| Entry: | Unit 15371 was fully excavated today. Three different areas can be distinguished in this unit: a clearly identified plaster floor, a compacted yellowish brown sandy surface (it is unclear whether this is part of the same floor) and an area of fill.
The plaster floor extends roughly across the northern third and the NW section of Space 446. Highly disturbed by animal burrows, particularly towards the NW, it has a pale yellow colour and a firm and generally flat surface. Towards the west it runs underneath the 'bench' (F.3320), showing, therefore, that the latter is a later construction. Towards the north it runs diagonally into the baulk, and presumably it continues underneath it. Interestingly, the Eastern corner of this floor (U. 15371) shows a connection with the floor excavated last year (U. 15341), to the east of where I am working now. Indeed, an intermediate plaster floor seems to be superimposed to the lower floor (U.15371) and to lie directly underneath the upper floor (U. 15341). This is the only area in Space 446 where evidence for the superimposition of three floors in direct contact with each other can be found, which makes it difficult to interpret whether the practice of 'restoring' floors was a common one in the whole Space or just restricted to floor U. 15364. The excavation of this floor (currently outside the limits of our excavation) would help solve this question. If this hypothesis was confirmed, it would probably suggest the existence of two differentiated areas of occupation within Space 446, east (longer occupation as suggested by more numerous replastering of floors), and west, showing a shorter occupation sequence (less replastering).
The interpretation of the compacted yellowish brown sandy surface lying to the south of the plaster floor is difficult. However, it has been suggested that although it differs from the plaster floor in the type of material used, its function might have been similar to this, given the flatness of both and the fact that they seem to be continuous and at the same level. The reasons behind the use of this different material are unknown.
Finally, the southern edge of space 446 is characterised by the absence of features of any kind. Only fill was found.
I started drawing the plan of the plaster floor, which will be finished tomorrow. |
