| Entry: | After finishing removing pit fills from 13169, we moved back south to tackle more midden deposits. Took off 13174 - a fairly extensive layer that also spilled over the east wall of Building 66, although it turned out to be less extensive than I thought it was going to be pre-ex. Also removed a thin green layer 13172, cut by the pit, and a small deposit to the south 13173, that was lapping over the stones (13152) which meant that they were released. I'd been waiting to get at these stones for some time - had assumed that since I'd removed midden from over the top and that there was midden running underneath, that this was a neolithic pile of stones and more speculatively that, since they were limestone for the most part, that they might have something to do with the 'so-called lime-burning' as Ian calls it. I've talked about this to various site & priority tours and on video too. Scott though had planted a seed of doubt in my mind by noting the orientation and length, and then I thought hmmm and noticed the number of grave cuts in close proximity. Once the stones were released though I could still see midden deposits running underneath, but when we started to remove the stones found a couple of bits of tile.When the stones were gone could see that the (banana-shaped) cut was very narrow, only 30cm, and completely covered by the stones. Which means that deposits stratigraphically over the grave must be re-deposited midden material. The body in the grave is buried on it's side and Lesley and Rachel are excavating it at the moment.
In the meantime I've removed another very bone-rich layer to the north (13183), and a small ashy layer (13181) within the NE corner of Building 66, though stratigraphically we're not down to this building yet - it looks like we've still got another 4 or 5 layers to go here.Entered By: RT |
