Unit 32653

Category: Layer    dug in 2017

Area: South 

Interpretive Categories: Foundation deposit 

Data Category Information: Location: building; Deposition: homogeneous

Discussion: This layer was defined in the NE corner of the building, after remove the make up 32654 on which the fire installations (F8160 and F8170) were built. The layer exposed was completely different for the one above. It is more loose, light grey and with a lot of charcoal and a bit of ashes in the composition, seems kind of middle. Was also visible a little patches of plaster and remains of probably bricks or mortar, but very smashed. Within this layer we define different animal bones including a few scapulas, vertebras, part of mandible, horns… that extended more or less exactly below where the oven was built. After remove the upper layer of bones, we define a few more, like another scapula (s.15) which was directly in connection with a little cluster composed by stones (s16), clay balls (s17) and an obsidian piece (s.18-X1) which have phytoliths and red pigment around, so probably was wrapped.
Our first interpretations is that all this elements belongs to a foundational deposit probably related with the oven F8160. Anyway a few of the bones where extended below the north and east wall, and also below the earliest floor. For the moment we could not define any cut in plant yet. We need to be aware about this detail when we remove the remains of the earliest floor, and try to clarify if is a deposit only related with the oven, or can be a also foundational deposit for the building construction, because the extension of the bones below the walls. (09/05/17 CB)

NOTE: We assigned only one unit number for all this deposit which will include everything related, so instead to assigned a cluster number or X find the bones, clay balls…. we sampled all of them. The criteria had been sample each scapula, and then we made a little groups according with their position as (S9. S6 or S5 for example) we also assigned a specific sample for each one of the other finds (stones, clay balls and obsidian). A part of that, We dry seave the 100% of the deposit.

After remove the last remains of the floors in the entire building and also the partition wall and with the feedback from lab specialists, the characteristics of this deposit were clearer.
So the U32653 corresponds to a big layer (kind of midden, the compositons is similar a remains of dirty floor) that is clearly sloping in direction N-S, thicker in the north than in the south. Within this layer mostly in the NE corner of the building, we define an important cluster of bones (comprising of a series of Bos bones. Large intact scapula, fragmented second scapula, mandible, tibia, VT, VX etc.) but there also bones spread almost all over the place (but with less intensity). In direct connection with this bones, we define also a cluster of clay balls and stones, and a complete projectile, still very functional, so most definitely an intentional deposit. Similar to Conolly type 8, although not stemmed/shouldered, gradually coming to a somewhat rounded point on the base. It is certainly from Gollu Dag, and made on a triangular cross section blade that has been fully bifacially retouched, looks masterfully done, but will know more about it after it has been cleaned. There are phytoliths attached to the point along the lateral margin on both sides - wrapped lengthwise in some sort of textile?
A part of this elements there where 3 more interesting obsidian objects: 1 nondiagnostic flake, no retouch, no use, but from Acigol, which is a very rare source that seems to be slightly more common in the earliest levels 100% Gollu Dag (11 pieces).
One exhausted opposed platform prismatic microblade core that's been split in half and used as a piece esquillee (wedge for woodworking) Non-standardized blade, double edge cutter, medium use on both edges but right edge is more heavily retouched. An finally a definite projectile that has been obliterated by impact fracture, splitting the piece in half along the lateral margin, dart point is a guess based on the small size and unifacial retouch. Perhaps lightly used as scraper after broken (although maybe it was 'killed' intentionally via bipolar percussion). Chert is light brown semi-transparent with no obvious inclusions.
This deposit extended below the north wall of the building 161, so is bigger, and also in connection with the bone cluster, we exposed and ashy layer with charcoal (32669). After remove this ashy layer and all the bones exposed, we stopped arbitrary the excavation of this deposit and a new number, as a room infill (U32673) was assigned. In the first 0.10 cm of this “new” deposit the presence of bones were also quite intense, and was possible to define a big fire spot (U32675) that is partially extended below the north wall of the building, too. Seems pretty clear that the upper part of the layer U32673 and the fire spot are related with the deposit U32653. Regarding with all the characteristics describe above, the interpretation for all this unit is that can be a feasting deposit/foundation layer previous to the construction of the building 161.
After this feasting activity, the area was leveled with an important make up (U32667-32654-23204 all of them seems to be the same) on which they build the features and walls for the earliest phase of this building. (20/5/2017-CB)

NOTE: There is two sketches: one with the disposition of the samples (U32653b_20170506_S), and another whith the position of this deposit in section, that shows it position in relation with the B-161(U32653_20170506_S)

Once we got all the data for the specialists, mostly the animal bones lab we can conclude that part of this deposit can be related with a feasting activity, mostly the upper part of the deposit and the concentration of bones and the clusters defined below the area were the fire installations were placed. The rest of the deposit including the fire spot U32675 seems that belongs to the normal activities related with midden deposits. (CB-09/06/2017) 

Consistency: Loose 

Colour: Light greyish 

Texture: Very clayis, with a bit of sand and silt (less 10% in this two cases) 

Bedding: Massive 

Inclusions: brick, mortar, wall/floor palster, burn and backed remanes, very small natural stones, and charcoal as the most important inclusion 

Post-depositional Features: Not natural post depositiona features observed. 

Basal Boundary: Not defined yet 

Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field): above: (Click to view the record) 32673 below: (Click to view the record) 32654 

Dry sieve volume: 653 

Total Deposit Volume: 694 

Number of Samples recorded by excavator: 31

Number of X-Finds recorded by excavator: 1

Number of Related Diary Entries: 0

Settlement Phase:

Associated Mellaart Levels (from Space): IX, XI, XII 

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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