SITE PICTURES > THE SQUARES

I. F6

Emily Duffelmeyer (Co-Supervisor), Gary Lindstrom (Supervisor), Adam Hamilton

Square Report

 

 Location

 

Square Photos

 


 I. F6 2000 Final Square Report

A history and chronology of the site based on findings in square F6 are as follows:

Loci F6000 and F6001 are associated with the latest phases. These loci are both erosion layers with unstratified materials dating to the present (bullet casing) on the surface to 10th-12th CE materials directly on top of F6003 and above F6002. Much of the robbing or reuse of stone comes from the 10th-12th CE. These layers consist of broken chunks of building stone as well as a significant amount of architectural fragments (46) of capital, column, and moldings of various dimensions which were parts of the architecture of the temples on our site. Most of the recycling of stone took place in this period.

F6002 is our latest wall and by evidence of pottery, I suspect dates between 370 to 420 CE. Only the bedding remains with one stone in our west balk measuring 15x36 cm. Approx. F6002 runs in a East-West direction and was built against the interior of F6003. Founding material for this wall consists of boulder, some rounded basalt, cobbles, some angular, with a small amount of cement mortar between intermingled in a limestone bedding. F6004, F6006, F6008. This wall terminates approximately 75 cm before our east balk and appears to turn in a north-east direction. At the Northeast corner of our balk there is also a hard packed layer with several cobbles embedded which is on top of F6005 and this may possibly be footing material of the extension of this wall. Not enough of F6007 is exposed to be certain. Materials within the bedding of F6002 indicate a dating of 380-425 CE. Bucket I.F6.9 is critical as this bucket contains 1/3 of a juglet broken in the fill with one coin (C-1). There is, however, one small glazed body sherd of the 10th-12th CE which I believe to be contamination, and one questionable jar rim, possibly 10th-12th CE but UD at this time. Due to the change in direction of F6002, it is possible F6002 may be the outer south wall of a basilica.

WF6003 is a substantial wall running in a south-east direction approximately 2 m. thick and we have exposed six courses of its northern face down to an elevation of 178.28. The interior face of WF6003 is roughly finished and stones are uneven with plaster at some of the joints which were not meant to be seen. Loci F6009, F6010, F6011, and F6012 are associated with the backfilling during the course of construction of this wall. These loci consist of layers of fill thrown in during the course of setting the stones and tough trimming in place as limestone chips were noted throughout the fill with heavier deposits closer to the wall. Material artifacts and pottery consist of a few glass fragments, painted wall plaster fragments of red, yellow and black, one piece of marble, and a small amount of pottery considering the amount of rubble removed. Latest pottery read two 3rd-4th CE body sherds and one handle fragment F6011 I.F6.29. Earlier pottery to the 1st half of the 1st CE included several lamp fragments including two or three spatulated lamp nozzles. A floor for this wall was not found as WF6002 had been placed directly against WF6003, obliterating its interior surface. This wall, WF6003, is part of the "temple two" wall exposed in C6 and at other areas. Founding level or bedrock has not been reached and number of remaining courses is unknown.

WF6005 is a very fine chiseled wall tightly set without mortar running in a south-east direction parallel with WF6005 with approximately 1.20 space between walls. At an elevation of 181.47 nice cornicing was noted extending out 30 cm from the wall. Below that two courses of stone were exposed to the surface where we stopped. A locus of F6013 was assigned a surface where exposed consist of cobbles set in soft soil similar to F6012 and here we stopped for the season. From what we can see of WF6005 at this level there appears to be another course of stone below or possibly cut bedrock. It is apparent that the exterior (south) face of WF6005 was completely exposed during the construction of WF6003 to bedrock level and exterior walking surfaces of WF6005 have been removed during its construction. Bedrock or number of remaining courses in unknown. Lower exposed stone of WF6005 is exceptionally large over 1.50 meters in length as no joint can be seen in our balk. However, our area of excavation to the surface of F6013 is restricted to 50-75 cm, due to danger of balk collapse and two large stones are on top of its surface. The top elevation of this wall is 183.03 and on the top exposed surface there is evidence of burning and surface was noted uneven or lumpy at one area. This would indicate possible lime burning nearby to the north.

 


I. F6 Square Photos

 

 

 

The double podium

 

The inner podium

 

Inside the probe trench - inner podium

 

View from the probe trench