c). (After s.d. 60.) H 124. Oblong grave, anciently plundered, 44 x 20 x 60 inches deep (inside measurements). The sides and bottom of the grave had been lined with wood, l£ inches thick. Three vases (R If, two dishes ; R 4a, var., a lid to L 36(7 ; CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. 23 L 36#) still remained in position, and were placed outside the wooden lining. Two vases lay inside the woodwork (P 40c, ashes and charcoal ; D 36#). The whole burial had been covered with a coarse mat, over which had been spread a layer of mud. This roof was laid on a level with the tops of the large vases, and it could be traced round the sides of the grave at a level of thirty inches from the surface, (s.d. 60-65 app.) Class E. Mud and reed-lined Grave. H 126. Oblong grave, 42 x 27 x 60 inches deep, lying N.N.-west and S.S.-east. The sides of the grave had been coated with mud, against which had been pressed a single row of reeds, placed close together in an upright position. Only two vases remained in situ (L 455 ; L 53), being placed outside the reed lining. At the south end of the grave a hollow had been scooped in one corner in which stood these two vases, the mud and reeds extended up to but apparently not across this recess. Other vases were found in the debris (E 4df, mud, two vases ; E lb, two vases ; W 55a). Class F. Brick-lined Graves. (Early Dynastic.) H 115 (PI. x. 50). — Oblong brick-lined grave, plundered anciently. Brick-lining 70 x 31 x 31 inches deep (inside measurement), 72 inches total depth. Wooden lining within brickwork, touch- ing the east side only. Although the skull and upper portion of the body had been disturbed, the position of the legs and pelvis clearly indicated that the body lay in the usual contracted position on the left side, with head to the south. Before the face lay two bowls (E 4a two), and between the shin bones and the woodwork were three vases and a bowl (W 51 ; W 49 ; W 48 ; E 4a). The body and all these vases lay within the woodwork. At the north end of the grave between the woodwork and the brickwork were seven vases (E 45/; L 30a two; L 36d two; L 36/; E 81c), one of which (L 36/) was sealed with a conical cap of clay. Between the west side of the grave and the woodwork were three vases (all L 30a). In the south-east corner of the grave stood one vase (L 30a). This end of the grave had been entered by the former plunderers. The grave had been roofed by a layer of boughs, on the top of which had been placed reeds or grass and finished off with a thick layer of mud. The contents of the vases were as follows : — The vase (L 30a) with the conical cap contained a little hard greyish matter at the bottom. One of type L 30a was filled with mud and had a small plug of mud at the top, on which were found traces of a substance which may possibly have been fat. Three vases of type L 30a contained sand capped with a wad of mud stained with fat (?) One of the bowls before the face contained a small quantity of green malachite filled with mud, showing traces of a reddish-brown substance. Two vases of L 30a type (W 49, and E 81c) contained black dust and pieces of charcoal. Vases W 51 and ¥ 48 contained mud with traces of a brownish substance. H 116. — Oblong brick-lined grave, plundered anciently, neither body nor vases in position. Brick-lining (11 inches thick) was 88 x 40 x 27 inches deep (inside measurements), and plastered with mud on the inside. Total depth of grave, 56 inches. The brick-lined part had been roofed over with a covering of planks l£ inches thick and placed transversely. The sides of the grave had been cut back 12 inches down to the top of the brickwork, in order to give the planks a better bearing, and, to further strengthen them, the parts which rested on the brickwork were covered with a single layer of bricks 23 inches in width. H 120 (PI. x. 49). — Oblong brick-lined grave, plundered anciently. Brick-lining 67 x 36 x 22 inches deep. Total depth of grave 66 inches. 24 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. Average size of bricks, 10^ x 5^ x 2| inches. The inside of the brickwork was covered with mud plaster, and a thin coating of mud was also spread over the sand floor. Inside the brickwork was a wooden casing l£ inches thick, and some 6 inches from the brickwork. At the south-east end the skull of a goat was found between the casing and the brickwork. Within the casing were two vases ("W 55a) in the south-west corner, and a slate palette shaped like a fish (Tilapia Nilotica) (PL xxiii. 3), and at the north end five vases (W 55, P 40&, L 32a three) and two bowls (R 26/ two). In the rubbish were found some cornelian and greenish-blue glazed steatite beads. Five vases (W 55a ; P 40& ; W 55 ; L 31a, two vases) contained mud, a fifth (L 31a) was filled with a black powder with a lump of mud at the top. H 128. — Oblong brick-lined grave, plundered anciently, neither the body nor the vases being in position. The brickwork was 54 x 30 x 20 •inches deep. Total depth of the grave, 56 inches. The bricks, which were 10^ x 5^ x 2 J inches, were laid on edge and one brick thick. The whole burial seems to have been covered with boughs and twigs laid crosswise and coated on the top with a thick layer of mud. Inside the brickwork was a wooden lining, 1 inch in thickness. Two small glazed steatite beads and a long ivory spoon, with the figure of a hawk in relief behind the bowl (PL xx. 4), were found in the rubbish, as also several pottery vases (W 61; W 60a; R26/; L'36a; L 45a). H 129 (PL x. 48). — Oblong brick-lined grave, north-west and south-east, plundered anciently, neither the body nor the vases being in position. Brick-lining, 78x36x39 inches deep (inside measurements), and plastered with mud on the inside. Total depth of grave, 78 inches. The bricks, with an average size of 9 J x 4^ x 3 inches thick, were laid on edge and one brick thick. Traces of a wooden lining, coloured red on the inside, were found placed close to the brickwork. The brick-lined portion was covered over with small beams and boughs, with a thick layer of mud on the top. Running across the middle to act as a support for this roofing were two larger beams, 4|x3 inches, one placed longitudinally and the other transversely. The underneath surface of the former was 39 inches from the bottom of the grave. The sides of the grave had been cut back to receive the ends of the two larger beams, in order to give them a good bear- ing. These ends were also embedded in a mass of bricks and mud. Found in the grave were several vases (W 70a ; W 71a ; L 58c ; R Via ;), three small flint flakes, and a vase of black basalt (PL xxi. 1). Plundered Graves containing Pottery. H 3.— Vases, R 23c ; L 53o. H 11.— Vase, R57/. H 31.— Vase, P 36a\ H 62.— Vases, B 62#; B 92c ; B lid ; F 12c. H 69.— Vases, L 30a ; L 65e. H 71.— Vase, R 53a. H 87.— Vases, P 40c ; L 44c ; L 16gr ; R 85a", two vases ; B56a;W41a; R 69&. H 88a.— Vases, L 16e ; R 94a"; R 94e. H 94.— Vase, R 176. H 96.— Vase, B 19o\ H 113.— Vases, D 9 ; R 85a ; B 53. H 114.— Vases, L 46 ; R 946 ; R 94e ; R 536 ; L If, two vases. H 117.— Vase, R 76a. H 119.— Vases, P 45a"; R 85e ; L 43c; R 85c. H 123.— Vases, P 40/ ; L 436 ; F 58e ; R 93. H 125.— Vases, L 16a 1 ; R 84. H 127.