Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/414

 262 KERTCH ANTIQUITIES. depth of 1 8 feet, they came to a semicircular opening, which proved to be the entrance to a subterranean vault. A stone slab, intended as a covering for the entrance, was found removed from its place, whence it was concluded that the vault had been visited at some former period. The entrance being filled up with stones, it was impossible to enter the catacomb otherwise than by crawling on hands and knees. The chamber was 14 feet long, 10^ feet wide, and 8 feet 9 inches high. In the centre there stood a sarcophagus made of ordinary Kertch stone : the bones of the deceased were collected into a heap. On the left side of the catacomb a niche was formed in the rock, in which lay three skeletons placed with regularity. There was a good deal of earth in the. vault, on sifting this some pieces of gold were found, which had probably ornamented the dress of the deceased person whose remains were in the sarcophagus. A great many fi-agments of earthen vessels, phials, and two broken amphorre, were also found. It was evident that the catacomb had been already plundered. The key of these ancient structures had, however, been discovered, and in the course of the year M. Ashik opened as many as twenty catacombs of difierent sizes. In some of the tombs he found coins of Sauromates VII., with the head of the Emperor Constantino on the reverse ; also earthen lamps, amphorae, and phials. . Amongst the catacombs discovered by M. Ashik, there was one with three divisions, and with circular openings on both sides, by which it was connected with other catacombs having similar openings. In this manner, five catacombs were united, forming nine separate funereal chambers. In the first, there lay eighteen skeletons, by twos and threes togethei', on benches cut out separately from the rock itself. Alto- gether there were forty-eight skeletons in these vaults, lying in regular order, but in different directions. The catacombs of Pantikapjeum are cut in the rock similar to those in the ancient Tarcjuinia, and are from 11 to 14 feet, and sometimes more, below the level of the road. M. Asliik, anxious to discover catacombs which were untouched, and which might merit full attention, continued his labours, and, in 1841, he opened one in two divisions, the walls of which were covered with paintings. Of the character of these interesting specimens of art he gives the following account : — " These paintings excel every thing of the kind which had