| | Area: South | | | | Dug in Year: 2004 | | Feature Type: platform | | | | Related Photo (Click to view larger version in new window) | | | | | Location: | | | F1501 describes the NE platform in building 42 and consists of only 3 phases of make up and plastering. F1519 wall originally helped define area of F1501 (and F1502). Make up layers of silt/ sandy sily with few inclusions of varying thickness underlie plaster surfaces some showing signs of wear and some contemporary with those on F1502.
Burials F1511, F1513 +F1514 are cut into make up layers between plaster surfaces, in separate phases. Most interestingly burials F1516 + F1517 (with plastered skull (11330)) underlie F1501 but are confined by its later extent!
The latest activity connected with this platform is F1508, niche, which possibly held a bucrania.
DISCUSSION
Platform F1501 constructed as an intrgral part of internal features of B42, with platform F1502 and bench F1503 to S.
The platform cnsists of 3 distinct phases of make up and plastering; platform initially layed out and constructed/ plastered as a whole with F1502, then 2 graves F1513 +F1514 cut into make up layer above that, then plastered over.- End of 2nd phase of plastering and mirrors what is happening on F1502. Again in 3rd phase make up is cut by grave F1511 before being plastered over by (10407), final/ uppermost plastered surface. The latest event being the construction of bucrania, suggested by niche F1508, again mirroring F1502.
The pre platform activity of burials F1516+ 7 are interesting as they suggest a knowledge of where platform F1501 was going to be and so a sense of planning and vision of how this building was to be built and ordered through its lifetime. It also suggests NE platform F1501 was a focal point, plastered skull (11330), only 2nd in Turkey, recovered from F1517.
Burials F1516+7 + deposition of plastered skull (11330) may suggest some sort of foundation deposit for B42 and that the area under F1501 was appropriate; was this spot chosen because NE platform normally has lots of burial activity and is seen as a focal point or does the burial and plastered skull then make the Ne platform special because of it?
The sequence of F1501 is also interesting as burials are always made through the make up deposits and prior to plastering events- is this because the finnish and the appearance of the platform is paramount? This has not been noted in other houses on the east mound where burials are considered to be in general cut through the plaster surfaces.
If the finish of the platforms was important was this some sort of show house, possibly the knowledge of these burials rather than their physical presence was important, or some sort of closing event / ceremony?
The latest raising of F1501 happens after F1501+2 were level, the time between these events is unknown- days, or weeks/ months?- but the final appearance of both F1501+2 was coherent in that both had possible bucrania as suggested by F1508 on F1501 and F1509 on F1502.
Elaboration and ?overtly 'ritual' additions to platform suggest central part it played in house and activities that occured within it.
F1501 + F1502 should be considered more of a complete entity rather than separate platforms + activities. Areas of focus, areas of similar meanings + occasionally different/ specific meanings.
Matrix on paper archive, see also F1502 for discussion | | | | In situ Conservation: No | | Lifted: No | | | | Feature Relationships: | | above: (Click to view the record) 1516, 1517, 1519 | | abuts: (Click to view the record) 1502 | | cut by: (Click to view the record) 1511, 1513, 1514 | | | | Number of Related Diary Entries: 3 | | | | Conservation Recorded: No | | Related Photos: 51 (Opens as a group in a new window) | Buildings: (Click to view the record)
| Spaces: (Click to view the record)
| | No. Of Units in this Feature: 8 (Click here to view unit list) |
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