Unit 30011

Category: Layer    dug in 2015

Area: North 

Interpretive Categories: Packing/repairment episode in N wall of blg 

Data Category Information: In Situ: in situ; Location: wall/blocking; Material: pise-like; Deposition: heterogeneous

Discussion: Patch / lense of packing material in the central part of the S face of the N wall F.3682. Other patches of different materials have been found in several locations on the wall, as if trying to level/consolidate its surface. This large patch was recognisable for the abundance of rodent faunal bones, likely Neolithic, as they appear completely embedded in the construction material and in too high an abundance to be taphonomic. Charcoal is also present, as if this was midden material re-used for construction. Towards the base of the unit, a thin coat of orange clay packing was found immediately on top of the mudbrick/mortar.
As we continued excavating it became apparent that the orange clay, of hard, compacted consistency, was the packing material, whereas the grey material rich in microfaunal remains (most of them articulated and apparently with all body parts represented) acted as mortar, as it was found patchier and in lenses. The microfaunal bones appear completely mixed with the charcoal and other sediment aggregates of the mixture, so intentional deposition (possibly as temper?) is assumed, even if some bones (e.g. a whole rodent leg) are completely articulated. Also, the layer is too compacted for the bones to be post-depositional.
The purpose of this unit is not completely clear. It appears that it might have been deposited in order to close the oven structure on its E end, although given the large extension covered by this packing unit, a repairment / consolidation function should not be rejected. 

Consistency: Firm 

Colour: Dark brownish grey to yellowish brown 

Texture: Clay loam 

Bedding: Compound layered (heterogeneous composition) 

Inclusions: Very abundant microfauna (rodent) bones, ca.30% abund., microcharcoal 

Post-depositional Features: Extremely bioturbated by rodent burrowing 

Basal Boundary: Sharp, prominent, irregular, constructional 

Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field): above: (Click to view the record) 21363 below: (Click to view the record) 21560 

Dry sieve volume: 0 

Total Deposit Volume: 9 

Number of Samples recorded by excavator: 2

Number of Related Diary Entries: 0

Settlement Phase:

Associated Mellaart Levels (from Space): Unassigned at present 

Associated Hodder Level (from Space): Unassigned at present 

Finds Room Information:

All material from site passes through the finds room for washing and separating before it is passed onto the various lab teams. The finds room keeps a basic inventory of what is found. A finds material type list is given here. Further analytical detail maybe provided by the Lab Team data below.

X Finds Material: nothing recorded  

Finds Material Stored: nothing recorded  

Lab Team Data

Please note the list below does not represent everything that might have been found in this Unit, but represents the datasets we have available on-line. Please contact us to obtain more information about this Unit.

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