Unit 32009

Category: Layer    dug in 2016

Area: North 

Interpretive Categories: make-up layer 

Data Category Information: Location: feature; Description: niche; Material: occupation; Deposition: single

Discussion: A make-up layer U.32009 had been revealed within the Niche F.7855 placed in central part of S-wall (F.3679) of B.132. To better understand the nature of the mentioned feature as well as the describing here unit, worth noticing is that the incised opening (Niche) within the mud-brick structure previously acted as an Oven (F.7732). Accordingly, at some point it was altered into the niche. At that time the domed-part which stood out from the wall was dismantled and preceding base (U.32010) of the fire-installation had been transformed into a raised oval “podium, pedestal” which protruded (up to c.a. 8cm) above the surrounded floor level.
As regards to the make-up layer U.32009 – originally it overlaid the base of oven (U.32010) and consequently it vividly formed extension of the inside (intra-wall) part of the dome and raised construction abutting the niche to the North. Hence, the mentioned deposit of orange-clay, marks distinctively the stage of oven’s closure (F.7732) and at the same time it initiates the phase of exploitation of the Niche with ‘podium’ as a one furniture.
Closer on-field examination of the unit brought additional information related in particular with its state of preservation. It appeared that the make-up constitutes was broadly truncated from its original scope which imply an intensive wear of use and implicitly may indicate relatively long period of exploitation without obvious need of a repair.
Directly below the make-up there was a sandy-silt layer of dirt recorded with perceptible high density of ash and charcoals (charred plant remains). Unfortunately, the latter deposit could not be extracted from the overlying orange-coating. For that reason it was taken together with the make-up as 3 respective samples (S1-archive, S2-flotation, S3-phytoliths). An additional flotation sample (enumerated S.4) had been collected exclusively from the intra-wall, curved (dome-like) incise.
The nature of the evidenced charcoals, remains unclear. However, most plausibly the dirty ashy layer must be regarded as a kind of SPECIAL in term of ‘UNUSUAL’ deposit of fuel that was left behind and then ‘enveloped’ by make-up layer. Maybe the described sediment should be concerned as commemorative deposit the actual remains of the last burning episode before transformation the Oven into the Niche..


32069 – plaster
- A mid white plaster with adjacent yellowish make-up U. 32069 had been evidenced as two patches coating Western and Northern parts of hard-backed base (U.32010), as well as the construction of oven (F.7732) situated in South-Central segment of Sp.531. The presented here unit was recorded partially under the make-up layer (U.32009). However, its most Northern extension had been recognized as a result of singular whitening episode without any trace of repetition. Apparently, on the top surface of the latter of mentioned (northern) plaster, there had been set a rim (U.31546), which restricted to the South Bin F.7867. The above notion gives significant stratygraphiocal relationship between the closure of the oven and converting it into a Niche (F.7855) as well as parallel setting the circular container to the North.
All of the collected so far data imply that at some point the use of oven (F.7732) had been ceased and after its partial demolition it was altered into the niche (F.7855). The initial stage of the new function (on the spot) is marked by plastering the protruded part of the previous fire-installation. The result of that phase was evidenced by recognized scope of unit U.32069. Then after uncertain period of time, the plaster (32069) had been truncated to the North by the cut U.31538 which proceeded the erection of the Bin F.7867.
The (South-) Western part of the presented plaster was recognized mostly on the edge of the protruded part of the oven whose construction sloped down towards the west. The White-coating in mentioned part covered also small extent of the backed-base (U.32010). 

Consistency: friable 

Colour: dark-orange (make-up), mid-grey (dirt below the make-up) 

Texture: clay (make up), silty-sand (dirt) 

Bedding: make-up as well as DIRT WERE massive, 

Inclusions: charcoals and charred plant remains (15%) left on top of oven base 32010 enveloped later on by Make-up 

Post-depositional Features: wear of use 

Basal Boundary: distinct - base of oven 32010 

Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field): above: (Click to view the record) 32010 below: (Click to view the record) 31568 

Total Deposit Volume: 27 

Number of Samples recorded by excavator: 6

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.

<< BackDownload this Units Data