| Entry: | 13-08-2013
Today I began excavating in 31135, again taking the upper floor (18736) separately and as a separate sample. Soon after starting, a small patch of the characteristic 1-2cm thick yellow white floor 31143 was observed at the base of 18376. It was photographed, as this convinces me that yesterday’s postulations about the 'patchy floor' 31143 were correct. In some areas it is present over wide areas, and others, especially the middle of 31135 and 31136, it is very patchy in character, with patches only 3-5 centimeters across in some places. In the corner of the walls of 31135, there was still some yellow white 16977 present on top (about 1cm), and the brownish gray 18376 was so much thicker and a bit more crumbly, as well as muddled with the below 31143, and so 31143 was removed to the more clear, flat, phytolith and dark brown soil termination at its base here before understanding the stratigraphy more clearly and leaving it in place on the remainder of the south wall, for sampling along with the portions remaining in the north section of unit 31136. By completing excavation of 31135, I feel very secure calling this a high quality floor, fairly even at a consistent 1-2cm, that was partially destroyed, and then replaced with the above, lower quality, thicker 18376. JMR postulates this fine, thin floor was not very functional and was worn through, and so the subsequent floor was made extra thick to compensate. This explanation seems very reasonable to me. It is very satisfying to have moved from the frustrating uncertainty when this floor was first discovered a few days ago in 31137 and 31138, to the conclusive certainty further careful excavation and exploration has yielded. |
