Stratum I
Stratum VI
Stratum XV
Locus List Field I Area 7
Locus Phase Description7001 I Slope debris 7002 VI Surface 7003 XV Brick superstructure on tower 7004 I Pit 7005 I Pit 7006 IV Backfill in trench 7007 XV Glacis 7008 XV Stone tower 7009 XV Wall 7010 post XV Destruction debris 7011 Canceled; combined with 7001 7012 XV Wall 7013 XV Surface 7014 Canceled; combined with 7001 7015 VI Wall 7016 I Pit cut into glacis
Locus Summary Area 7
Locus Stratum Description/Artifacts 7001 Str. I Slope debris and field soil containing large percentage of cobbles, pebbles and boulder sized stones along with sherds and bones. Matrix is a mixture of clay, sand and silt sized soil, mud brick detritus. Various tip lines can be distinguished. Located 4.00 m. from the South balk and 4.00 m. from the East balk. At top level 482.62 m. (SW), 482.42 m., 481.36 m. and 480.98 (in 7/6 balk) to 481.08 m., 481.44 m., 481.02 m. above tower 7003, to 481.28 m. above pit 7004 and to 480.65 m. above destruction debris 7006. Part of this locus is now seen to be the fill in a robber trench across the western part of the area. Includes 7014 which has been canceled. See Sections East, South. I.7.1 7/8/76 EB, LB, Iron I, Iron II, Byz NS MC 218 flint sample MC 432 flint sample MC 216 bone sample I.7.2 7/9/76 EB, LB, Iron II NS MC 248 flint sample I.7.3 7/11/76 EB, Iron II NS MC 299 bone sample I.7.4 7/4/76 EB, Iron MC 305 flint sample MC 302 bone sample MC 306 ballista discard I.7.5 7/11/76 EB, MB, LB NS MC 304 flint sample MC 300 bone sample I.7.6 7/12/76 Iron II, Hell/Rom NS MC 351 worked stone discard MC 323 bone sample I.7.7 7/12/76 EB, Iron II, Hell NS MC 322 bone sample I.7.8 7/13/76 EB, LB, Iron II NS MC 363 bone sample MC 396 seed sample MC 371 flint sample MC 373 inscribed sherd Obj. 20 I.7.9 7/14/76 EB, Iron II NS MC 415 flint sample MC 410 shell sample I.7.10 7/20/76 EB, MB IIa, Iron II NS MC 485 bone sample I.7.11 7/21/76 EB, Iron I/II NS MC 1132 bone sample MC 1122 flint sample I.7.13 7/22/76 EB, Iron II (6th cent) NS I.7.14 7/22/76 Iron II, Rom/Byz NS I.7.15 7/23/76 EB, Iron II, Rom/Byz NS MC 1161 Phoenician glass sample I.7.16 7/23/76 EB, LB II, Iron II, Hell NS MC 1160 bone sample I.7.18 7/23/76 EB, Iron II, Rom/Byz NS MC 1261 ceramic figurine Obj. 48, Obj. 48A, Obj. 48B MC 1193 bone sample I.7.19 7/25/76 EB, Iron II NS MC 1183 bone sample I.7.20 7/25/76 EB, Iron, Iron II, Hell/Rom NS MC 1194 bone sample I.7.22 7/26/76 EB, Iron II/Hell NS MC 1257 bone sample I.7.23 7/27/76 EB, Iron II UD NS MC 1256 bone sample I.7.26 7/28/76 EB, Iron, Hell/Rom NS MC 1279 flint sample I.7.27 7/28/76 MB, Iron UD NS I.7.28 7/29/76 EB, Iron UD NS I.7.32 6/21/77 Iron II, Rom, Mod UDNS MC 1533 bone sample MC 1546 lithic sample I.7.33 6/21/77 EB, Rom NS I.7.34 6/21/77 EB, Iron II UDNS MC 1628 potter’s mark Obj. 104 I.7.35 6/21/77 EB, 1 MB, Iron I, 1 mod NS MC 1534 bone sample MC 1530 lithic sample MC 1505 potter's mark Obj. 110 I.7.36 6/21/77 Iron II UDNS I.7.37 6/22/77 EB, Iron II NS MC 1560 lithic sample I.7.38 6/22/77 EB, Iron II, Byz NS MC 1559 bone sample MC 1557 lithic sample MC 1571 pounder discard I.7.39 6/22/77 EB, Iron II NS MC 1549 bone sample MC 1554 lithic sample I.7.40 6/22/77 EB NS MC 1568 bone sample MC 1556 lithic sample MC 1574 flint blade Obj. 102 I.7.41 6/23/77 UDNS MC 1693 lithic sample I.7.42 6/23/77 EB, Iron II NS MC 1753 bone sample MC 1690 lithic sample MC 1592 sandstone mortar Obj. 109 MC 1593 mother of pearl sample I.7.43 6/23/77 EB II, Iron II NS MC 1681 bone sample I.7.46 6/24/77 EB, Iron II NS MC 1642 bone sample MC 1691 lithic sample I.7.50 6/27/77 EB, Iron II, Byz NS MC 1782 bone sample MC 1688 lithic sample MC 1876 flint blade sample I.7/6.1A 7/27/76 EB, Iron II NS I.7/6.2A 7/28/76 EB, Iron II, Arab painted MC 1268 bone sample I.7/6.4A 6/30/77 EB, Iron II, Byz NS I.7/6.5A 6/30/77 EB Iron II, Hell, Byz NS MC 1917 lithic sample MC 1918 bone sample I.7/6.5B 7/1/77 EB, MB, Iron II, Byz NS I.7/6.6A 7/4/77 EB, MB, LB, Iron II, Arab buff NS MC 2032 snail discard MC 1924 hammerstone 1924, 