| | Area: South | | | | Dug in Year: 2004 | | Feature Type: bench | | | | Related Photo (Click to view larger version in new window) | | | | | Location: | | | Bench feature within Building 42, part of well furnished space in direct relation to platforms F1501 and F1502 to the north. This bench feature actually predates the platforms and all other features within the building, and therefore represents the first feature to be constructed.
Excavation of the bench has allowed a rare opportunity, thanks to its quality of both preservation and construction, to view, layer by layer, the process involveed in creating this feature.
Once (11328), the make up layer laid down onto the midden surface prior to construction, the bench was the first feature to be tentatively laid out with mudbrick bricks (11335) and (11334), the initial shape and form of the bench beginning to form. (Despite the pre-construction burials F1517 and F1516 obviously indicating and pre-empting the platform construction, it is thought that it was actually the bench that was the first feature to be started). This early phase is likely to be fairly contemporary with mudbricks (11329) (11323) (11322) and (11321) F1519, but definitely came before these in a strategraphic sense.
Mudbricks (11309) were then added to the bench - a very similar brick type to (11334) below. Some evidence of plastering was noted between 2 bricks on the inside of the feature, suggesting that those bricks were actually reused from another/earlier building.
A thick make-up/packing material was then applied, strangely not covering the whole of the previous bricks, The deposit, a light greyish brown clayey silt was very similar to those seen higher in the sequence, suggesting continuity and same construction phase. Upon this 3 large mudbricks, yet again a different type were laid. In plan, these were slightly askew from those below. Its quite nice to see this mish mash of bricks and slightly poor construction which provides a much more human insight into how these buildings were constructed. Similarly, none of the bricks mentioned above actually reach the wall. F826 that would have been in place prior to bench construction. Throughout its sequence, various episodes of packing were used to basically plug the gaps. So whether not enough bricks were available to the constructors, or whether it was purely a mistake, actions were taken to put things right.
After one such make up phase between wall and brick, another single course of brick was added to the eastern end only, in order to raise the bench in this place. Again it it likey that this brick was reused as some plaster remains on the top. This plase may well have been higher at some point. There is evidence that the bench was raised at the eastern end far higher that the rest of the bench. This is seen on the upstanding wall F826 and from its plastered surface (11314). Directly above the bench, no plaster remains for the entire height of the wall.
The bench, now with its shape and form present, was then covered with a light greyish brown silt packing/make up/bonding material (10493) (10492) and (10487). All deficiencies and previous construction problems were covered at this point, and a solid and square bench shape was created. The two platforms to the north F1501 and F1502 must have also been satisfactorally completed at this time, as the same packing material covered every constructional feature within the building, bringing everything into phase. All features were then plastered, again in a continuous single act to form a beautifully made surfaced living space.
Two later phases of construction of the bench can be noted by the addition of two plaster surfaces. (10481), the penultimate phase of plaster sits directly beneath (10409), a very similar deposit. Both were laid onto the bench (only on the top) to represent a new phase in order to heighten the feature, presumably as the platforms as the platforms also rose. Both layers were approx 0.05m thick in places with the plaster lifting off in flat bottomed chunks to reveal the earlier surfaces below. This indicates that they were indeed 3 phases only?
When first excavated, the eastern end was visibly different from the rest of the bench, as indicated by the lack of plaster. Together with the rest of the bench, as indicated by the lack of plaster. Together with the evidence seen in the lack of plster (11314) on wall F826 directly above the bench, we can assume that an additional feature existed here at some point, and for whatever reason (ritual destruction at end of house use?) was damaged to the point of destruction.
A possible suggestion remains in the form of plaster debris (10406) scattered across platform F1502, first seen after the removal of room fill (10404). Initially thought to relate to 'niches' F1508 and 1509, the debris all appear to be plastered mudbrick fragments with plaster on more than one side, I.e around corners etc. and differ from (10405) which are pretty much non-specific plaster debris. Once lifted, it was thought that they probably actually relate to the bench and its desrtuction/dismantleing phase. One piece in particular appeared to fit very well on one corner. There is, however, no indication as to the height of this bench feature, save for the lack of lack of plaster on wall F826. With this in mind we can suggest that it was higher than the fragment of wall that remains today. | | | | In situ Conservation: No | | Lifted: No | | | | Feature Relationships: | | abuts: (Click to view the record) 826, 1502, 1510, 1519 | | | | Number of Related Diary Entries: 1 | | | | Conservation Recorded: No | | Related Photos: 61 (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: 16 (Click here to view unit list) |
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