The Gemara focuses on the practical implications of what we have been learning about catacombs. If a person comes across three dead bodies and the distance between the outer two is four cubits, one must check to determine whether or not the site is an ancient burial place. The ground must be raised for 20 cubits beyond that spot. If a corpse is found within that radius, then another check of 20 cubits is taken on. The rabbis note that the corpse between the two outer corpses is assumed to have been buried there incidentally.
The rabbis question how this search is to happen. Why or why not might the search happen diagonally? The length might be longer in such cases. Might such niches have been constructed for non-viable newborns?
To better understand the layout of a catacomb and where corpses might be found, the rabbis compare this with a vineyard where the vines are placed closer than four cubits together. Just like the middle corpse is considered to be invisible, might some vines be considered invisible? Perhaps one of the vines was intended to be uprooted. But how will the rabbis know which one? This is not a direct comparison with bodies! We note that the rabbis decide to uproot whichever vine does not fourth in this situation.
Our daf ends with a new Mishna and the beginning of its Gemara in Perek VII. The Mishna teaches about flat land versus more bumpy land. If one sells another enough land to grow a for of wheat and the land has crevices deeper than 10 handbreadths or rocks higher than 10 handbreadths, those dips and rises in the land are not counted in its area. Instead the land is sold based on the area of the land exclusive of the crevices or rocks. Similarly, if the seller says that s/he is selling 'approximately' the size of a beit kor of land, then the crevices and rocks are included in the area of land sold.
The Gemara begins with a comparison between this Mishna and a related Mishna. We will learn more of this tomorrow.
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