The "tomba a cassone" was well known along the entire coast of the Mediterranean.
In Rome, however, this type of grave was hardly used. In Portus we find a concentration
of these tombs. It probably tells something about the cosmopolitan character of the population of Portus.
The "tombe a cassone" were often painted red with green flower motifs on the bottom,
representing a tumulus, and they sometimes had a gap in the top for libation purposes.
Besides the semicircular "tombe a cassone", a couple of so called "tombe alla cappuccina"
have been found. These are chest-like tombs, covered by sloping terracotta rooftiles.
Both these types were meant for interment of one person, although in some cases two bodies have been found (see tomb 4a and tomb 6a).
According to several inscriptions on these graves, imitating the inscriptions belonging to the monumental tombs, there must have been place also for family, freedmen and their heirs.








The gap meant for libation in the top of a "tomba a cassone" (tomb 62).