A NEW TYPE OF LATE ROMAN PERIOD TOMB FROM YAVNE (EAST): THE SIDE-ACCESSED CIST TOMB

The large-scale trial and salvage excavations at Yavne (East) uncovered the remains of seven different Roman-period burial grounds, exhibiting various burial types, including infant jar burials, simple unlined and stone-lined cist tombs, sarcophagi, a vault tomb and a mausoleum. This article focuses on a newly identified Roman-period tomb type termed “side-accessed cist tomb,” the plan of which includes a horizontal entrance, a built facade and a dug courtyard. The meager finds within the three tombs of this type comprised pottery, glass vessels—including mold-blown double-head flasks—and a golden earring, which may point to its use by a Jewish, Samaritan or pagan population.