Unit 18496

Category: Skeleton    dug in 2009

Area: South 

Data Category Information: none

Dimensions: 0.60m (n-s) x 0.80m (e-w) 

Discussion: Neolithic adult skeleton interred in NE platform (F 3400) of Building 76 at a lower level than sk (18457) who was also interred in the NE platform. The fire in the building during Neolithic times resulted in the bones in the western part of the platform being "baked" under the platform floor where the heat from the fire was hotter and possibly of longer duration than it was for the eastern platform. The bones in the west were therefore more affected by the intense heat than were those in the east. The skull, mandible and upper cervical vertebrae were baked to a black-brown because of their placement in the west whereas the rest of the skeleton in the eastern platform was affected by the heat of the fire but they were not blackened. These bones are highly fragmented and the cancellous bones is orange. This pattern of differential baking is consistent for all the burials found in the eastern and northeastern platforms thus far although sk (18457) in the NE platform was the most blackened of the skeletons found in these platforms. Interestingly, all 5 of the blackened skulls (18447, 18464, 18701, 18457 and 18496) had carbonized organics inside the skull case. This material was sampled for all these individuals and they may represent the remnants of brain tissue. Sk (18496) was a primary inhumation undisturbed by other interment events. A worked flint tool (x1.18489) was found near the feet. 

X and Y of Targets: Target A - X: 931.14; Target A - Y: 961.67; Target B - X: 931.17; Target B - Y: 961.23; Target C - X: 931.61; Target C - Y: 961.42; Target D - X: 0; Target D - Y: 0 

Body: on back with legs drawn up lateral to the body, body oriented E-W; with main axis of body to west; head to northwest 

Head: on left side facing northeast; fragmented on right side; "baked" black-brown; organic tissue inside endocranium (carbonized brain?) 

Right Arm: humerus extended alongside body; bent slightly at elbow with lower arm extending towards pelvis across lower abdomen; under right femur and under left lower arm; right hand under right tibia/fibula at left ilium 

Left Arm: humerus extended along rib cage slightly bent at elbow with lower arm extended to right femur and right hip under right tibia/fibula; left hand on proximal femur and right ilium 

Right Leg: tightly flexed at hip and knee; knee medial to midshaft of right humerus; tibia/fibula above left lower arm and right wrist; right foot above left ankle and left foot, extending up northern sidewall of grave pit 

Left Leg: tightly flexed at hip and knee; knee lateral to midshaft of left humeral midshaft; lower leg extending towards right ankle and right foot; feet together with left ankle and foot under right foot 

Other comments: possible carbonized brain tissue inside endocranium. Base of skull vault open to soil below 

Surface Modifications: skull, mandible and upper cervicals blackened due to fire in building 76 

Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field): above: (Click to view the record) 18497 below: (Click to view the record) 18489 

Number of Samples recorded by excavator: 4

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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