Unit 31552

Category: Cut    dug in 2015

Area: North 

Interpretive Categories: cut of post retrieval pit 

Data Category Information: Description: pit

Discussion: Cut assigned as U.31552 was situated in SE part of the B. 132. It truncated wide extent of the floor U.31540, along with bench F. 7879, and the younger eastern limit of the sp.531 (Walls enumerated: F.7876, F.7878). The edges of the cut were clear to define by the fact that the truncation in the W-part went through the plastered floor whose sequences of lamination as well as laying below deposits differed in texture and composition from the infill (U.31553) placed within the pit (F.7872).
Judging by the shape and location of the cut the nature of digging activities that caused the extensive demolition in presented spot most plausibly might have been related with taking out two wooden posts sat there as a constructional element. The latter supposition bases on the peculiarities revealed in the lower segment of the cut which clearly showed that there were two oval holes situated next to each other. The two separated cuts were of NS alignment and they varied comparing their sizes. The Western one was bigger (1,05m x 0,48m) than Eastern one (0,73m x 0,40m).
On the very bottom, within each of the oval holes, there were additionally recorded circular bowl-shaped depression marked by the greasy clayish surface coated by mineral salts(see daily-sketch photo: "20160516_AK_ds.jpg" as well as series of photo taken on 16.05.2016). The western depression measured 25cm (NE) x 20 cm (EW), and the Easter one measured 12 cm (NE) x 7cm (EW). The latter evidences most plausibly represent the negative imprints of the authentic posts’ placements that were set there in constructional purpose.
Consequently, the double based cut (or the two post-holes) may imply alignment of actual two posts, placed in front and behind the younger E-wall(s) of B.132 (F.7876, F.7878) probably in order to stabilize its vertical position and prevent slumping the mud-brick structure. The suggested function is supported by the vast devastation, that concentrated mainly on the mentioned wall(s), respecting at the same time (situated parallel) earlier E-wall (F.7149) of B.132. The bottom of the eastern base (cut) laid 53cm (1009,76 a.s.l.) below the first course of bricks (1010,29 a.s.l.) forming the wall F.7876. And the western base (cut) laid 47cm (1009,82 a.s.l.) below the mentioned level. Those data confirm the retaining purpose of wood which must have been properly anchored (secured) much deeper than the wall.
The interpretation imply that the posts were set during the constructional phase of remodeling stage of B.132. At that point residents decided to decrease the extent of the main-room by erecting younger E-wall (F.7878, 7876) along the western face of the (earlier) one F.7149. The final oval shapes of the cuts are probably the result of digging around the posts and moving them out.
Worth noticing is that the depth of the infill was measured from the level of floor U.31540 ( - 1010,55 a.s.l.) within which the outline of the cut (U.31552) had been identified. However, the edge of the mentioned cut was clearly recorded also in higher elevations e.g. on the bench (F.7879) situated westward (1010,71 a.s.l.). Consequently, the depths / thicknesses of those two units (infill and cut) are not the same within one feature (7872). 

Shape: irregular 

Sides: vertical 

Base Break: gradual 

Base: Double based - slightly concave within each of the two revealed bases within whom small depressions were recorded which most possible are the imprints of the post placement. 

Orientation:  

Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field): above: (Click to view the record) 31540 below: (Click to view the record) 31553 

Number of Related Diary Entries: 1

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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