— Vases, L 316; R 66a; W 58a; W 55, two vases. H 130a.— Vases, P 16 ; L 1g ; R 84a ; W 48a ; L 53Z ; R 65c. H 130.— Vases, B 27 g var. ; B 2 Id. H 131a.— Vases, L 65a ; F 58e ; B 1/. H 132a.— Vases W 44 ; L 17a ; L 36. H 133a.— Vases, L 16d ; P 46 ; P 4a ; P 19a*. H 135a.— Vases, W 55; "W 61 ; L 53/; R 65c var.; R 846. H 136a.— Vase, L 36&. H 137a.— Vase, W 58a ; L 32. H 138a.— Vases, R 23c ; R 68a. H 139a.— Vases, L 30c ; R 82a. Unplaced Graves. H 51. — Roughly oval grave, 48x30x54 inches deep. The body of a woman lay in a contracted position on the back, with head to CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT GRAVES. the south. The face was turned to the east, the arms crossed on the breast, and the legs drawn up and turned over to the west. By the right arm lay a small polished red pottery bowl, and at the left side of the waist an ostrich egg. The whole burial had been covered with a mat. H 59 (PI. vi. 30). — Oblong grave 45 x 26 x 40 inches deep. The body lay on the left side in a contracted position, with head to the south- east. Before the face lay a small stone ornament. Behind the neck lay two flint flakes, and another broken flint lay under the body (PI. xx. l). At the feet stood two vases (R 80a) and another lay before the face (B 35e). The body and smaller vase were enclosed in a mat, but the two larger vases stood on its edge. H 104. — Roughly oval grave. Plundered. 41x34x41 inches deep. Body lying on the right side in a contracted position, with head to the south. H 143 (PI. vii. 32).— Roughly oval grave, app. 50x50x38 inches deep. Body of a man, lying on back, head to south, turned to left, arms crossed on breast, legs doubled back at knees so that the feet almost touched the pelvis on the right side. The body had been wrapped in a mat, and there were traces of cloth at the neck. Outside the mat against the west side of the grave stood four pottery vases (B 271 ; B29 ; R 80a, two vases) and the remains of a dish. The grave had been broken into at the west side by another, but the burial had not been disturbed. In the photograph the large vase (R 80a) which stood against the forehead of the skeleton has been removed to obtain a better photograph. The matting is very clearly shown. The apparent ridge, before the vases, of the mat is where the mat originally came up from under the body and was doubled over to enshroud the skeleton. 26 CHAPTEE IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. Plate i. 1. — View showing the site at El Mahasna at the conclusion of the excavations. In the distance can be seen the " headland " which separates the " bay " of Abydos from that of El Mahasna. The " bays " are recessions in the line of limestone cliffs which bound the valley of the Nile in Upper Egypt on the east and west. 2-5. cf. Chapter III. Plates ii.-x. cf. Chapter III. Plate xi. 1, 1 : 2. — Ivory figure and four pen- dants of ivory found in grave H 29. The figure is practically perfect, its only loss being its right hand, or rather the termination of its arm, since the hands are not marked in any way, the arms ending in a point. The toes are marked by slight incisions at the end of the leg, and there is no projection for the foot. The top of the head is high, and no hair is marked. The ears are small solid excrescences on each side, and the mouth a mere slit, but the eyes are represented by small cylindrical blue glazed steatite beads, giving a curiously lifelike expression to the face. A. broad beard seems to cover the chin. The only clothing was apparently some sort of apron. The four wands or pendants which accompany the figure are comparatively perfect. The two on the left of the photograph are slightly hollow, and as there are small holes on each side, this hollow was probably filled with a plug which was kept in place by a peg. From the slim con- tracted shape of the figure it is possible that these five ivories were cut out of the tusks of hippopotami and not of elephants. The pendants are generally found carved with a man's head just below the ring, but here we have the human figure and plain pendants. In grave H 45 (PL xiii. 4) were found two smaller pendants also of ivory, and in grave H 41 (PI. xvii. 2) a clay pendant of this type. The use of these objects has not yet been completely explained. They are thought by some to have served a magical purpose. Similar horns are used on the west coast of Africa to catch and imprison a man's spirit. 1 It has also been suggested that they were used to hold the ground-up malachite used as eye paint ; but this seems unsatisfactory, since one of a pair of pendants is generally solid. The figure and two pendants are now in the Cairo Museum, the other objects from the grave at Manchester. 2. (1:2.) The bracelets of ivory were found between the forearms of the central skeleton. The slate palette is of the usual rhombic shape common in the graves of the early period ; the polished pebbles below and to the right were found near it and were probably used with the palette to grind the green malachite for painting the eyes 2 (cf. PI. xv. l). The ivory comb is somewhat damaged, but originally had some ornament, probably an animal, carved on the top. (Manchester Museum.) 3. (1:2.) The bowl was found in three frag- ments at the head of the smaller skeleton in grave H 29. It is, however, complete. It is made of polished dark red pottery, the outside 1 Peteib, Diospolis Parva, p. 21 ; Capaet, Debuts de I'Art en Egypte. 2 McIvee, El Amra and Abydos, p. 46. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. plain, but the inside decorated with patterns in a white wash. Round the lip runs a simple pattern also in white, and on it are modelled four hippopotami. They also are of dark polished red pottery and are well formed. The broad nose, prominent eye sockets, small ears placed far back on the head, and stumpy tail are all thoroughly characteristic of the animal. Their bodies are ornamented with white stripes which may be mere decoration, or are perhaps meant to suggest the folds of the tough skin. Plate xxvii. (No. 1 3) may perhaps be compared for similar markings on the animals' bodies. The two pairs of animals walk round the bowl in opposite directions. (Manchester Museum.) Plate xii. 1. — Grave H 29 was singularly rich in beads, being equalled in this respect only by grave H 41, and as the two graves are of different dates in the period, the comparison is of great interest. In the centre of the photograph are eight beads made of some resinous material which has become very brittle. Beads of the same material were found in grave H 49 (PI. xviii. 4), but they are very rare. Surrounding these is a string of small roughly cut cornelian beads, cylindrical in shape. The next string of green, or perhaps originally blue, glazed steatite beads are well cut, and though the glaze is not very regular, it is well polished and gives a pleasing effect. The large string of cornelian beads should really be joined to that in the photograph below. All these beads, except the small resinous group, were found behind the head of the central skeleton and in the broken skull. They seem to have been placed on or in the hair in strings, each type of bead being strung quite separately (cf. PL ii 9). Below these again are five beads and two pendants made of haematite. These are beautifully cut and polished. Such beads are rare : only one other was found on the site (grave H 41, PL xvi. 3), and they are found only for a limited period in the pre-dynastic age. (Manchester Museum.) 