| Entry: | Finally closed unit (23084) that subsumes all the later layers of pre-construction deposition in the side-room of B.131.
Re. the history of the space: (23084) comprises all deposits (except one possible burial) above the collapsed W wall of B.139. This includes in order: midden activity or midden redeposition esp in NW quadrant, rubble dumps esp. in S and center, several cuts into the rubble in W & N, a series of ash dumps or ephemeral firespots full of burnt bone (two definite series of these in N end of space, for 6-10 events total) and finally a thick packing/levelling deposit. Lots of finds mostly from the redeposited midden and ash/firespot areas. Oh, and two potential burial cuts in N and W have become visible as we cleaned – not sure, due to the rapid pace / mattock execution, where those cuts started in the above sequence of events. So before B131 was built the space accumulated a succession of broad rapid ‘fill’ and small, intensive ‘use’ deposits over some span of time.
Re. methodology, 'blocking' this as one unit means little of the above will be systematically recorded (just noted in unit description, etc.). It felt like any time we started tracing a stratum out to its full extent, we were told ‘ignore that, go deeper, take mattocks, go.’ First we made several soundings to diff. levels to remove the posts; then we set out to remove the final fill; no, take the midden too; no, take the rubble, too; no, take the wall (we drew the line at that one – the collapsed wall remains). At one point, pausing to take stock, we had 6 or 7 stratigraphically superimposed deposits at surface level in different parts of the space at the same moment, all part of (23084). I'm interested, for my own research, how space in between-sequential-buildings and pre-construction phases was managed - and interested, for my own simple mind & soul, in a little stratigraphic control. So blocking, & esp. the constant mission-creep as the ‘end point’ extends irregularly deeper and deeper each time a higher-up visits, is a bit painful. |
