Unit 3314
Category: layer dug in 1998
Area: South
Interpretive Categories: midden and dumps
Data Category Information: Location: external; Deposition: coarsely bedded (dumps)
Dimensions: 4.4 m E-W x 3.5 m N-S x c. 0.15 m thick
Discussion: The interface of this layer was very difficult to find in some places and easier in others. The layer contained fine lenses of phytolith and yellow material which hereazed concentration towards the west half of the unit. The Southeast end contained a greater density of bone.
Having removed a layer area it was possible to see that the whiter material to the south which contained building material, plaster, brick fragments etc. seemed to change to a clayey brown material further north. In the Southeast a thin layer of phytoliths was detected but not exposed. This land of discrete phytolith spread was also observed in the Northeast area, but not to the same extent. Whilst digging this horizon, a skull and skeleton were discovered. Towards the central/western end (i.e. just west of the skeleton) the deposit changed to a lighter material and contained more phytoliths. Southwest of skeleton there was an area of burning and ash, surrounded by a dense concentration of phytolith layers and yellow deposit.
SF:
It was at this stage we decided to change the unit. Up with this 3314 was a purely arbitrary layer excavated in order to find a good, well defined and easily followable horizon - several attempts were made therefore the discrete fire areas were located associated with organic deposits and numbers were changed.
3314 is comprised of several dump/rubbish deposition events which probably tie in with those overlying space 117.
During the excavation of 3314 the skull of burial 285 was found which therefore cut through this layer as was dug.
Recognition: Differs from midden deposit - harder, not fine lenses (arbitrary horizon).
Definition: Eastern edge abutts space 117, northern edge wall, sothern edge defined by extent of excavation.
Execution: Pick, mattock and trowel.
Condition: Dry.
Consistency: Firm but a little friable as dry, patches of clayey hard material, and often patchs of very soft friable material.
Colour: Variable - large patches of 2.5 Y, 8/1 white and 2.5Y 7/1 light grey, smaller areas of 2.5Y 7/4 pale yellow and 2.5Y 6/4 light yellowish brown. General colour thruogh a section 2.5Y 6/3 light yellowish brown.
Texture: Generally silty clay loam and patches of more clayey material.
Bedding: Chunks of mixed material. Compound, unoriented, sloping E-W down and from N-S down.
Inclusions: Bone <2%, infrequent obsidian, well preserved shell, clayballs <2%, cprolite patches and fragments of phytolith, large patchs of white clayey plaster - like material. Small flecks of charcoal, variable frequency about <5% in areas. Stone relatively sized and relatively infrequent. Rare hackberries.
Post-depositional Features: Roots <2%, some salts.
Basal Boundary: Fairly arbitrary layer although attempting to find anthropogenic layer -i.e.- interface between compound layers of dumps. Distinctness is very diffuse, contrast to very slight - and found by feel, by identifying from these patches. The upper layer often came awat easily in areas with phytolith underneath. The surface slopes downwards from east to west, and slightly downwards from north to south. The surface is uneven and wavy.
Unit Stratigraphy (as recorded in the field):
Dry sieve volume: 1315
Total Deposit Volume: 1369
Number of Samples recorded by excavator: 17
Number of X-Finds recorded by excavator: 3
Number of Related Diary Entries: 0
Settlement Phase:
Associated Mellaart Levels (from Space): Unassigned at present
Associated Hodder Level (from Space): Unassigned at present
| Related Photos: 11 (Opens as a group in a new window) | |
| Buildings: none | |
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 Ceramic Records: No Clay Object Records: No Chipped Stone Records: No Conservation Recorded: No Faunal Records: Yes
Count of records:: 382
Unit description: A medium-sized unit from a 'midden' deposit. Ovis/Capra, Sus, Bos, Canis and Equus all represented within the unit including large Bos, probably primigenius. Most body parts are well represented. There is a large proportion of loose teeth, mandibular and cranial fragments, many of which probably result from the same individuals. The unit has a large proportion of bones with antique breaks and some modern breaks. Cut marks are present on a wide variety of bones including an equid pelvis, Sus astragalus and various ribs. Gnawing is present on a number of 07 sized bones and there is a fairly large number of digested bones. A small proportion of material is burnt. Over all the weathering is very slight. Some unfused epiphyses are present. A horn core 3314.X2 is present but highly fragmented. A bone bead possibly fashioned from a hare-sized long bone or a phalanx was present. Sample 4 was recorded in 2000 as diagnostics + flot frags only. Diagnostics included a large cattle atlas fragment (possibly wild), an equid metacarpal, a lower cattle premolar, and horn core fragments from sheep/goat. Looking over the flot frags, they agree with CH's description of the condition of the dry sieved material. F1 and F2 bone ring fragments F159 = cattle DNA sample (mandibular M3). Last number = 382Figurine Records: Yes
Count of records::none Ground Stone Records: Yes
Count of records:: 8 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 recordsPhytolith Sample: No
Sorry not all of this data is available online at present, please contact us if you are particularly interested phytolith samplesDownload this Units Data
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