2. The ivory bracelets are the most perfect of those which were found between the hands of the central skeleton in H 29 (cf. PL ii. 9). They are small, well-cut, and rather thick, but not too heavy. The string of beads is described above. The two small pins, one of which has the figure of an ostrich carved on the top, whilst the other is broken, are flat and thin slips of ivory, and were found at a distance from the skeletons. The small ivory animal figure between these two was no doubt the ornament on a comb or some similar object. It is of interest, since it appears to be the earliest instance of that strange beast sacred to the god Set of which so much has been written without satisfactorily determining whether it was dog, donkey or okapi. Here its huge ears and long face and nose seem to suggest an asinine origin. The clay mace head was found on the breast of the central skeleton ; such objects are not uncommon, and were probably made solely for burial purposes since they could have been of no practical use. The central vase is of stone and the other two of ivory. It would almost look as if the ivory forms suggested the stone, since the shape adopted is one that would naturally suggest itself to a man cutting up a cylindrical tusk, though not so obvious for a stone-worker. This is, however, pure conjecture. Another small stone vase was found in the same grave and is shown on Plate xxi. 2. (Manchester Museum.) Plate xiii. 1. — Large red sandstone block with concave upper surface used for grinding corn. It was found at the south end of grave H 45. In grave H 49 a similar stone was found in the same position. In neither case was the upper stone found. 2. Two ivory tusks carved at one end with the figure of a hippopotamus, and hollow as far down as the back of the animal. The lip is perforated with small holes. These were found in grave H 45, and their actual use is uncertain. In grave B 101 at Abadiyeh were found two objects of a similar type made of E 2 28 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. stone, but there the hippopotami are the largest part, the tubes on the back being quite small, but pierced in the same way through the lip. 1 In B 101 were also found pointed hollow cones of stone, the upper lip perforated, which seem to be in some way connected with the hollow clay cones perforated round the lip which were also found in our grave (cf. 4) ; again in Naqada (PI. xvii. 25) we get a curious bowl-shaped object pierced round the upper lip, and in lxii. 44 we have a hollow truncated tusk treated in the same way. Professor Petrie {Naqada, pp. 4-7) suggests that these "plugs" of ivory and stone and clay were used for stopping the holes in a water skin. At Naqada they were constantly found in connection with leather bindings. (Cairo and Ashmolean Museums.) 3. In grave H 17 were found three slate palettes of rhombic form and a small slate pendant of the same shape. The fragment of the comb is of ivory, and the beads consist of a pendant of cornelian, one glazed steatite bead, and two gold beads. The gold beads are thin, and may have been originally formed on a body of clay or some composition. (Brussels Museum.) 4. Further objects from grave H 45. The ivory pendants on each side of the photograph are similar to those found in grave H 29, though in this case there is no human figure. The string of beads is of cornelian and green glazed steatite. The flat ivory pin is slightly broken, but may be compared with the perfect pin found in grave H 29 (PI. xii. 2) which it probably resembled. The two cone-shaped objects, which are of clay painted red, have been discussed above. Similar objects were found in several other graves on the site. The long pin in the centre and the comb are of ivory. Plate xiv. — This important vase was found in fragments in the debris of a plundered grave, 1 Diosp., PI. v. ; Naqada, PI. Ix. H 97. Fortunately all the pieces except one relatively unimportant fragment were recovered. It is made of dark polished red pottery, and is decorated on the inner and outer sides with designs of animals and trees in white. The design on the outer side consists of two antelopes or oxen (fig. 1), both of which face to the right, and two curious animals which seem to be intended for elephants (fig. 3). Elephants were well known to pre-historic man in Egypt, and are frequently represented on pottery and slate palettes. Here we have the large rounded ears, long tusks, and turned-back trunk ; whilst the end of the tail is shown as a bunch of dots possibly meant for the bunch of hairs at the tip of the animal's tail. The two elephants face each other as though fighting. Between the backs of the left-hand ox and elephant is a curious object shaped like a shield (fig. 4). The interior of the vase is decorated in the same style with a similar shield-like object (fig. l), on each side of which, and facing it, is a hippopotamus (fig. 2), characteristically drawn with square snout and great projecting lower tusks and tiny tail ; the body decorated with a similar pattern to that on the modelled hippopotami of a vase found in grave H 29 (PI. xi. 3). Behind the right-hand hippo- potamus (fig. 2) is a tree, and then come two crocodiles, the first of which is diving down into the vase and the second climbing; out. These are realistically drawn. (British Museum.) Plate xv. 1. — This head was found in a plundered grave, H 97. A few fragments of the rest of the figure were found in the debris, but they were too fragmentary to be of any use. It is, however, probable that the head was originally part of a large clay steatopygous figure, of which smaller examples have been frequently found in these early cemeteries. It is made of a very fine yellow clay, baked. The face is painted a dark red, the eyebrows much darker, almost black. The eyelids are outlined DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 29 with a broad light green band, the space within being coloured black or very dark red. The features are curious. A sloping forehead con- tinues in a great curve to the tip of a prominent though broad nose. The nostrils are two small holes and the mouth a slit, the chin recedes, and the eyes, long and large, slant downwards. The profile is very similar to that of a figure of probably the same type found in grave H 41 (PI. xvi. 1, 2.) This head is the earliest example we have showing the green around the eyes. Green malachite, which is found in a great many graves of this period, was, after being ground on the slate palettes, used very much in the same way as kohl by the modern Egyptians, both as a preventive of eye diseases and to dull the glare of the sun, and also no doubt as a personal adornment. In the shop of the chief dealer at Luxor a few years ago there was one of the small steatopygous clay female figures with its eyes similarly outlined in green. (British Museum.) 