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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