V.b. Preliminary Results: Tomb 781 – Interior (Sector C)
The main burial chamber of Tomb 781 measures 11.47 m in width and 11.14 m in length. There are 16 loculi carved in the back and side walls and a small subsidiary chamber (w. 4.11 m; l. 3.44 m) carved in the middle of the back wall, the entrance of which is elaborated with a carved entablature and pilasters (Figs. 5, 36). In the back wall of the subsidiary chamber is an arcosolium with a pit grave carved in its floor (Fig. 37).
Fig. 36: Chamber of Tomb 781 (Sector C), view towards north-eastern corner (photo: L. Wadeson)
The floor of the main chamber is fully blocked with sand and animal dung, while the floor of the subsidiary chamber is only partially blocked and the outlines of two pit graves are evident. The height of the ceiling to the blocked floor is 4.12 m. The carving of the main chamber is neat with stippled tool-work. Overall, the burial structures in this tomb are neatly arranged and symmetrical, as is typical for Hegr tombs (Wadeson 2010a: 61–5).
Fig. 37: Arcosolium of Tomb 781 (photo: L. Wadeson)
It was decided to clear the grave (Trench 4) inside the arcosolium, seeing as this was obviously the most important burial of the tomb, being aligned with the tomb entrance and main entrance to the complex, and having the most elaborate burial structure. The first 0.70–1.00 m of the fill of this grave was an accumulation of animal dung, sand and rubbish, giving an indication that the burial was disturbed. In the northern end, a looters’ hole became evident, filled with a large number of disturbed stones that were once used to seal the grave. However, the southern end of the grave retained the original undisturbed sealing layers, which could be studied in section.
Fig. 38: Section of original sealing layers in arcosolium grave of Tomb 781 – facing south (photo: L. Wadeson)
The first original layer in situ comprised large sandstones embedded in a reddish sandy mortar of about 0.65 m in thickness (Fig. 38). Beneath this were two courses of covering slabs resting on a rock-cut shoulder on the west wall of the grave and a built wall on the east side, consisting of two courses of three carefully worked stone blocks (Fig. 39).
Fig. 39: Plan and section of arcosolium grave in Tomb 781 (drawing: Q. Tweissi and M. Haufe)
The covering slabs turned out to be reused cornice blocks with very finely carved mouldings, though it is unclear from where they originated (Fig. 40). They were sealed with a whitish, chalky mortar with inclusions of small pebbles (similar to that found in the arcosolium grave of Tomb 779). Beneath the slabs was an empty space of c. 0.15 m, then a fine, silty sand with inclusions of small animal bones and potsherds (including two Nabataean painted sherds of Phase 3b – AD 75–100). Some human bones were recovered, but the burial was clearly disturbed by the looters from the northern end.
Fig. 40: Reused cornice block (BL1) from sealing layer in arcosolium grave of Tomb 781 (photo: L. Wadeson)
Beneath this burial, at a level of c. 2.30 m down from the top of the grave, were two layers of mortar – the first being a yellowish mortar with small inclusions of pottery and pebbles, and the second being the white chalky mortar noted above. These mortars were sealing another layer of covering slabs, that consisted of roughly worked stone blocks. The blocks were not quite wide enough to cover the space of the grave, therefore the gaps between them and the wall were filled with small pieces of cut sandstone (Fig. 39). This layer rested on a further set of rock-cut shoulders, 2.45 m down from the top of the grave. The shoulders on the western wall were cut back into the rock, as opposed to protruding out from it. The shoulders on the eastern wall supported the built wall, mentioned above.
Fig. 41: Painted pottery from arcosolium grave (LO 74) in Tomb 781 (photo: L. Wadeson)
The space below was for another burial, of which considerably more bones were recovered. There was a high concentration of pottery with this burial, with painted sherds ranging from Phases 2b–c – Phase 3b (25 BC – AD 100), some of which were embedded in mortar (Fig. 41). There were also several small chunks of greyish mortar containing charcoal, however it is unclear whether these were placed there intentionally or fell from the sealing layers above when the grave was disturbed. On the bedrock, at the bottom of the grave, were the remains of a brown organic material that may indicate a wooden coffin. Samples of this substance were taken for analysis. Wooden coffins have been noted in other tombs at Petra for e. g. see Bikai and Perry 2001: 60; Farajat – Nawafleh 2005: 375. , therefore it would not be surprising to find them in use in Tomb 781.
Fig. 42: Four different types of mortar from sealing layers in arcosolium grave of Tomb 781 (photo: L. Wadeson)
Besides the new information gained on the sealing system of Nabataean burials, and the bone and four different types of mortar taken for analysis (Fig. 42), this grave reveals an entirely new form not previously recorded in Petra: the built wall in fact originally sealed a vaulted niche, carved to the side of the grave shaft in the eastern wall (Figs. 39, 43–44). This side-niche contained a third burial, with part of the legs and feet intact in the northern end. The orientation of the head to the south was surprising as the looters had entered the grave from the north end.
Fig. 43: Arcosolium grave in Tomb 781 – remains of built wall blocking side niche (photo: L. Wadeson)
The looters had reached this burial by removing the northernmost blocks of the wall. It seemingly had been robbed twice – both in the Medieval period and in modern times according to the recovered material. The remains of this burial were consistent with those found in the main shaft of the grave, and again possible wooden coffin traces were observed on the surface of the bedrock. The discovery of an iron nail in the southern end supports the hypothesis of a coffin burial (Fig. 45) see Zayadine 1979: 185, 189 for the discovery of a nail in Shaft Tomb B1 at Petra. . The pottery recovered from this burial ranges from Schmid’s Phases 2a–3c (mid 1st century BC – early 2nd century AD), but the later material may have reached this lower level when the grave was looted.
Fig. 44: Side niche for burial in arcosolium grave, Tomb 781 (NB: built wall on right) (photo: L. Wadeson)
The use of the hidden side-niche, sealed by the massive wall underground, suggests that an important individual was buried here, possibly the tomb owner or head of the family. Close family members were maybe buried in the other spaces of the grave shaft, but this can only be confirmed when the bones are analysed. Similar side-niche burials in pit graves are found in the Nabataean tombs at Mada’in Salih, such as in the Qasr es-Sane Tomb, a Hegr tomb dated to AD 8 Jaussen and Savignac 1909: Fig. 178. . The form is also reminiscent of the Nabataean burials at Khirbet Qazone Politis 1998: 612. , however these are on a much smaller and simpler scale.
Fig. 45: Nail from side niche burial in arcosolium grave of Tomb 781 (photo: L. Wadeson)
The arcosolium is smaller than that in Tomb 779, measuring 2.96 m wide, 1.69 m long and 2.92 m high (Fig. 37). The walls have neat tool-marks suggesting that the arcosolium space was left open, unlike the walls of the grave which are roughly worked. Both the southern and northern walls each have a small niche just below the arch, possibly to hold a lamp, while the eastern wall contains a row of three niches at the level of the opening of the grave. Their function is not clear, but they may have supported wooden beams which were used to close the top of the grave shaft. In future seasons, we plan to continue clearing the graves and loculi in the chamber of Tomb 781 and will hopefully be able to shed light on the chronology of the burials and the identity of the deceased individuals.
