LRP Area C8 Report

Area C8 Summary

Area C8 was excavated under the direction of H. Forshey, Area Supervisor, (1977) and R. Egan, Area Supervisor in training (1983) and P. Jacobs, Field Supervisor. Three strata were found in excavating Area C8.

Stratum I

Slope debris C8001 covered the entire excavated area (2 m. X 4 m. only). This non-stratified debris also covered an earlier layer of bricky washed soil C8006, and a slightly earlier layer of slope washed debris C8005.

Stratum III?

Curved and sloping wall C8010 is most likely a portion of a stone-lined silo which had been cut into and constructed against earlier Stratum XV wall C8002. This lined pit was not fully exposed, though its cobbled floor C8009 was found. It is presumed that this installation served as a subterranean silo for grain storage, similar to silos found in Fields III and IV. The assignment, however, to Stratum III is arbitrary and depends on the latest pottery found in the fill within C8010.

In constructing silo C8010 a foundation trench was cut into Stratum XV fortification wall C8002 in order to permit a circular and sloping external wall to be built; portions of C8002 were then incoprporated into the foundation of C8010 (in the form of wall C8011) and into the rim of the silo (in the form of wall C8002).

Stratum XV

The fortification system exposed in Areas 7, 8, A7, A8, and B7 was also found in Area C8, where a broad stone sockle wall C8002 supported in situ brick superstructure C8003. The line of the fortification wall C8002 had been interrupted on its downslope side by the foundation trench for silo C8010. However, silo C8010 may have incorporated part of the original exterior face, wall C8011, of the fortification wall in its foundation.

Wall C8002, like the segment of the fortification wall N7004, was also built with a wide rubble core. The interior face of wall C8002 was found in the B8/C8 balk as wall B8038 and B8039. Wall C8002 had also once been protected by a chalk glacis, as it was in Areas N7, 7 and A7. This is shown by the thin layer of chalk plaster which sealso over the upper course of wall C8002, a feature identical to the wall in Areas N7 and 7. These three areas yield a sequence of construction of the Stratum XV fortifications in which the stone sockle was built first, the glacis added up to and overlapping the uppermost course of the stone sockle, finally the addition of the brick superstructure.

Locus List Field I Area C8

Locus Phase Description

C8001 I Slope debris C8002 XV Wall C8003 XV Brick superstructure on C8002 C8004 XV Plaster C8005 I Brick detritus C8006 I Slope debris C8007 Canceled; combined with C8006 C8008 post XV Ash C8009 III?? Surface C8009.1 III?? Debris of surface C8009 C8010 III?? Curved wall/pit C8011 XV?? Corner of walls below C8010, possible original outer face of C8002

Locus Summary Area C8

Locus Stratum Description/Artifacts

C8001 Str. I

Slope wash debris located 5 m. from the West balk
and between 2 m. and 5 m.from the North balk at top level 480.90 (W. 479.79 (E) m. to
bottom level 480.80 (W), 479.36 m. (E) above C8005,C8002, C8003, and C8010. Consists
of silt, brick detritus, stones, etc.

See Sections East, South, West.

I.C8.1 7/25/77 EB, Iron II
I.C8.2 7/25/77 EB, Iron II
MC 4097 bone sample
I.C8.3 7/26/77 EB, Iron II
MC 4228 bone sample
I.C8.4 7/26/77 EB, Iron II
MC 4144 lithic sample
MC 4142 bone sample
MC 4150 Flint blade Obj. 316
MC 4156 terracotta marble Obj. 322
MC 4154 stone discard
I.C8.5 7/13/83 EB, LB, Iron II
MC 28001 Bone sample
MC 28002 Lithic sample
MC 28003 Shell sample
I.C8.6 7/13/83 EB, LB, Iron II
MC 28004 Bone sample
MC 28005 Lithic sample
MC 28006 Shell sample
I.C8.7 7/14/83 EB, LB, Iron II
MC 28007 Bone sample
MC 28008 Lithic sample
MC 28009 Shell sample
I.C8.8 7/14/83 EB, LB
MC 28010 Lithic sample
MC 28011 Shell sample
I.C8.11 7/18/83 EB, LB, Iron II, BYZ
MC 28014 Bone sample
MC 28015 Lithic sample
MC 28016 Shell sample
I.C8.13 7/18/83 EB, LB, Iron II, BYZ
MC 28019 Lithic sample
MC 28020 Shell sample
I.C8.19 7/20/83 No Pottery
MC 28038 Grinding Stone Discard
I.C8.34 7/27/83 LB
MC 28074 Lithic sample