1924A I.7/6.6B 7/1/77 EB, Iron II NS I.7/6.7A 7/4/77 EB, MB, Iron II, Byz 7002 Str. VI Lens of reddish-brown mudbrick/bricky material. Probably to be associated with Area 8 preparation material 8Ol9 for the construction of wall 8005. A hard compacted, granular-sized material located 1.63 cm. from the North balk and 64 cm. from the West balk. At top level 48l.87 m. below 7001 to 481.70 above 7001 (this locus was undercut by a pitting operation which was in turn filled by debris 7001). See Section West. I.7.12 7/21/76 EB, Iron I, II NS 7003 Str. XV Tower superstructure of mudbricks (fired) built on a stone foundation (same as 8022), part of a defense system. The mudbrick superstructure is badly eroded and pitted in Area 7 (particularly by a robber trench seen in the South balk and by rodent burrowing), but was constructed of mud bricks, which were subsequently fired during destruction, and turned to a brownish orange color. The sectioned bricks seen in the South balk measure approximately 30 cm. x 14 cm. This mudbrick superstructure is located 2.08 m. from the South balk and 3.30 m. from the West balk. At top level 481.44 m. below debris 7001, at top level 480.93 m. below pit 7004, and at top level 481.18 m. below pit 7005. Founded on its north side at 480.63 m. and 480.58 m. on the stone foundation 7008, and at 480.73 m. on its east face. The superstructure 7003 overlays foundation 7008. Mudbrick wall 7009 runs to 7008 and to the lower portion of 7003 from the north. Glacis 7007 runs to 7003 from the East. Pits 7004 and 7005 cut into superstructure 7003. (Pit 7004 actually cut through the mud brick superstructure down to the underlying stone foundation.) See Plan 22; Sections West, South; Photo 184, 209, 209A, EB Field. 7004 Str. I Pit filled with rubble (pebble to cobble sized stones , sherds, in loose silt and sand matrix) cut into mudbrick structure 7003 in SW corner of the area. The pit is circular, located approximately 70 cm. from the West balk and 90 cm. from the South balk. At top level 481.28 m. below 7001 to 480.93 m. above the rock core 7008 of the tower foundation. This pit, which cuts into and through tower superstructure 7003, is part of the trenching noticed in the North and South balks of Areas 7 and 8. See Sections West, South; Plan 22; Photo 211 I.7.21 7/26/76 EB, Iron II NS 7005 Str. I Pit filled with mud brick detritus, pebbles, a few sherds, which cut into mudbrick structure 7003. Located between 1.02 m. and 2.05 m. from the West balk and 75 cm. from the South balk. At top level 481.48 m. below debris 7001 to 481.18 m. above mudbrick structure 7003. This pit is probably the same trenching seen in the North and South balks of Areas 7 and 8. See Section South; Photo 211 I.7.17 7/23/76 EB, Iron II NS MC 1159 bone sample 7006 Str. IV Backfill in trench, consisting of dark gray?black ash and burned (orange?brown) mud brick detritus with pebble to cobble sized stones (20% evenly distributed). Located 4.00 m. from the East balk and 2.20 m. from the North balk. At top level 480.53 m., 480.65 m., 480.79 m. below 7001 to 480.33 m., 480.39 m., 480.50 m. above glacis 7007 (E), wall 7009, debris 7010 (W). This debris runs to wall/foundation 7008 and to the base of mudbrick structure 7003 from the North. I.7.24 7/27/76 EB, Iron II NS MC 1255 bone sample I.7.25 7/28/76 EB II/III MC 1278 bone sample I.7.29 7/29/76 EB, Iron NS I.7.30 7/29/76 EB II/III MC 1321 spindle whorl Obj. 55, Obj. 55A MC 1292 flint sample I.7.51 6/27/77 EB II, Iron II NS MC 1781 bone sample MC 1686 lithic sample I.7.52 6/27/77 LB UDNS MC 1786 bone sample MC 1684 lithic sample I.7.53 7/26/77 EB II/III NS 7007 Str. XV Glacis of rammed crushed chalk, nari and dark brown soil, laid in layers and wedges against the outer face of tower 8022/7008. In sectioning the glacis eight major tongues or layers of crushed chalk limestone (white), nari and marl (tan to pink?brown) and chocolate brown soil with heavy clay and chalk content were seen. All of these layers were nearly sterile; only a few sherds from