| | Area: North | | | | Dug in Year: 2007 | | Feature Type: pit/scoop | | Feature Subtype: | | | | Location: quarry pit cutting B.101 in FTs 23-25 | | | The interface between the clean infilling and the overlying debris was clear and sharp created by a large truncation horizon (18134) cut on a gradual slope. From the south the cut began some 0.2-0.3m in from the south wall and cut at a roughly 45 degree angle to a central depth of c.0.7m and rising up slightly to the north where it ran up to the north wall on a relatively even plane. At this end a cut event was less clear as the subsequent deposits lay directly against the heavily plastered wall face faithfully following the uneven contours. The only indication of a cut suggested by a basal area of mudbrick and large fragments of plaster perhaps an indication of displacement as the cut faithfully followed the internal wall face of the building. The cut was just short of 5.0m, the entire length of Sp.63 but its width extended beyond the trench LOE, it may be assumed though that the cut may have extended over the entire room. This exercise would have provided a rich source of clean clay silt from the infill and as such interpreted as a quarrying event.
An initial infilling was represented by a dump of midden and rubble material (15694), which as excavated was indistinguishable from the overlying fill (15656) but in section it was a relatively thick up to 0.3m deposit at the sides, thinning towards the centre as it settled. These were differential dumps with diffuse boundary interfaces of mixed mid brown, orange and grey, crushed building rubble mixed with midden components and bands of pale grey ash rich deposits mixed with plaster and charcoal fragments all of which appeared to be redeposited rather than primary accumulation.
Cutting this horizon was a pit cut (15677) sub circular in shape approximately 1.4m in diameter and 0.44m deep with steep undercut sides and flat base. The fill (15676) was not dissimilar to the underlying deposit an ashy, midden rich fill with some burnt brick rubble and charcoal. Towards the top at the interface of the overlying deposit were some larger brick fragments that were weathered, rolled and worn indicating that the brick rubble component was clearly redeposited again containing quantities of animal bone, stone and obsidian. The necessity for a second cut is puzzling, perhaps more clean clay was needed and the easier option was to revisit the location where this material had been previously sourced.
The overlying 0.6m depth of fill covered the whole area, sealing the second cut (15677) but lay within the boundaries of the first cut. It consisted of a midden and rubble rich deposit (16113/15656.15692), containing large quantities of burnt mud brick, charcoal and ash as well as quantities of animal bone, stone, obsidian, clay balls, pottery and figurines. It also contained an unfinished obsidian spearhead, 15656.X1.It was very similar to the underlying fill, the boundary only detected by the initial dumps of crushed scorched material in dark browns and oranges with more burnt but worn brick fragments followed by a barely detectible boundary to the overlying material of grey ash rich debris with midden component and larger and more fragments of weathered burnt brick fragments.
Collectively these deposits represented redeposited material from middens with a burnt rubble component and a rapid deposition process, which was confirmed by an overview of the material assemblage. Although the deposits were broadly similar to what would be encountered in other midden contexts there were some notable variations with a comparatively narrower range of lithics and faunal taxa, although bird appeared to be overrepresented. The fauna suggested a post consumption signature but did not contain discreet deposits representing ‘feasting’ rather the range of taxa appeared quite diverse. The plant signature reflected a high density of midden type deposit with a dung component probably derived from dung fuel.
In comparison to other large quarry pits excavated at different locations at the site (Space 279 & Space 261 this report & Archive Report 2006), this pit (15677) was rapidly infilled with secondary and tertiary material compared to slow midden accumulation of the others. It is also unusual to see bulk burnt debris in this context that is generally ‘managed’ by their containment within the burnt structure (B.52, B.1, B.79, B.80, B.77) (SF 30/05/11) | | | | In situ Conservation: No | | Lifted: No | | | | Number of Related Diary Entries: 0 | | Conservation Recorded: No | Buildings: (Click to view the record)
| Spaces: (Click to view the record)
| | No. Of Units in this Feature: 7 (Click here to view unit list) |
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