Unit 16966
Category: Layer dug in 2012
Area: Trench 5
Related Photo (Click to view larger version in new window)
Interpretive Categories: Roomfill
Data Category Information: none
Dimensions: EW: 260 cm; NS: 280 cm; Depth: ~25 cm
Discussion: Unit 16966 is a layer of roomfill that covers the entire base of sp. 342 to the edge of the features in sp. 342. The base of 16966 was flattened arbitrarile, about 27 cm below the starting depth. The soil matrix of 16966 began as a reletively homogenous fill of dark yellow brown silty clay. In the southern third of the unit, an episode of fill deposition was located, defined by a slightly darker colored soil and ringed by a ~4 cm thick very dark grey brown ashy lens. This episode is visible in the southern profile as an inverted bell shape. In the NE quarter of 16966, a grouping of plaster was located. These plaster lumps were 5-40 cm in length, with some showing painted plaster in up to three episodes of plastering (in profile). Within this plaster grouping was also a few pieces of mudbrick and pockets of mortar. This grouping is located adjacent to f. 3510 and 3303. In the SE of 16966, adjacent to f. 5063, a mudbrick construction feature was located and given the feature number 3353. This feature is a series of stacked mudbricks with mortar between them, in a similar fashion to buttress 5063 next to it. 3353 appears about 60 cm below the top of buttress 5063, and extends about 1 m into sp. 342. It is uncertain what function 3353 serves; it may be a brace for the buttress, a shelf, or a bench. It is safer to say that 3353 does serve to divide the space of sp. 342 as 342 is considerably more open than bldg. 98 (due to the shorter buttresses). Another possible mudbrick construction feature was located in the SW of 16966, between buttress 5062 and the southern profile. This possible feature, located in a presently confined area, consists of two mudbricks with mortar between them. More work is needed to positively identify this possible feature. The soil matrix in front of buttress 5062 is a mostly homogenous yellow brown silty clay, distinct from the other roomfill matrix (dark greyish brown mottled with brown to yellow brown). This homogenous matrix extends about 40 cm into the space. 16966 contained a good number of artifacts, most notably were several worked bone tools (awls, needles, pins?).
Volume 2011 = 1909 L
Volume 2012 = 498 L
Total Volume = 2404 L
Unit 16966 was continued in 2012 for another 15-20cm. The layer contained a lot of x-finds and mostly two texture types, plaster and loose fill. The part we excavated consisted if a soft fill with many different sized plaster fragments and some mudbricks. Three mudbricks were concentrated in the southern part but they seemed to be part of the general roomfill and not connected to one of the features although they lay at approximately the same horizontal level. One of the mudbricks covered a potstand (x53). The plaster was not flattened and surrounded by loose light-brown material and we could not recognise a clear shape.
In the northern part just in front of buttress F.5061, large potsherds, many bones and x-finds were concentrated. No cluster could be identified though, because they were too widespread to be considered clustered. The heterogenity and the general layout of the layer made an interpretation as simple roomfill most likely.
Recognition: Color, texture
Definition: clear but perturbated by other structures - clear In northeastern corner and the southern part, unclear in the southwest next to walls F.3346 and F.3411
Execution: Trowel, hand pick - trowel, small pick, brush
Condition: under shelter - under shelter, sunny, warm
Consistency: Soft fill with firm-compact lumps of clay - soft fill with lots of firm plaster fragments
Colour: greyish-yellow; part south - orange-dark - greyish-brown fill with greyish-yellow plaster and black mudbrick and black and white spots
Texture: silt with some concentration of clay - silty with inclusions of clay
Bedding: heterogenous fill with lumps of clay
Inclusions: mudbrick, pottery, animal bones, bone tools, obsidian, unfired pottery, painted plaster, shell, groundstone, flint
Post-depositional Features: Animal burrows
Basal Boundary: flat, arbitrary base - texture and colour change (wavy)
Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field): above: (Click to view the record) 17263 below: (Click to view the record) 16965, 16958, 16959
Dry sieve volume: 2404
Total Deposit Volume: 2435
Number of Samples recorded by excavator: 21
Number of X-Finds recorded by excavator: 57
Number of Related Diary Entries: 9
Settlement Phase:
Associated Mellaart Levels (from Space): Unassigned at present
Associated Hodder Level (from Space): Unassigned at present
| Related Photos: 39 (Opens as a group in a new window) | |
Buildings: (Click to view the record)
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Spaces: (Click to view the record)
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| Features:: none |
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
| ArchaeoBots Sample Recorded: No |
| Ceramics Data for 2012 still to be released |
| Clay Object Records: No |
| Chipped Stone Records: No |
| Conservation Recorded: No |
| Faunal Records: Yes Count of records:: 495 |
| Figurine Records: No |
| GroundStone Records: No |
| Heavy Residue Records: No |
| Microfaunal Records: No Sorry not all of this data is available online at present, please contact us if you are particularly interested microfauna records |
| Phytolith Sample: No Sorry not all of this data is available online at present, please contact us if you are particularly interested phytolith samples |
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