2. The comb and ivory pendant at the top are from grave H 61a. The pendant is of a common type. The three ivory objects below were found loose in the rubbish of the shaft of grave H 25, and apparently had nothing to do with the burial beneath. They represent ostriches and are carved in ivory. They belong to a large class of ivory objects, including simple "pegs," such as the one from H 61a, just above, and human- headed slips of ivory, none of which were found on this site, though many are known from other places. They are almost all decorated, besides being carved, with criss-cross lines, as though in imitation of string binding, and all are notched at the lower end. They have been found with fragments of leather adhering to this notch, as though they had been suspended, in which case the carved ones, as our ostriches here, would invariably hang upside down ! No satisfactory explanation has yet been given of their use, which may have been amuletic. Plate xv. 3. — These two small slates were found lying before the face of the skeleton in grave H 22. They are of thin slate, of a shape derived from the bodies of two birds. In the centre rises a column which is notched and pierced for suspension, and round the edge are small pierced discs of shell fixed with glue. The burial of two or more slates in a grave was not uncommon in this site. Other instances are grave H 18 (PI. xv. 4) and grave H 17 (PI. xiii. 3). 4. Objects from grave H 18. The two slates, one of which was an old broken palette, lay before the face, and on them lay the two ivory pendants. The beads, eight glazed steatite and four cornelian, had apparently been worn on the left wrist. Plate xvi. — Grave H 41 was one of the richest burials found on the site. (Brussels Museum.) 1. The hollowed clay cubes with pierced rim and painted red on the outside have already been discussed (cf. PI. xiii. 2). A great many pieces of unbaked clay, modelled to resemble bunches of garlic and painted white, were found in the grave; Similar objects were found in grave H 85, where they had apparently been laid on flat baskets, perhaps with other offerings. In making these a core of clay was first formed, probably globular in shape, and on this were pressed about nine long sausage-like rolls of clay, the tips being firmly pressed until they adhered to the core. The whole was then whitewashed, and presents a very natural appear- ance. The curious figure, on the right of the plates, was found lying on the body of the skeleton (cf. fig. 2). It lay on its side, and was of great length, the legs being drawn back into the contracted position common to early burials. We were able to save only the body and thighs, but the photograph (fig. 2) fulfils all require- ments as regards original position. The profile of the face is apparently very similar to that of the large head shown on plate xv. The back of the head has been modelled to give the appear- 30 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. ance of hair. The figure does not appear to have had arms, in which it resembles similar figures of women found in most of the pre-dynastic cemeteries. The figure was of clay and had originally been painted a dark red. 2. Shows the figure in position and also the ivory bracelets on both arms of the skeleton — four on each. 3. Eight different kinds of beads were found in this grave. A. Cylindrical beads of greenish glazed steatite. They are well cut and vary slightly in size. B. Cornelian beads cut to a raised edge round the centre and a long cylindrical cornelian bead. These beads vary greatly in size and cutting, many being rounded without the edge. C. Small, thick, irregular, cylindrical, cornelian beads. D. A string of garnets ; owing to the hard- ness of the stone these have a chipped appear- ance and are not as finished as the other beads. E. A string of small shells. F. A single large haematite bead. Well cut and polished. Haematite beads were also found in grave H 29 (PI. xii. l). G. A string of silver beads. These are very thin shells, and may have been originally formed over some composition ; they are in a fair state of preservation, though much oxidized. H. A string of gold beads and pendant. The pendant is solid, but the beads, like the silver ones, are thin shells. 4. Ivory bracelets from the right arm of the skeleton. The bracelets of the left arm (cf. fig. 2) were of a thicker, more rounded type. Plate xvii. 1 and 4. — Clay gaming-table from grave H 41. The clay of which the table and pieces were made is quite unbaked. The table stands on four stumpy legs, which had been modelled separately, and then stuck on to a flat slab. The top of this slab is edged with a row of small holes made with a reed ; down the centre run two other lines, and at right angles to these five lines, the whole surface being thus divided into eighteen squares in three lines of six each. In the rubbish near the table and also at the other end of the grave were found nine small and two larger cubes of unbaked clay. The two larger ones are slightly hollow under- neath, and there is some doubt as to whether these belong to the table or not. But it is extremely probable that the smaller pieces are "men" used in some game played on these eighteen squares. If we exclude the larger pieces, then one or three of the smaller pieces would appear to be missing ; if we include them, then one more small piece would be required to make the number equal. These cubes were all so friable that one or two could easily have crumbled away to powder ; those that we found we were forced to coat over with wax in order to preserve them further. Our present knowledge does not tell us how the game was played, but it seems to be the precursor of the game which is depicted at Beni Hasan and Medinet Habu — a sort of draughts. (Brussels Museum.) 2. The ivory comb appears to have had as an ornament on the top a figure similar to the small ivory donkey found in grave H 29 (PL xii. 2). The ivory pendant is of a common type, the " string " decoration has degraded to three horizontal parallel lines. The small clay pendant is of unbaked clay, and had apparently been coloured white. It should be compared with the pendants found in graves H 29 and H 41 (PL xi. 1 ; xiii. 4). (Brussels Museum.) 3. At the head of the grave, and lying in a DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 31 line amongst the pottery vases, were found several hollow pear-shaped objects of well-baked clay. These are dark red to black in colour and polished, and rattle when shaken. The tip of each is pierced for suspension. They may have formed a necklace or a girdle. (Brussels and Cairo Museum.) Plate xviii. 1. — In a plundered grave were found a slate palette of rhombic shape and fifty-seven small natural pebbles, all more or less spherical. The latter may have been collected to be made into beads or perhaps merely as attractive stones. 2. In grave H 7 were found glazed steatite cylindrical beads, both long and short, roughly cut cornelian beads, and a well cut and polished white crystal pendant. Also some fragments of small thin ivory bracelets, and the broken end of a pink stone jar, cylindrical in shape, which shows the drill marks clearly. 