the entire sectioning. This lack of occupational debris in the glacis leads to the probability that the material for the glacis was quarried especially for this construction. In Area 7 the glacis was seen all along the East balk located 4 m. from the South balk and approximately 1.10 m. from the East balk to wall 7009 in the north of the area and 90 cm. from the East balk to wall 7008 and mud brick structure 7003 in the south of the area. The glacis was also found in balk 7/6 for 1.00 m. from the South balk and the 1.00 m. width of the 7/6 balk, and 7 cm. into Area 6. At top levels 480.l9 m. (below 6001), 480.51 m. (below 7001 in 7/6 balk), 480.61 m., 480.75 m., 480.45 m. (below 7001 in Area 7) and 480.33 m. (below 7006). The glacis was sectioned to a depth of 480.01 m., 480.06 m. in 7/6 balk. The glacis was built to and over the top courses of tower sockle 7008 and to stone wall sockle 8043/A7008/B7002. The glacis was also constructed against wall 7009. In Area 6 the glacis was cut by the foundation trench for wall 6002. In Area 7, balk 7/6 and Area 6 the glacis was sectioned 1.0 m. from the South balk and between 3.15 m. and 8.0 m. from the West balk of Area 7 (i.e., into Area 6; included here in description for convenience). The glacis in Area 7 was tight against the face of tower base 7008. It was found at top level 480.95 m. (next to the tower in Area 7), 480.26 m. (at the West balk line of Area 6) below 7001. The glacis has a founding level of 477.23 m. at the base of the tower, 469.13 m. at the I.6 West balk line. Originally the glacis was covered by a thin layer of white chalk plaster which was very hard, to the point of being metallic, brittle. The plaster had been set onto the glacis in a wet form. The uppermost layer of the glacis was a light brown, finely crushed nari, crumbly though heavily compacted or rammed into place. A preceding layer of crushed chalk with large (up to cobble?sized) chunks of uncrushed chalk and broken pieces of flint. A third wedge of pinkish/white (stained?) limestone chalk lay beneath this. A thick layer of white chalk plaster, nearly level in Area 7 and the 7/6 balk, finely crushed and heavily rammed into place, provided a foundation for the upper sloping tongues or layers of the glacis; this chalk plaster layer may have been a temporary or intermediate stage in construction of the glacis, judging from its heavily rammed texture and smooth surface. However, it does not appear to slope away from the tower until 4.0 m. from the tower face. Beneath the thick white chalk plaster was another wedge (thin near the tower, thickening downslope) of gray?brown crushed limestone and brown soil heavily mixed with crushed limestone chunks. This wedge (reversed to the tower) appears to level off the construction of the glacis for the plaster coating above. It perhaps provided a flattened area for the upper sloping wedges. Next, a very thick (1.10 m.) layer of chocolate, dark brown soil with less than lot limestone content was set against the face of the tower. Still another wedge??thick end downslope??covered over another (sloping along the bedrock contour) layer of chocolate brown soil (with some stones) on the bedrock. Several interesting features about the construction of the glacis were noted in the sectioning through it in Areas 6 and 7. First is the fineness of the crushed chalk, nari and limestone; only one layer contained large chunks of uncrushed rock. Second, the rock and probably also the soil layers were nearly sterile, probably because the glacis material was quarried from outcroppings of bedrock nearby (this based on the paucity of shards found in the sectioning of the glacis). Third, the architects of the defense of the city seemed to have been more interested in building a heavy, impregnable structure up the face of the tower than they were interested in a steep slope. None of the layers in the glacis begin to slope until halfway up the wall face. That is, rather than make use of the natural slope of the bedrock on which the glacis