| Entry: | This is a final diary entry from me as a summary of what I've been doing in Building 58.
I also did a video diary on my last day on site which should help if anyone ends up taking over the building.
I've only been working in Space 227, concentrating, initially on the main floor area F2129.
The original intention was for me to start taking off floor layers until the platforms were released. Unfortunately none of the platforms were released and no excavation (bar the removal of one truncated layer each on F2123 and F1567) could be carried out. This does, however suggest that the floors had considerably more replastering than the platforms during the life of this building- at least in its latest phase. A number of truncated floors were removed, which became increasingly more defined and continuous with depth. A small number of pits became visible; cut through different floor layers but each close to the north end of 2129.
Feature 2250 contained a small cluster of fragmentary clay objects sitting on what seemed to be redeposited ash.
Feature 2253 was a small pit that produced a small group of heavily worked obsidian, as well as a marine shell-13238 x.1
Feature 2252 was a similar small pit but did not contained no obvious group of finds.
F.2129 was excavated down to plaster surface 13239 which seems to extend right across the main floor (although the SE corner of the floor was not fully exposed)
Immediately above 13239 was a packing layer- 13230 which again seemed to extend right across the main floor area- perhaps suggesting a significant attempt to level the floor. This layer produced a figurine- probably animal- which found right up against the north wall of the building = F1564.
A feature against this north wall - F.2251 caused some difficulty of interpretation. Although wall F1564 needs to be dropped to really understand it, I managed to come up with a provisional interpretation.. It would seem that an original depression/ cut at the north of F.2129 was covered/ filled by each subsequent floor surface; each time leaving a depression in the floor. At some point wall F,1564 slumped pushing material and wall plaster into this depression. This was then packed with more plaster and eventually filled. It remains to be seen whether the floor levels below 13239 respects this depression.
Whilst removing the floor layers it became clear that they were earlier than wall F.2001. We thought that this wall might have been built to help support the badly slumping wall F2000, but this is not clear. However F. 2001 could not be removed because of wall paint for a long time, and although it is out of sequence the decision was made to leave it in for this year. Once this is removed the relationship between platform F.2123 and ridge F.2193 (which also seems at least partly later than the excavated floors) should be clear.
It also became clear that Hearth F2122 had been released and was also 'floating' stratigraphically. A number of truncated layers were removed from the 'lip' and the surface of the hearth to try to get it into phase. A fairly continous layer - 13251 (which also may be painted on the outside edges) became visible. However two truncated layers need to be removed before this can be fully exposed. Excavation of the hearth halted when it became apparent that the 'dirty floors' on platform F.2128 were also stratigraphically later and needed to be removed. This platform was excavated down to 13259. However it also possible that these floors are earlier than blocking F. 2127.
In general building 58 was and still is quite out of phase. It seems that a number of walls and features on the west side of the building needs to removed to allow the excavation of the floor layers to continue. This will in turn allow the platforms to be excavated.Entered By: MCD |
