Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/118

 Rock-Cut Tombs. It may be safely laid down as an established fact that the island at an early date, ere the Phoenicians got a foothold there, was occupied by a rather dense population, which almost unaided manfully strove to unfold a rudimentary industry analogous to that which has been met with along the whole line of coast of the jEgean. Graves bearing the mark of that epoch are now dug in the ground, now rock-excavated ; but wherever they are not mere holes hastily made in the earth's surface, they present a uniform arrangement. They then consist of a vertical rect- angular shaft, about one metre at the main sides (Fig. 288). having a mean depth of from one to two metres. The bottom of the well is fitted with a species of niche, oven-shaped, which is Fill. 188.— Cypiiis. Toiiib.it llaghia I'.irn.-kevi. pierced in one of the small sides, and forms the grave strictly so called. A corresponding niche sometimes occurs on the opposite side ; elsewhere the vault is one with the axis of the shaft. But no matter its situation, a slab invariably forms its covering. The bones seen in these cavities are generally in a very reduced condition ; in one alone were ashes mixed up with them. Pottery is plentiful ; single niches have yielded as many as thirty and forty specimens apiece, along with tools and weapons. There was no apparent sign to indicate the site of the grave. M. DUmmler is too discreet and attentive an observer to make it safe to question his conclusions ; they call, however, for some reservations. From the condition in which the bodies were found, he seems inclined to believe that the cremation rite was practised by the tribes to which he ascribes the earliest graves