C8002 Str. XV

Stone sockle wall on which brick wall C8003 was constructed, as the extension of the Stratum
XV fortification wall in Area C8. Wall C8002 was dry-laid of boulder and cobble-sized field
stones. At the end of excavation the wall was exposed 3-4 courses high (55 cm.) Located 4 m.
from the East balk and between 2 m. and 4.75 m. from the North balk (2.75 m. as exposed in
Area C8). At top levels 480.01 m. (SW), 479.73 m. (SE) below debris C8001 and chalk plaster
C8004 to its presently exposed depth of 479.46 m. (no foundation level; not entirely exposed.)

Wall C8002 abuts wall lines B7002 and B8039 and served as part of the fortification wall of the
Stratum XV town. Lined pit C8010 was cut into wall C8002 and built directly against wall
C8002. In the East section Wall C8002 appears to be above (higher than) lined pit/silo C8010;
that visual deception is caused by the fact pit/silo C8010 was cut into built directly against
the remaining portion of wall C8002 and used a portion of C8002 as its top courses.

Cornering wall lines C8011 seen at the base of Silo C8010 possibly indicate the original outer face
of wall C8002 and the abutting outer face of inset/offset wall B7002.

See Sections East, South, West;
Plan C8 XV

C8003 Str. XV

Brick superstructure built on stone wall on C8002. These in situ bricks are part of the
fortification wall line of the Stratum XV town. Located up to 1.85 m. from the West balk
and between 2.0 m. and 4.75 m. from the North balk. At top levels 480.80 m. (W), 480.37 m.
(E) below debris C8001 to 479.84 m. above wall C8002 and chalk plaster C8004.

These bricks are physically connected to the brick superstructure of Stratum XV reported
in Area A7.

See Sections South, West;
Plan C8 XV

C8004 Str. XV

Thin layer of plaster on the top stones of wall C8002. The plaster was located 1.0 m.
from the South balk and between 2.0 m. and 2.55 m. from the East balk at top level 479.84 m.
below bricks C8003 to 479.81 m. above wall C8002.

This thin layer of plaster corresponds to the technique of constructing the glacis in
Areas N7 ans 7, where the glacis material was made to lip over the top course of the
stone fortification wall; bricks were subsequently set atop the lip of glacis. Likely
the same occurred in the construction of wall C8002 and the glacis (now decayed from
the top course of wall C8002).

C8005 Str. I

Brick detritus washed over the tops of walls C8002. C8010. This tell
wash deposit was distinguishable from the one above C8001 by its
compaction and brick composition. Located 2 m. from. the South balk
and 1.6 m. fromt he West balk at top level 480.58 m. below C8001 to
479.81 m. above C8002 and C8003.

This deposit appears to be have been made over a long period of time,
probably by rain.

I.C8.9 7/14/83 EB, LB
MC 28012 Lithic sample
MC 28013 Shell sample
I.C8.10 7/18/83 EB II, EB III
MC 28017 Lithic sample
MC 28018 Shell sample
I.C8.12 7/18/83 EB, Iron II
MC 28021 Lithic sample
MC 28022 Shell sample
I.C8.15 7/19/83 EB, LB, BYZ
MC 28023 Flint Blade 28023, 28023A
MC 28024 Lithic sample
MC 28025 Shell sample
I.C8.17 7/19/83 LB, Iron II
MC 28032 Bone sample
MC 28033 Lithic sample
MC 28034 Shell sample
I.C8.26 7/22/83 EB
MC 28053 Bone sample
MC 28054 Lithic sample
MC 28055 Shell sample
I.C8.28 7/22/83 EB, LB II
MC 28058 Bone sample
MC 28059 Lithic sample
MC 28060 Shell sample
MC 28068 Shell sample
I.C8.30 7/25/83 EB, Iron II
MC 28062 Bone sample
MC 28063 Lithic sample
MC 28064 Shell sample
I.C8.31 7/25/83 EB III, LB(2)
MC 28065 Lithic Blade Obj. 1058
MC 28066 Bone sample
MC 28067 Lithic sample
MC 28075 Incised Sherd Obj. 1093

C8006 Str. I

Slope wash debris located next to curved wall C8010 (because of
the anomaly of this wall the debris that filled in front of wall
C8010 has been arbitrarily kept separate.) Located up to 1.4 m.
from the East balk and between 20 cm. and 2 m. from the South
balk at top level 479.09 m. below debris C8001 to bottom level
478.11 above C8009. Contains silt, brick detritus, boulders and
cobbles (general slope wash debris).