3. The large slate of unusual shape had been broken either before or whilst it was being placed in the grave, and the two pieces lay side by side. It was found before the female skeleton in grave H 49. She had also a smaller palette above her head (cf. 4), and thus had two of these objects, not an uncommon feature in this cemetery. The corn-grinder is a rough block of black granite, slightly concave on its upper sur- face, and was originally larger. It was, however, placed at the foot of the grave in its present broken condition. 4. The smaller objects from grave H 49. On the left is a string of cornelian and glazed steatite beads. The latter are of the usual cylindrical shape, the former are cut in the same way, though more roughly than the large cornelian beads found in grave H 41 (PL xvi. 3). The single ivory bracelet was found on the right arm of the child ; the three bracelets, stuck together, on the right arm of the woman. The small palette, which shows signs of wear in the centre, was found at the head of the woman. Pound the right wrist of the child was a string of cornelian beads, mostly cyfindrical in shape, though some are of the same type as those mentioned above. Two beads of resin were also found, which with those found in grave H 29 (PL xii. 1) were the only beads of this material found on this site. 5. The slate is a thin flat slab shaped like a fish in outline, and pierced through the upper edge. The vase is of white limestone, and is in a rather decayed state. Below the lip were originally two small handles. Its shape is similar to that of the ivory vase from grave H 23 (PL xx. 3), which also at one time had handles. A further type is shown on plate xxi. 2. Plate xix. 1 (1 : 3). — Objects from a child's grave (H 2). The palette, in the form of a fish, in this case has the fins, tail, and gills marked. The surface has been much scratched with use. On the left hand of the skeleton was found the copper bangle, but the glazed steatite beads and the cornelian pendant were found under the left ear, and may have formed an earring. 2 (1 : 3). — Grave H 39 had been plundered, but yielded objects of interest. The ivory animal is practically perfect. It gives the im- pression of having been cut out of a long narrow cylindrical piece of ivory, and is therefore probably carved from a hippopotamus tusk. The ears are separately cut, long and projecting. No features are marked on the face. The legs are not separated, and are slightly rounded. The mysterious black lines across the body are the threads with which we were forced to bind the whole together to keep it from falling to pieces. We were at first inclined to think that the animal was meant for a cow, but, from the absence of horns and the shape of the head, it is more probably intended for a dog. (Boston Museum.) On plate xxi. 5 is shown a clay animal which is provided with horns, and more nearly resembles the former. (Brussels Museum.) With it were found the small black and white diorite staff head, the small ivory comb, the flint flake, the string of glazed steatite beads, and 32 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. the large cornelian bead. The last named bead unfortunately does not show completely on the plate ; it is, however, exactly similar to that figured on plate xvi. 3 in the great necklace of cornelian beads from grave H 41. 3 (1 : 3). — In grave H 39 were also found two of each of the two types of fancy vases here shown. On the left is a polished red pottery bowl, the handle shaped like a bird's head and the bowl suggesting the swimming body. The vase to the right is double and is of black- topped pottery. 4(1: 3). — The beads in grave H 85 were all made of baked yellow clay, painted red. They were of various forms — small spherical, large spherical, and cylindrical — and all so tiny that, although some hundreds were found, only a few could be threaded. Four cornelian beads and two large pebble pendants were also found with these. The staff head of black and white diorite and the ivory pendants are of usual types. 5(1: 3). — The most interesting objects found in grave H 85 were certainly the three small copper implements here figured. That on the left is sickle-shape, and had apparently been bound on to a wooden handle. The section is : — Traces of wood fibre were found on the copper from A to B. The small outward curve at A would serve to keep the binding in place. (Cairo Museum.) B The little copper bowl in the centre is very shallow, and it would be difficult to say what useful purpose it could serve. ■ A The implement on the right is made in the same shape as the well-known flint implements of which two examples are given on plate xxii. 4 (H 140 ; H P L) ; and it is, like them, notched round the crescent curve and for a certain distance down each side. Below this notching the edge is plain, and a hole runs askew through the metal, through which probably a pin I'.SL I or sinew was thrust to assist in binding it to some sort of handle. It is interesting I that the method used to give a sound cutting-edge to flint was also used in the case of a metal instrument. (New York Museum.) 6. Remains of baskets from the same grave. They were probably used to hold / ; x. offerings, since fragments of model garlic were found on and near them. Plate xx. 1. — Grave H 59 yielded three worked flints and a curious object made of limestone. It is hollow and pierced with four holes at the lip, and has two slight projec- tions underneath and another in front which is partially broken and was possibly the head of a bird (cf. Petrie, Naqada, PI. xii. 81). Its use was probably the same as the large variety of objects which appear to have been sewn or tied on to something (cf. PL xiii. 2). 2. The slate palette from grave H 4 is of rather an unusual type, but is probably derived from a tortoise-shape. Traces of malachite remain on the concave centre. The small unbaked clay bowl contained a single large blue glazed bead and some fragments of resin. The other beads of cornelian and green-glazed pottery lay under the neck of the body, and the ivory pin was found by the forehead. 3. H 23 was another grave that .well repaid excavation. It appears to have been the burial- place of some great warrior chief. Not only were two dogs buried beside him, but his weapons were well made and numerous. The three picks are of a finely polished pink stone of an unusual shape. The holes through them seem small for wooden handles in comparison with the weight of the head, but they may have been fastened by means of a leathern thong bound round the end of the stick, pushed through the hole in the head, drawn tight and tied in a button. This would give the required strength. The staff head on the left is a splendid specimen of its kind. Made of black DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 33 and white diorite, with slightly concave top, it curves away below in well graduated lines. At Abadiyeh such staff or mace heads have been found with their wooden handles (Diospolis Parva, PI. v. B 86) ; but here again, from the fact that the hole through the head is conic in section, it seems probable that a leathern button was used. Below the staff head is a clay mace head, such as was found in grave H 29 (PI. xii. 2). These were probably purely funerary objects. On the opposite side is shown a stone mace head of a similar shape. The ivory vase in the centre originally had two small loop handles, and, except that it is narrower, was very similar to a stone vase from grave H 38 (PI. xviii. 