| Entry: | Return to building 42.
After a succesfull 04 season with the spectacular finds of both skull (11330)and figurine I returned to finish the job. The remaining part of B42 was the east wall F826, although truncated during Mellaarts excavations and subsequently eroded, it stood to just about 12 courses. A foundation trench was noted in 2004 on the west side of the wall and partially excavated, the remainder removed during the first days on site. At this point no cut was apparent on the east side, midden deposits seemed to abutt this side to quite a height. Initially it was thought the midden was later and would have to be removed, however after some cleaning I thought I could see tip lines continuing to other parts of the midden that were definitely pre B42! I thought a steep face had been cut into the midden and the wall built flush against it. How wrong was I! While removing the penultimate course, deposits identicall to those filling the cut (11345) on the west side were found on the east and below the midden. Woops.
Wel I had the answer anyway. The midden was later and there was a cut on the east side as well. The midden was removed (11355-6 and 11358-60) and the cut revealed in plan, It will also still be visible in section as this area will be stepped in 1m from shelter foundations and because the imprint of the strat adheres to the cement. So no cover ups an option.
So back on track and in sequence, the remaining backfill of the construction cut [11345] was removed and the final course of wall F826. Beneath this was the mortar onto which the bricks were laid, this peeled up a treat to reveal the basal profile of the cut and as a final surprise from B42 the remains of a timber footing plank! This took the form of phytolith deposits running along the base of the cut in two inturupted lines, and also patches of bark or wood impessions. Both recorded in (11363). This apparently hasn't been noted at Catal before so it seems Building 42 claims another first.
The method of construction for B42 was now revealed; as it was to be built onto a midden (11347), a foundation trench was dug and a plank laid in the base to provide a raft for the wall to be constructed on. Unusual for Catal or just not noticed elsewhere? It's a big mound, not everyone would have done the same thing, there has been suggestions of subsidence during the buidings life time (See F1502 Platform so perhaps this is how they dealt with it here.
Middening seemed to continue in this area after construction of B42 evidenced by (11355-6 and 11358-60), so not only was B42 constucted on a midden, it had midden on its eastern side at least. Does this suggest some sort of peripheral area or is it just due to its location at the edge of the mound? If this area was peripheral for some reason how is that reconcilled by the interior of B42 with high quality plaster surfaces, Pos bucrania footings and the finds; figurine and plastered skull?
Enough thoughts for now, far too much blaa blaa.Entered By: Simon McCann |
