| Entry: | Despite my best efforts to force it in to a single phase it rapidly became clear that the platforms and floors to the south of where work began in building 59 belong to a later building. Therefore Mike H and I have been excavating this structure (building 60, consisting of a single space 278) in order to bring the area into a single phase and allow the remaining backfill of building 59 to be removed.
Building 60 has been heavily truncated, the northern portion of the building is missing entirely, the southern edge is slightly truncated by the later (Byzantine?) building foundation 12628, the building has also suffered extensive vertical truncation. Despite this truncation the level of preservation of building 60 is surprisingly good, especially considering it is so close to the surface.
The building was originally recorded in section along the south facing side of 12628 (graphics no. 06/208). Removal of backfill material 12911, 12938 and 12939 revealed a number of internal features. These included a heath F2223, platforms F2225,F2219, F2212, and 2226, a fragment of truncated platform F2218, benches F2213 and F2214 a post retrieval pit F2217, an in situ plastered post F2224 and a ladder scar F2210.
The ladder scar was associated with platform F2212 and the ladder would have been plastered into this platform. The heath F2223 appears to have been an open fire as no evidence of an oven lining or superstructure were recorded. The position of the hearth, away from the southern wall is also unusual. The southern extent of space 278 is defined by wall F2216, this is largely truncated by foundation 12628. Therefore it is possible there is another room to the south of wall F2216, however I think it unlikely it is associated with building 60. It is also possible that there were futher spaces to the north which have been, truncated.
The number of floors visible in section and the thickness of the wall plaster both indicate the building was occupied for a considerable period of time. The number of alterations to the internal layout of building 60 is also a indication of the structures age.
Removal of vertical plaster 12959 and 12967 and floors 12955 and 12964 revealed a phase of alteration where bench F2213 and platform F2212 were both cut back and the re-plastered.
The floors of building 60 have not been removed individually, a number of floors, associated with a phase or sub-phase within the building are removed as a single unit. The floors within building 60 contain a large amount of dirty floors, directly to the east of heath F2223 the floors are very dirty and worn, suggesting activity associated with the hearth.
Next floors 12969 was removed to reveal a small depression [12975] filled by (12974). The removal of this floor also allowed the original plaster 12973 on F2214 to be removed.
Hopefully next week the western and northern platforms can be freed and excavated to allow the relatively rapid removal of building 60.Entered By: DE |