The deposition of this debris suggests that wall C8010 may have been
an open, lined pit built into the earlier wall C8002.

See Section East.

I.C8.14 7/19/83 EB, LB, Iron II, PER, BYZ
MC 28026 Bone sample
MC 28027 lithic sample
MC 28028 Shell sample
I.C8.16 7/19/83 EB, LB, Iron II, PER, BYZ
MC 28029 Bone sample
MC 28030 Lithic sample
MC 28031 Shell sample
I.C8.18 7/20/83 LB, Iron II, Byz
MC 28035 Bone sample
MC 28036 Lithic sample
MC 28037 Shell sample
I.C8.20 7/20/83 LB, Iron II, BYZ
MC 28039 Cowrie Shell Photo, PhotoA
MC 28040 Bone sample
MC 28041 Lithic sample
MC 28042 Shell sample
I.C8.21 7/21/83 EB, LB, Iron II, BYZ.
MC 28043 Lithic sample
MC 28044 Shell sample
I.C8.22 7/21/83 EB
MC 28045 Lithic sample
MC 28046 Shell sample
I.C8.23 7/21/83 EB, Iron II, PER, BYZ
MC 28047 Bone sample
MC 28048 Lithic sample
MC 28049 Shell sample
I.C8.24 7/22/83 EB, Iron II, HELL
MC 28050 Lithic sample
MC 28051 Shell sample
I.C8.27 7/22/83 EB, LB, Iron II, HELL
MC 28056 Lithic sample
MC 28057 Shell sample
I.C8.29 7/25/83 EB, LB, BYZ(1)
MC 28061 Lithic sample

C8007 Canceled; combined with C8006

C8008 Str. post XV

Layer of ash on bricks of Stratum XV wall C8002. Located between 4.40 m.
and 5 m. from the North balk and between 1.45 and 1.9 m. from the East
balk at top level 479.99 m. below debris C8001 to bottom level 479.94 m.
above C8002. This small deposit of ash and silt probably represents part of
the erosion of Stratum XV during its abandonment (either prior to
construction of Stratum XIV or Post XV )

I.C8.25 7/22/83 EB III
MC 28052 Shell sample

C8009 Str. III??

Surface of boulders and cobbles at the preoumed base of wall C8010. Here treated
as the "surface" corresponding to the use of C8010. The boulders and cobbles
form a rough surface, which could have been used as the bottom of a deep storage
pit. Located between 15 cm and 2 m. from the South balk and up to 1.5 m. from
the East balk at top level 478.06 m. below debris C8006 and above C8009.1.
Runs to wall C8010.

See Section East.

C8009.1 Str. III??

Debris of surface C8009. For dimensions and location see C8009 above. Runs to wall
C8010. Consists of limestone boulders and cobbles in a matrix of dark brown
soil.

I.C8.32 7/26/83 EB
MC 28069 Soil with Seeds sample
MC 28070 Lithic sample
MC 28071 shell sample
I.C8.33 7/26/83 LB, Iron II
MC 28072 Lithic sample
MC 28073 Shell sample

C8010 Str. III??

Curved and tapering wall of boulder and cobblesized stones, apparently
dry-laid. Located (as exposed) 2 m. from the South balk and 2.65 m. from
the East balk at top level 479.49 m. below debris C8001 to (as exposed) a
depth of 477.98 m. (not excavated below). A possible floor of cobbles and
boulders C8009 ran to the face of wall C8010.

Pit/silo C8010 was cut into Stratum XV fortification wall C8002. At the lower
level of C8010 two walls meet at an obtuse angle over which wall C8010 was
built; these walls appear to be the original external line of the fortification
wall C8002 now incorporated into the foundation of C8010.

Function and identification of this locus is not known. It may have been
a lined pit or silo from a period much later than the EB Str XV (against whose
wall it is located).

Photo C8010, C8010A, C8010B;
Plan C8 VI.

C8011 Str. XV??

Corner of two walls seen below Silo C8010. The corner formed by the short
segments of walls that are visible is not a right angle but at an obtuse angle.
It is supposed that these two walls were the original outer face of
the Stratum XV fortification wall C8002, which have been incorporated into the
foundation of silo C8010.

See Plan C8 XV

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