Tombs of Hegra

The phenomenal scale of Hegra’s tombs makes it easy to forget that they were carved by hand, including the chambers cut deep into the rock to house the remains of the dead. Chisel marks visible on the exterior and interior of the tombs, together with at least one iron tool found, indicate that metal tools were used to execute the architectural features of the tombs.
In contrast to the often elaborate exterior decoration of the tombs, the interior chambers were relatively simplistic. The chamber is likely to have been hollowed out by removing the stone in blocks. As a general rule, the chamber sizes at Hegra are larger than those found at Petra. Demonstrating their ingenuity, the relative lack of spoil heaps of sandstone removed from carving the tombs at Hegra may suggest that the stone was removed in blocks that could be used in construction within the city, for example in houses, streets and linings of wells.
Within the tombs, chambers, shelves, niches and pits held bodies and likely burial goods or later offerings. Excavations of tomb IGN 117 have shed important light on burial practices in the 1st century CE. At least one body buried in the tomb had been wrapped in layers of plain-weave fabric and an outer layer of leather. A mixture of vegetable oil and resin was found amongst the fabrics, used to preserve the body. The head was covered and the individual was wearing a necklace made of mature dates.