| Entry: | Its more than a week since my last diary entry and there are a few things to mention in relation to the infill removal shenanigans in Space 163/170. The space has been divided into four quadrants of which the first to experience infill removal was the north-west. The infill was given unit number 4325. Despite the top of the infill being cleaned prior to removal with large tools a burial was quickly located, the cut of which had not been observed in plan. Unfortunately the skull of the skeleton was discovered with the cold steel of a mattock blade and was therefore recovered in a number of pieces. Subsequent cleaning in the area of the skull revealed a very faint edge of a small feature. This was given a feature number (F442) and unit numbers 4327, 4328 and 4329, these being the fill, skeleton and cut respectively. Removal of the fill and cleaning of the skeleton (by Basak) revealed the burial to have been of a very young baby (neonatal). There were no grave goods and the burial has now been fully recorded.
Following more removal of the infill 4325 the cold steel once again successfully located another burial. This time just a few toe bones were disturbed, and it was immediately obvious that these belonged to an older individual than the previous intern. Again no obvious grave cut had been visible in cleaning the top of the infill. Much subsequent cleaning again revealed a very faint edge, this time of a much larger feature and one that straddled all four quadrants of the space. The burial was centrally placed in the space with the disturbed toes lying directly below the baby burial, though separated vertically by some 30 - 40cm. Cleaning down of the grave fill revealed the skull and then the rest of the skeleton of a crouched burial, lying on its right side, with the head to the south and the torso raised in comparison to the lower body. Both arms appear to have been flexed and raised up in front of the face, with the right leg quite tightly flexed and raised towards the chest. The left leg was also quite tightly flexed but dropped much lower, with the femur almost at right angles to the spine. Covering the abdominal region of the skeleton was a dense concentration of phytoliths, probably the remains of some grassy material or loosely woven mat placed over the body. Field observation (by Basak) suggests a teenager. As I write the skeleton is still being removed.
Also during the past week I have completed the removal of the last deposit in Space 117, Building 2; the remaining section of the NE platform. Earth-filled sacks have now been placed along the north side of this space to prevent any further collapse of the north wall. I have also been operating the total station along with Lucy, during Khan's absence. Whilst this has been a useful re-learning experience for me, it has used up a great deal of our time (particularly setting up the machine), and I think has delayed the removal of material.
Hopefully tomorrow the removal of burial F460 will be complete and removal of infill can continue. About 50cm of infill has so far been removed so it can surely only be a matter of time before Space 170 floor features are encountered. Infill removal in the other three quadrants is still in its infancy and Charlie has also been slowed by the presence of (at least) one burial. Progress in this space is therefore likely to be slow, but probably worthwhile.
There are a couple of contentious points I would like to make, but at the risk of causing any upset, I will not make them through this medium..........yet!
That's about it for now, I shall return to this keyboard soon.Entered By: Peter Boyer |