5). It is thin and well cut. The flints on each side are good examples of a simple type. Below all these is the most important object discovered in the grave — a copper harpoon head. It had originally been wrapped in cloth, a portion of which still adheres to the barb. The point is centred and sharpened on both sides, making a most efficient offensive weapon. By a careful use of wax we were able to ascertain that the other end had been embedded in a shaft, and just above this was the end of a thick cord tied round the copper. This either bound the copper head firmly to the shaft, or more probably the head was not firmly fixed in the handle, which would float loose when the barb was stuck into a hippopotamus or fish, and would act as a buoy, which, being attached to the barbed head by this cord, would mark the position of the quarry. 4. In grave H 128, a plundered tomb appa- rently of the early dynastic period, was found this ivory spoon. The handle is long and cylindrical, flattened and pierced at one end; the other end, on which is perched a small hawk, widens to form a shallow bowl. Plate xxi. 1. — The small black basalt vase on the left is from a plundered grave at El Mahasna, probably belonging to the early dynastic period. The large vase of white lime- stone is also from a plundered grave at the same place. On the right is an alabaster vase from grave C 1 at Abydos. It is similar in type to the vase figured in the next photograph. 2. Alabaster vase from grave H 29 (cf. PI. xii. 2). The black basalt vase is from grave H30. 3. Fragments of a cord with which the ends of the mat enclosing the skeleton in grave H 137 were apparently tied together. 4. Ivory pendant of similar shape to several found at Naqada. This and the shell ring are both from a plundered grave. 5. On the surface between two graves was found a baked clay figure of an ox. On its side is scratched an animal which may be meant for the same beast. (Cairo Museum.) 6. Six ivory rings from a plundered grave, quite plain and cylindrical in section. 7. Five shell bracelets from a plundered grave. 8. Two sheep with twisted horns, made of baked clay, found in a late plundered grave. Plate xxii. 1. — Ivory spoon from a grave of early dynastic type. The handle, a flattened cylinder in section, is gracefully curved and ends in a shallow bowl. The other end was not found. (Cairo Museum.) 2. Types of the matting in which the skeletons were wrapped. 3. Types of slates. The small square palette and the polished pebble were found together in an early dynastic type of grave. 4. Types of worked flints. H 83 is notched round the edge except for about 2 inches at the bottom. H 140 is not notched at all. H P L is notched down to the projections on each side, below these it is rough. H T is notched down both sides for a quarter of its length. The upper part of this flint was found at the bottom of a plundered grave, and the lower part was afterwards discovered in the debris above. The former is clear and the latter quite opaque. F 34 PRE-DYNASTIC CEMETERY AT EL MAHASNA. This shows at what an early period many of the graves were plundered. H 140 is unnotched. Plate xxiii. 1. — Two of the early types of slate palettes. H 57 is very much worn on the centre from rubbing. 2. Typical flint flakes from the graves. 3. Two pisciform slate palettes. The fins and tails are more or less marked. 4. Slate palettes of various shapes. H 53 is only of interest as showing the hollow caused by rubbing in the centre, which is also seen in H 37. &<&£ A. — Greenish glazed faience beads. B. — Beads of bluish-green glazed faience from burial H 92. C. — Cornelian pendant. D. — Cornelian bead and glazed faience beads. E. — Glazed faience beads. F. — Glazed faience beads and one cornelian bead. G. — Beads of glazed steatite and cornelian. H. — Glazed faience beads. J. — Tail of a cornelian scorpion. K. — Cornelian and glazed faience beads. L. — Cornelian beads. M. — Glazed beads. N. — Cornelian and glazed faience beads. 0. — A cornelian and glazed faience beads. P. — Cornelian beads. Q. — Glazed faience beads. E. — Beads of cornelian and faience' from H 110. S. — Large cylindrical alabaster bead. Plate xxiv. — Strings of beads. Polished red pottery bowls decorated with designs in white. No. 3 has a curious design similar to that on a small clay box found at El Amra (El Amra and Abydos, PL xii. 12). No. 7 is apparently deco- rated with the drawing of a giraffe, though its horns are rather long, curving up on the edge of the bowl. Plate xxv. 1. — A well-baked pottery vase of dark reddish to black colour. The only decora- tion on the surface is a pricked collar of three parallel lines round the neck, with at one point a further addition of a double semicircle containing crossed lines. A similar vase is figured on plate xvii. 50 of El Amra and Abydos. 2. Large vase of buff-coloured pottery with decoration in dark red. 3. cf. vase D 25. 4-6. Vases showing different types of decora- tion with red lines on a buff ground. 7. Interesting as showing the two types of handles. 8. This vase marks the point after which the wavy handles completely encircle the vase in the form of a conventional ornament. Plate xxvi. 1, 2. — Bowls of polished dark red pottery with designs in white on the inside. No. 2 has a somewhat more complicated design of trees and hippopotami. (Cairo Museum.) 3, 4. A black-topped and a rough pottery vase, both with figures of lions scratched upon the surface. 5. A black-topped pottery vase with the ancient rivetting-holes. A similar vase is B 18/i on PI. xxviii. 7. Polished black pottery vase. This has now been completely restored from the fragments found, and is similar on both sides. (Ashmolean Museum.) 8. Vase of very black pottery, ribbed and painted white. (Brussels Museum.) 9. Fragment of a bowl with hands resting on the edge. Rough pottery. (Brussels Museum.) Plate xxvii. 1. — Design on an ivory cylinder seal, found in a plundered grave of the early dynastic period. It is well cut and shows a lion couchant before a tree, over the lion's back is an indistinguishable mark. (Cairo Museum.) 2-7. Vases from Abydos, Cemetery C. 9. A similar object to those found in grave H 41 at Mahasna (PL xvii. l), from Abydos, Cemetery C. 10. An object of unknown use from Abydos, Cemetery C. 12. Vase of polished red pottery, decorated DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 35 with a design of dogs pursuing antelopes (?), in white. 13. Design in white on inside and outside of a polished red pottery bowl from Abydos, Cemetery B, grave 5. On the inside we find the details of a hunt. The hunter, with hair streaming in the wind, and dressed only in a short kilt, has just speared a hippopotamus which is standing in a pond, the young hippo standing near. On the other side of the pond is another hippopotamus, also speared, and the hills of the desert, or clouds, appear in the background. The outside of the vase is decorated with a tree and nondescript patterns. Plates xxviii.