Undisturbed Bronze Age crypt found in Syria
The crypt 3,500-year-old tomb contains a significant number of artefacts, as well as human bones.
The team, led by Professor Peter Pfälzner from the University of Tübingen, and Dr. Michel al-Maqdissi, Director of Excavations at the Directorate General of Antiquities in Damascus, had already discovered a royal burial chamber undisturbed by grave robbers under the palace back in 2002.
This latest crypt, discovered during excavation of the northwestern wing of the palace consists of a front chamber and a grave chamber and is 4.90 by 6.30 metres large, according to a statement from the university.
Thirty skulls within suggest that a corresponding number of people were buried there, and bones stacked in groups among splinters of wood may indicate a secondary burial, the statement said.
Ceramic and well-preserved stone vessels of granite and alabaster, along with gold jewellery and other artefacts were also within the crypt. The team also found a small sculpture of a monkey holding a vessel used for cosmetics and an ivory human statuette.
Read entire article at The Local (Germany)
The team, led by Professor Peter Pfälzner from the University of Tübingen, and Dr. Michel al-Maqdissi, Director of Excavations at the Directorate General of Antiquities in Damascus, had already discovered a royal burial chamber undisturbed by grave robbers under the palace back in 2002.
This latest crypt, discovered during excavation of the northwestern wing of the palace consists of a front chamber and a grave chamber and is 4.90 by 6.30 metres large, according to a statement from the university.
Thirty skulls within suggest that a corresponding number of people were buried there, and bones stacked in groups among splinters of wood may indicate a secondary burial, the statement said.
Ceramic and well-preserved stone vessels of granite and alabaster, along with gold jewellery and other artefacts were also within the crypt. The team also found a small sculpture of a monkey holding a vessel used for cosmetics and an ivory human statuette.