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| Area: South |
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| Dug in Year: 1999 |
| Feature Type: Burial |
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| Location: Against west wall of space 163, midway between north and south walls |
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| Grid X: 921.54 Grid Y: 971.06 |
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| Crouched burial of a young adult male cut into infill in space 163. Skeleton (4593) was orientated E-W and lay on its back. Both legs were tightly flexed with both knees raised up to the level of the lower ribcage but spread wide, with the feet positioned just below the pelvis. The right humerus lay parallel with the torso, with the right ulna and radius bent at 90 degrees across the lower torso. The left humerus lay almost parallel to the torso with the left ulna and radius flexed such that the left hand lay over the pelvis. The right hand lay over the left ulna and radius. The skull had been removed, probably post-burial but prior to full decay of the flesh. Under the left side of the ribcage and upper right femur lay patches of phytolith concentrations (4617) suggesting a woven textile once lay under the body and possibly lined the cut (4612). In the fill over the body (4464) lay another patch of phytolith impressions (s5 and s7), to the right side of the skeleton, possibly the remains of plant material laid over the body. Above this and covering a large part of the body was the remains of a large piece of wood (4460), part carbonised, part mineralised. This appeared to be a large plank (it was no more than 2cm thick) and was later identified as hackberry. This may have served either as a burial cover or may have been used to protect the body when it was re-excavated to remove the head. It may even be possible that the wood, given its position , may have served some kind of symbolic role in the burial of this young adult male. |
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| In situ Conservation: No |
| Lifted: No |
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| Feature Relationships: |
| abuts: (Click to view the record) 484 |
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| Number of Related Diary Entries: 3 |
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| Conservation Recorded: No |
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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