-xxxviii. Pottery vases. Black-topped Pottery (B.) — These vases and dishes are made of clay mixed with sand, the outside being coated with a highly polished layer of haematite. In baking, the vases were placed mouth downwards in the fire, the blackened top being thus produced by a chemical action of the ashes on the haematite. Polished Red Pottery (P.) — These vases are coated with haematite and polished like those of the last type, but by not sinking the mouth of the vase in the ashes the blackening of that part is avoided. Rough Pottery (R.) — Vases which differ from the last two classes chiefly in having a rough unpolished surface. The pottery is also of a coarser character. Wavy-handled Pottery (W.) — The earliest forms of these vases have a regular wavy edge on each side, a sufficient handle by which to carry the vase. Later this handle degrades into a mere ornament, and finally into a slight incision round the vase which has changed its fuller rounder form to become a mere cylinder. The pottery is of a polished buff or light red colour. Late Pottery (L.) — These are vases which from general type and the graves in which they are found are considered to belong to the later period of the pre-dynastic age. Decorated Pottery (D.) — This class includes the vases decorated with patterns painted on the outer surface, either in imitation of stone (cf. 35 c) vases or with patterns borrowed from string or cord netting (cf. 25). Fancy Pottery. — Curious forms of pottery which fall outside any of the above classes. 37 INDEX. Abadiyeh, comparison with objects found at Abydos, pre-dynastic graves at ,, objects from Alabaster vases from Abydos . Amber (?) beads .... Antelope (?) bones of „ on polished red pottery vase „ pursued by dogs, on pottery Ashmolean Museum, objects in PAGES 27, 33 2 33, 34, 35 33 17 13 28 35 28, 34 Balls of decayed wood . . . . . .13 Basalt vase ....... 24, 33 Baskets 10, 19, 32 Beads, clay . . . . . . . 12, 19 „ cornelian 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31 32 „ faience ....... 21 „ gold 11, 16, 28 „ haematite 11, 16, 27, 30 „ lapis lazuli . .... 22 „ resin 11, 17, 27, 31 ,, serpentine . . . . .19 ,, silver . . . . . . 16, 30 „ steatite . 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31 ,, stone . . . . . . .10 Beni Hasan, comparison with game depicted at . 30 Bird-shaped bowl . . . . . . .32 Bird-shaped slates Black incised pottery Black-topped pottery Boston (U.S.) Museum, objects in Bowls Bracelets, copper . ivory . „ shell Breccia staff-head Brick-lined graves British Museum, objects in 10, 11, . 29 5 15, 16, 19, 32, 35 . 31 11, 23, 24, 26 18, 31 11, 16, 17, 26, 31 . 33 . 15 3, 7-8, 23-24 28, 29 26, 28, 31 Brussels Museum, objects in Buff-coloured pottery Cairo Museum, objects in Capart, M., referred to Circular graves Classification of graves Clay beads . Clay mace-head . Clay pendant Clay sealing Clay table, for gaming Cloth, traces of Coffin, evolution of Combs, ivory 11, 12, 14, Copper bracelet . Copper harpoon-head Copper implements Cord of twisted grass Cornelian beads 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 27, 29 Cornelian pendants PAGES 28, 29, 30, 31, 34 . 34 4, 13, 15, 17, 18 15, 16, 17, 26, 28, Corn-grinder, stone Cow or dog (?), ivory Criss-cross patterns, on pottery Crocodiles, on polished red pottery vase Crystal pendant .... Cubes of unbaked clay, for gaming (?) Cylinder seal, ivory 12 10, 11 32, 33, 34 . 26« 4 . 3, 9 12, 19 11, 21, 33 26, 30 . 22 16, 30 20, 22, 33 8 29, 30, 31 18, 31 21, 32 19, 32 17, 33 21, 22, 24, 30, 31, 32 11, 18, 31 17, 27, 31 14, 31 11, 29 . 28 10,31 16, 31 8, 34 12, 22, 35 2 . 14 31, 32, 33 Decorated pottery De Morgan, M Diorite mace-head .... Diorite staff-head . . . . 16, 19, 21 Diospolis Parva, comparison with objects found at 3, 26n., 28w., 33 Direction of graves . . . . . . 4, 7 Dishes 22, 25 Dismemberment of body, absence of evidence for 4, 13 38 INDEX. Dog (?), ivory 14, 31 Dogs, pursuing antelopes (?), on polished red pottery vase. ...... 35 Dogs, skeletons of Donkey (?), ivory . Double axe-head . El Amra, comparison with results at Elephants (?), on polished red pottery vase Faience beads Fancy pottery " Fence," round body First Dynasty tombs Fish slate-palettes Flint flakes. . 12,14. Flint knives Flint spear-head . Funerary furniture Gaming table of clay Garlic, clay models of Garnets, string of . Garstang, Prof. . Giraffe (?), on bowl Goats (?), bones of Goatskin wrapping for Gold beads . Grain, vases containing „ balls of Granite corn-grinder body, 21, 32 11, 27, 30 . 15 3, 8, 34 . 28 . 21 32, 35 .6,7, 2, 3, 5, 8 . 16, 18, 22, 24, 31, 34 19, 21, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34 . 19 2 4 16, 30 21, 29, 32 . 30 2 . 34 21, 22, 24 4 11, 16, 28 11, 22 . 18 . 31 Green, on eyes of steatopygous figure, from malachite 29 16, 19 . 13, 19, 20 absence of •. Haematite, used for coating pottery . .35 Haematite beads . . . . . 11, 16, 27, 30 Haematite pendants . . . . . .27 Hairpins, ivory . . . . . . .11 Handles, in wavy-handled pottery . 34, 35 Harpoon-head, of copper . . . . 21, 32 Hawk, on ivory spoon . . . . . 8, 24, 33 Hippopotamus, carved on bowl . 11, 27 ,, carved on ivory tusks . . 26, 27 „ hunt of, on polished red pottery bowl . 35 ,, on polished red pottery vase . 28, 34 ,, tusk (?), carved animal on . . .31 Hunting scene, on a bowl ... .35 Hurricanes ........ 1 Ivory bracelets .... 11,16,17,26,31 Ivory combs 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31 Ivory cow or dog (?) ...... 14 Ivory cylinder seal Ivory donkey (?) Ivory figures Ivory hairpins Ivory pendants . . 14, 15, 16, 26, 2 = Ivory pins . Ivory rings . Ivory spoons Ivory vases . Ivory wands Lapis lazuli beads Late pottery Ledges in graves . Limestone vases . Lions, figures of, on pottery and ivory seal Mace-heads of clay .... ,, of stone .... Malachite, green, fragments of . 10, 11, 18 Manchester Museum, objects in Maspero, M. . . . . Mat, corpse laid on Matting of reed or grass for bodies . Medinet Habu, comparison with game depicted at . 30 Mud and reed-lined grave . . . 3, 7, 23 Mussel shells . . . . . . .11 Naqada, comparison with objects found at 8, 10, 15, 28, 32, 33 New York Museum, objects in . . . .32 PAGES 8,34 11,27 11, 26 . 11 1, 30, 32, 33 • 12, 21, 28 . 33 . 8, 24,33 • 11, 21,33 • 11, 12, 26 . 22 . 35 5 • 11, 16, 31 15, 34 • 11, 21, 33 21, 33 3,21 23, 29 26, 27 1 . 4,6 4, 33 Oblong graves Okapi (?) . Ostrich, carving of Ostrich egg. Oval graves Ox, clay figure of . Oxen (?), bones of . ,, on polished red pottery vase Palettes, slate 3, 4-5, 10-20, 25 . 27 . 27, 28, 29 . 25 3, 4-5, 10-20, 24-25 . 33 . 11 . 28 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 24, 33, 34 Paraffin wax, for preserving objects . 11, 16, 30, 33 Pear-shaped objects of clay Pebble pendants ..... Pebbles, natural ..... Pebbles, polished, for grinding malachite (?) Pendants, clay ..... ,. cornelian .... „ crystal. .... 32 31 26 26, 30 • 11, 18, 31 10. 31 INDEX. 39 Pendants, haematite „ ivory „ pebble 14, 15, 16, 26, 28, 29, 30, „ stone Petrie, Prof. .3, 26w., Picks, stone Pins, ivory . . . . . . ,12. Pisciform slate palettes . . . 16,18,22,24, Polished black pottery vase Polished red pottery . 6, 10, 11, 14, 25, 28, 32, Pottery coffins ..... 3, 5-6, Pottery vases, classification of Quadrangular brick graves PAGES . 27 32, 33 . 32 . 11 . 19 28, 32 21, 32 21, 28 31,34 . 34 34, 35 20-21 10, 35 3, 7-8 Randall-Mclver, Mr 8, 26m. Recesses, with pottery, in oblong or oval graves . 3, 5 Reed-lined grave . . . . . 