Unit 18701

Category: Skeleton    dug in 2009

Area: South 

Data Category Information: none

Dimensions: 0.60 m N-S x 0.55 m E-W 

Discussion: Neolithic adult skeleton, probable male, in grave pit directly under two other skeletons (18447, 18464) in E platform (F 3408) of B 76. The skull and mandible of (18701) were displaced such that the mandible was found in the uppermost layer next to the skull of (18447) in the western part of the platform. The skull of (18701) was found in the middle layer of skeletons next to the skull of (18464), also in the western part of the platform. Both the mandible and the skull were blackened from being under the western part of the platform which was burned at a higher temperature and/or of longer duration than the eastern part of the platform. Sk (18701) was highly fragmented due to the heat from the fire and due to its close proximity to the skeleton immediately above it (18464). The postcranial skeleton was not blackened although the bones were affected by the heat of the fire by being fragmented and having the cancellous bone baked to an orange color. Two types of associated grave goods were found with this adult male. Beads were found in the left shoulder region; these may have been on the individual's neck. Seven animal bones made to look like red deer canines were found in direct association with sk (18701). These "teeth" were found atop the mid-shaft of the right humerus and under the left radius and ulna at the mid-abdominal region. The "teeth" were clustered together and given that they were perforated, they may have been tied together or even placed in a pouch that was at or near the waist. The skeleton was likely disturbed during the interment of sk (18464) initially with the skull and mandible being displaced upwards. The mandible was likely disturbed again during the later interment of sk (18447). It is also possible that sk (18701) was only distrtubed once if sk (18447 and sk (18464) were buried at or near the same time. In either event, the skull of sk (18701) was not removed from the grave pit but rather placed back into the grave when it was filled in for the last time.
One additional fake "red deer" tooth was found in the flotation sample (S2, F 9076) which brings the total number to 8. 

X and Y of Targets: Target A - X: 930.08; Target A - Y: 959.44; Target B - X: 930.08; Target B - Y: 959.27; Target C - X: 930.15; Target C - Y: 959.04; Target D - X: 930.48; Target D - Y: 959.19 

Body: Flexed on right side, main axis of body west to east with head originally to west, primary inhumation 

Head: Skull and mandible displaced to upper level. Displaced skull in found in level immediately above rest of skeleton lying next to another skull (18464); mandible found next to skull of sk (1447) two layers above rest of skeleton; both baked brown-black; head on basicranium facing south 

Right Arm: Under skeleton, humerus extended with distal end at hip; elbow bent ~45 degrees with hand extended uner pelvis 

Left Arm: Humerus extended on top of left femur with distal end fragmented and not in situ; elbow bent ~90 degrees with lower arm crossing chest with hand extended along northern section of the grave pit 

Right Leg: Flexed at the hip and knees; knee at chin area; foot extended towards south under left foot 

Left Leg: Flexed at hip and knees; knee at chin area; foot extended towards southern section of the grave pit 

Other comments: Skull, kneees, upper ribs and upper vertebrae blackened by affects of the fire on the contents of the platform; lower body baked with spongy, cancellous bone orange; all bones highly fragmentary from the burning event and from their close proximity to the skeleton (18464) above 

Surface Modifications: Blackening of the some of the bones from the burning event 

Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field): above: (Click to view the record) 18703 below: (Click to view the record) 18702 

Number of Samples recorded by excavator: 4

Number of X-Finds recorded by excavator: 8

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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