was founded, the architects chose to level off the glacis to a greater depth before allowing a slope to form. Fourth, the bedrock itself had been stripped of any overburden of soil or occupational debris before construction began) both glacis and tower are founded on bare bedrock. Finally, the tower face apparently stood open without the glacis for at least a short time. Evidence for this is found in the fact that as the sectioning of the glacis continued down the face of the tower, there was found a thick plaster or covering of mud/clay mixed with straw on the stone face of the tower base. In addition, the technique of the construction of the tower was observed; very large cut and shaped ashlars were set at the base of the tower on bedrock. (The foundation stone/ashlar of the tower seen in this section through the glacis was 52 cm. high x more than 1.0 m. wide (since its edges were outside the narrow digging area). See also I.6 Locus 6004. See Plan 22; Sections South, East, Photo 184, 186, 206, 207, 209, 210, EB Field, EB FIeld A. I.7.31 8/3/76 EB I.7.59 7/9/80 EB NS I.7.60 7/9/80 EB NS I.7.61 7/10/80 no pottery MC 12092 flint sample I.7.62 7/15/80 no pottery MC 12098 lithic Sample I.7.63 7/15/80 EB NS I.7.64 7/15/80 no pottery I.7.65 7/17/80 no pottery I.7.66 7/18/80 no pottery I.7.67 7/20/80 EB UD NS MC 13090 bone Sample I.7.68 7/21/80 EB NS MC 13091 shell Sample MC 13092 lithic sample MC 13093 bone Sample I.7.69 7/22/80 EB II NS MC 13094 bone Sample I.7.70 7/22/80 EB NS I.7/6.3A 7/29/76 EB 7008 Str. XV Stone tower foundation on which mudbrick superstructure 7003 was built. Constructed of boulder sized field stones (25 x 20 cm.), some roughly hewn. Located 2.00 m. and 2.08 m. from the South balk and 3.12 m. and 3.27 m. from the West balk. At top level 480.63 m., 480.58 m. and 480.73 m. below 7003 to a presently exposed depth of 480.49 m. on its eastern face. Mudbrick superstructure 7003 was built on 7008. Glacis 7007 was constructed against its eastern face. Wall 7009 abuts 7003 from the north. Debris 7006 and 7010 are against its northern face. Same as wall 8028 in Area 8. See Plan 22, 87; Section South; Photo 184, 206, 209, 210, EB Field. 7009 Str. XV Mudbrick wall, which abuts tower superstructure 7003 from the North. In situ bricks were seen extending from tower 7003 to the North balk and through the balk into Area A7. Evidence of the wall was also seen continuing in Areas B7, B8 and C8, though at places heavily eroded. In Area 7 wall 7009 was located 2.0 m. from the North balk to tower 7003 and between 1.45 m. and 2.85 m. from the West balk. However, since the "guardroom" and its walls are part of the defense wall, then its total width is 3.45 m. at its widest point. (In Areas A7, B7 and B8 the remaining mudbrick superstructure is considerably wider, as much as 6.5 m. in Areas B7/B8, arguing for the presence of another tower.) Its length as exposed in the 1977 season is approximately 13.0 m. (in Areas 7, A7, B7). It is also likely that wall C8002 in Area C8 is a continuation of this same defense wall, thus adding another 3.0 m. to its exposed length. At top levels 480.16 m. (S), 480.68 m. (N) in Area 7 below debris 7001. This mudbrick superstructure was founded partially on a stone sockle 8043/A7008/B7002/CO002 and in Areas 7 and A7 partially on glacis 7007/A7010. This also leads to the conclusion about the method of construction of the defense system: the stone sockles were built first, glacis was added, then mudbrick superstructure was added. This mudbrick superstructure in Areas A7 and B7 also followed the "offsets-insets" contour of the stone base. See Section North; Plan 22, 87; Photos 211, 294, 375, 407; EB Field. 