3, 7, 23 Resin beads 11,17,27,31 Resin, fragments of . . . 11,13,16,21,32 Rhomboid slate palettes 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 28, 31 Roofing of graves, evidence of . 5, S, 8 Rough pottery .... 35 Round shallow graves . . 3,4 10 Sandstone corn grinder . 27 Seal, ivory cylinder 8 34 Sealing of clay .... 23 " Sequence-dating " of pottery, through pre-dynastic period .... 3 Serpentine beads .... 19 Set, beast sacred to 27 PAGES Sheep of baked clay . . . . . .33 Shells . . . . 10, 11, 13, 30 Silver beads 16, 30 Slate palettes .10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 33, 34 Slate pendant ..... .11 Spoons, ivory Staff-heads, breccia „ diorite Stand for vase, of twisted grass Steatite beads 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31 . 8, 24, 33 . 15 16, 19, 21, 31, 32, 33 . 19 Steatopygous figures Stone beads Stone jar, pink Stone mace-head Stone pendants Stone picks Stone vases. Sulphate of lime Table of clay, for gaming Tortoise-shaped slate palette . Trees, on ivory „ on bowl Wands, ivory .... Wavy-handled pottery . Wax, for preserving objects . Whitewash, on model garlic . Wooden lathes, for roofing of graves Wood-lined graves Yellowish pottery 12, 13, 19,28, 29 . 10 . 31 21,33 . 19 21, 32 11, 12, 16 10, 11, 12 . 30 . 32 . 34 . 35 . 11, 12, 26 34, 35 11, 16, 30, 33 . 29 5 3, 6-7, 20-23 . 14 LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED PLATES EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. PL I. 1. THE SITE AT EL MAHASNA, FROM THE NORTH. I '•< 2. BURIAL. H 13. 3. BURIAL. H 14. ■■ ■ I fa ' 'WW. Vm ■*•'■' i. > > ^ PtV Wjejm;*. * 1B^ ','. i yJfeibnuaU^ 4. BURIAL. H II 5. BURIAL. H 17. EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. PL. II. ■i -;;■#«': . J,, i 6. BURIAL. H 26. ***>• •'■*!# *» S*: 8. H 29. SHEWING MATTING BEFORE CLEANING .>*l'*fl»^ '.*" r' f ' £l ; "-* !*o « I £ 7. BURIAL. H 34. 9. H 29. SHEWING BEADS & BRACELETS. 10. BURIAL. H 29. EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. Pl III. V^M^tM 1 1. BURIAL H 12. 12. BURIAL H 27. -3JL ;;■ •'■■*" fj ft->*> 13. BURIAL H 50. BURIAL H 133. 14. BURIAL H 18. EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. PL. IV. 16. BURIAL H 6 17. BURIAL H 10. 18. BURIAL H 21. . . 19. BUKIAL H 2; ■■£• 20. BURIAL H 38. EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. PlV. ^rzi^^m^ 21. BURIAL H 49. ;./*" 23. BURIAL H 93. a^-v/S y • ; . *iv 24. BURIAL H 102. 25. BURIAL H 136. EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. PL. VI. 26. BURIAL H 70. 27. BURIAL H 75. 28. BURIAL H 1 10. 29. BURIAL H 40. Shewing Mat :-< 30. BURIAL H 59 31. BURIAL H 42. EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. PL. VII. 33. BURIAL H 74. SL'T^i. % 34. BURIAL H 66. 35. BURIAL H 109. ■ sr; > 36. BURIAL Hill. 37. BURIAL Hill. (Shewing board under Skeleton.) 33. BURIAL H 92. POTTERY COFFIN. EL MAHASNA. WOOD-LINED GRAVES. PlVIII. 41. BURIAL H 110. p v " "'MiAHt &.? RITRIAI H 107. EL MAHASNA. WOOD-LINED GRAVES. Pl IX. 43. BURIAL H 76. 44. BURIAL H 21. ■ *&<-?■■* W j- '■'■ ' IW-T ■■■- 1 x 'ML Kmrn, 46. BURIAL H 48. J'. ';* 45. BURIAL H 4. 47 BURIAL H 48. SHEWING WOOD EL MAHASNA. BRICK-LINED TOMBS. PL. X. -MAP ' : 48. TOMB H 129. Shewing Roofing Beams. m-^z- £?„ W&4& ■ ■;J s z&*2m ' ^•f':"V/' ■-:* la '•v-?*j . ^ ' :'., 7--/ 49. BURIAL H 105. 50. BURIAL H 1 12. EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM GRAVE H 29. PL. XL 1. IVORY FIGURE & PENDANTS. 2. IVORY BRACELETS, SLATE, COMB, ETC. 3. POLISHED RED POTTERY BOWL, WHITE PATTERN. EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM TOMB H 29. PL XII. 1. STRINGS OF BEADS. (1:2.) 2. IVORIES, STONE VASE, CLAY MACE HEAD, AND BEADS. (1:3.) EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM VARIOUS GRAVES. PL XIII. I. GRAVE H 45 CORN GRINDER, (about 1:8.) 3. GRAVE H 17. SLATES, BEADS & IVORY COMB. (1:3.) 2. GRAVE H 45. IVORY PENDANTS. (1:3.) 4. GRAVE H 45. IVORIES, BEADS & CLAY OBJECTS. (1:3.) EL MAHASNA. PAINTED POTTERY VASE FROM GRAVE H 97. PL. XIV. EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM VARIOUS GRAVES. PL. XV. I. GRAVE H 97. PAINTED CLAY HEAD (1:1.) 2. IVORY OBJECTS GRAVES H 61a. H 25. (1:3.) 4. GRAVE H 18. SLATES, IVORIES & BEADS. (1:3.) 1:3 EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM GRAVE H 41. PL. XVI. 1. CLAY OBJECTS, MODEL GARLIC, FEMALE FIGURE. (1:3.) -J: ' 2. DETAILS OF BURIAL. (Shewing Bracelets and Model Female Figure in position.) 3. STRINGS OF BEADS. (1:2.) 4. IVORY BRACELETS, FROM LEFT ARM. (1:3.) EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM GRAVE H 41. PL. XVII. 1. MUD GAMING TABLE. 4. TOP OF GAMING TABLE. (1:3.) 3. CLAY RATTLES. (1:3.) 2. IVORY COMB & PENDANT, & CLAY PENDANT. (1:3. EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM VARIOUS GRAVES. PL. XVIII. 1. SLATE & PEBBLES. (Plundered Grave.) (1:3.) \ ES318 f * (j 2. GRAVE H 7. BEADS, STONE VASE, IVORY BRACELETS. (1:3.) 4. GRAVE H 49. SLATE, BEADS, IVORY BRACELETS & COMB. (1:3.) s. GRAVE H 38. SLATE & STONE VASE. (1:3.) EL MAHASNA. TYPES OF GRAVES. PL. XIX. 1. GRAVE H 2. SLATE, BEADS & COPPER BANGLE. 3. GRAVE H 39. FANCY SHAPES OF POTTERY VASES. 2. H ?9. IVORY COW ETC. 4. GRAVE H 85. IVORY PENDANT ETC. 6. GRAVE H 85. BASKET WORK. 5. GRAVE H 85. COPPER IMPLEMENTS. EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM VARIOUS GRAVES. PL. XX. 1. GRAVE H 59. FLINTS & STONE OBJECT. (1:3.) 2. GRAVE H 4. SLATE, CLAY BOWL, IVORY PIN, BEADS. (1:3. 3. GRAVE H 23. IVORY VASE, COPPER HARPOON, FLINTS, STONE & CLAY MACEHEADS. (1:3.) 4. GRAVE H 128. IVORY SPOON. (1:1.) tL MAHASNA. (H.) & ABYDOS (C.) OBJECTS FROM GRAVES. PL. XXI. 1. STONE VASES, H., H., CI. (1:4. 3. TWISTED CORD. (1:3.) 4. IVORY PENDANT, SHELL RING. (1:3.) o oo o o o 6. IVORY BRACELETS. (fc3.) 2. STONE VASES, H 29. H 30. (1:3.) 5. BAKED CLAY FIGURE OF AN OX (1:?.) 7. SHELL BRACELETS. (1:3. 8. BAKED CLAY FIGURES OF SHEEP. (1:3.) ASNA. OBJECTS FROM VARIOUS GRAVES. PL. XXII. 1. IVORY SPOON FROM GRAVE H. ODD. (1:1 2. TYPES OF MATTING. (1:3.) 3. TYPES OF SLATES. (1:4.) H 56. H 73. H odd. H odd. H odd. 4. TYPES OF WORKED FLINTS. (1:3. app) H 83. H 140 H.T. H 40. H PL. Hodd. EL MAHASNA. WORKED FLINTS & SLATES. PL. XXIII. 3. SLATES. H 120h. & H 126. (1:3.) SLATES. (1:2 app.) EL MAHASNA. OBJECTS FROM VARIOUS GRAVES. PL XXIV. STRINGS OF BEADS. (1 :3.) PAINTED POTTERY BOWLS. (1:3.) 1. H 15. 2. H ODD. 3. H 4. H 45. 5. H.C. 6. H.T. 7. H.A. 8. H ODD. L MAHASNA. VARIOUS POTTERY VASES. PL XXV. EL MAHASNA. VARIOUS POTTERY VASES. PL. XXVI. 1. POLISHED RED BOWL, WHITE PATTERN 3. 4. VASES WITH "LION" SCRATCHED ON SURFACE. (Ha. & H.) 2. H 15. POLISHED RED BOWL, WHITE PATTERN. 6. BLACK-TOPPED RED BOWL WITH HOLES FOR MENDING. 8. WHITENED BLACK VASE. 9. FRAGMENT OF BOWL WITH HANDS ON EDGE. 7. POLISHED BLACK VASE. EL MAHASNA (H.) ABYDOS (B&C.) VARIOUS OBJECTS FROM GRAVES. 3 XXVI ■ »* <#♦* ^ '^"* ^/ y/ /A II' II' **** '//A '^4 %4. ///. i» # .'." • 15. DECORATION IN WHITE ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF POLISHED RED POTTERY BOWL. 1:6 BLACK TOPPED POTTERY B1/-25*. XXVIII V II v \\k II m 11 n, ill 12* 18 J 18 e (2J) 15 i8r ______ i8J iJ ^ nr7n 18 n 19 * 19 ^ 18/ 19 19 & 11 19^ *9« ?9/ 1 9^ 21* nnnuu 21 •■ 77 77o. J^v^^H ni 78*7 78 78 rf l£ 79 « ■ 1:6 POLISHED RED POTTERY. P\c-26d 79 77 * 84 a id 1 « 4 « 4* la II £ 11