Notes from 2000:
This fire installation was first recognized as shallow, ellipsoid scoop filled with loose, brown deposit akin to fills of #6266 and #6268 of adjacent fire installation F. 630 in the northeast edge of platform F. 169. Once this was removed, level of clay "lining" this scoop was removed as #6270 with another dark patch in the center. At the time it was believed that dark patch was another hearth between F. 630 and F. 632, but it appears to be continuing dark soil, probably scorched soil beneath it. This patch was removed, together with level of floor around F. 632, but as a separate flotation sample (S7), since both zones were lying at the platform (extension packing).
Comparing this sequence with F. 630 it is apparent that the proper hearth floors are missing, yet these may have well been removed prior to opening of this feature, or deliberately destroyed in the past. On the basis of sloping floor #6295 associated with it, it is possible that hearth was placed opportunistically in the depression on platform. Also, absence of hearth floor like in F. 630 may mean less burning and shorter life span.
Notes in 2001:
While digging the base (scoop/depression) of this fire installation we discovered that it cut earlier fire installation F.752.
It's very possible that this cut doesn't belong to any fire installation, since there wasn't any deposit in it which would indicate burning, no ash, charcoal or scorched clay. The southern part of it was actually filled with soil belonging to the abutting hearth (F. 752) cut by this feature. |