7010 Str. post XV Destruction debris of alternate layers of black and gray ash with water?washed brick detritus within a "guardroom" built into superstructure wall 7009 adjacent to tower 7003/8022. The ash, highly compacted by the building above, contained a few cobbles and pebbles and uniformly small sherds in large quantity. Located between 75 cm. and 2.0 m. from the North balk and 1.45 m. from the West balk. At top level 480.72 m. below debris 7001 to 480.29 m. above surface 7013. The ash lenses tip down to the East and were probably held back by a wall along the eastern side of the "guardroom", which has since been eroded to a level of 480.47 m. This debris runs to both wall 7009 and wall 7008. The ash destruction is the same as Area 8 8036. See Section West; Plan 22; Photo 211 I.7.44 6/23/77 EB MC 1683 bone sample I.7.45 6/24/77 EB II/III MC 1640 bone sample MC 1680 lithic sample MC 1754 teeth sample MC 1600 weightstone Obj. 108 part of dibble weight MC 1647 potter's mark Obj. 111 I.7.47 6/23/77 EB MC 1644 bone sample MC 1675 lithic sample I.7.48 6/27/77 EB II/III MC 1639 bone sample MC 1679 lithic sample I.7.49 6/27/77 EB II/III MC 1641 bone sample MC 1677 lithic sample MC 1616 grinding stone discard 7011 Canceled; combined with 7001 7012 Str. XV Mudbrick wall of the "guardroom" in Area 7, faced with a clay or mud plaster. At the points where the plaster face has eroded or dropped away evidence of a fine mortar appears, used to bind the bricks. In Area 7 wall 7012 was located 75 cm. from the North balk and 1.40 m. from the West balk. At top level 481.66 m. (W), 480.50 m. (E) below wall 8018 (W), and debris 7001 (E) to 480.41 m. above wall 8043. This wall to the "guardroom" is part of the large defense wall system which abuts tower 7003 from the north and should be seen as part of the mudbrick superstructure of the EB defense system. Wall 8018 was built directly on top of 7012, ash 7010 lay against its southern face. Surface 7013 runs to its southern face. Wall 7012 was pitted partially on its southern face (see Section W) and at the North balk (see Section A7W). Wall 7012 in its full width is seen also in the 8/7 balk approximately 55 cm. from the West balk line of Area 7. Its full width then is approximately 1.95 m. It also continues through the North balk into Area A7 as wall A7005 to a width of approximately 2.20 m. Its preserved height is 1.25 m. See Sections West, North: Plan 22; 87; Photo 294, 407, 407A 7013 Str. XV Surface in "guardroom," constructed of a compacted clay or mud plaster over foundation wall L.8043. The surface was level and even, but was broken in the 8/7 balk at the edge of wall 8043. In Area 7 located between 75 cm. and 2.0 m. from the North balk and 1.37 m. from the West balk. The surface extended also approximately 58 cm. (S) and 45 cm. (N) into the 8/7 balk. Thus its full width was approximately 1.85 m. (E?W). At top level 480.41 m. below destruction ash 7010, and above wall 8043. This surface ran to walls 7012, 7009 and tower sockle 7008. Together with these walls this surface made up a "room" built into the mudbrick superstructure of the EB defense wall, and probably served as a lookout or guardroom overlooking an approach to the city. See Section West; Plan 22; 87; Photo 294, 374, 375, 376, 407 7014 Canceled; combined with 7001 7015 Str. VI Wall built directly on glacis 7007. Constructed of cobble sized field stones, one course high, two rows wide. Preserved to a height of 20 cm., length of 1.60 m., width of 50 cm. Located between 60 cm. and 1.15 m. from the North balk and 1.45 m. from the East balk (and 15 cm. into the 7/6 balk). At top levels 480.31 m. (E), 480.56 m. (W) below 7001 to founding levels 480.25 m. (E), 480.38 m. (W) above glacis 7007. No other loci were found related to this wall, which had apparently been eroded and robbed at both ends. See Section East; Plan 79; Photo 294 I.7.57 7/27/77 EB UDNS I.7.58 7/27/77 EB, Iron II NS 7016 Str. I Pit cut into glacis, containing compacted gray ash, field soil and loess on top of glacis 7007. Located 40 cm. from the North balk, 90 cm. from the West balk. At top level 480.37 m. below 7001 to 480.22 m. above glacis 7007. See Sections North, East. I.7.54 7/26/77 EB II/III I.7/6.55 7/27/77 EB, LB NS MC 4148 bone sample I.7/6.56 7/27/77 EB, Iron II NS MC 4152 bone sample
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