| Description (summary) |
2003-08-26 |
jl |
This view shows the sequence of rough layers discovered in the south-eastern corner of f444, where it was somewhat drier than in the rest of the locus. The soil flaked off of the rough layer beneath it, and the pottery within these layers was lying flat (see v261). These layers are causing us to reconsider our understanding of the f443/f444/f436/f437/f438 accumulation. We did not expect such a clear layering because we did not observe it in the trench, even though it is now clear that we cut the layers with our trench (the layers go right up to the edge). In all likelihood, the soil in the trench was simply too wet and gummy for us to detect them, a problem that we have had all season (we are too deep for the sun to get all of the way down into the circle, meaning that most of the circle never receives direct sunlight during the season). The area documented in this photograph, conversely, was exposed for over a week before excavating, since it lay alongside the trench, rather than within. Therefore, it has much longer to dry out. We have glimpsed similar layers across the circle in f443 and f444, but in no case are they particularly extensive or continuous. Again, it is not clear if this is because of the wetness of the soil or because the layers themselve3s are simply scattered, rather than continuous. [Input: N827jl.j] |