Pit tombs nos. 46-47 contain two burials in amphora (known as enchytrismos tombs) that together with tomb no. 42 form a unique burial group (fig. 3). They date to the 5th century B.C.: they are therefore a part of the Carthaginian age, in the sector of the oldest pit tombs in the ancient southern necropolis, east of the Punic chamber tomb necropolis (figs. 1-2).

Figs. 1-2 - The area of the Hypogeum necropolis and the Archaic necropolis, with the group of tombs 42-46-47 highlighted. Map of tombs (BARTOLONI 2000, figs. 5; 14)

The two amphora tombs are part of an important number of child burials that can be found inside the classic burial areas in Monte Sirai.  The buried children share the same type of sepulchral amphora and the type of items buried with them, found in the amphoras themselves: necklaces, bronze rings, Egyptian style amulets.  The necklaces are in glass paste, in different shapes and colours. There are also “eye” necklaces. Both jewels were protective of the dead child, a steatite amulet of the Egyptian god Khnum-Ra (fig. 4).

Figs. 3-4 - The group of tombs 42-46-47 (BARTOLONI 2000, Map of tombs (BARTOLONI 2000, table XXII); necklace in glass paste with Egyptian style amulet (BARTOLONI 2004, fig. 46).