| General notes on photos |
2001-09-05 |
jlw |
this is the series of final photographs that document the details of two pit kilns, a30 and a31, in locus k13. We expect that they will illustrate in a basic way our understanding of how this type of kiln worked. All of the photographs should be viewed within the frames of reference provided by v162. v163 is an overhead looking down into kiln a30 to the southwest. It shows portions of the kiln wall (pit cut) that have been exposed to moderate heat and contain some vitrified and overheated clay. v163a is an overhead looking down to the northwest toward the air chamber. v163b is a tight shot of the same area. There is little evidence of vitrification or burning here because the bricks, f360, have diverted the heated air to the eastern portion of the kiln to pass around and fire the vessels placed in the pit. v163c and v163d are an eye-level views, through the air chamber to the eastern wall of the pit. This side is heavily vitrified because of condensation of impurities which evaporated from the clay vessels in the kiln and then were directed to the east wall by the airflow. v163e and v163f are tight shots that illustrate the multiple layers of vitrified material that probably result from multiple uses of the kiln. v163g shows the layer of bricks, f360, that redirect the heated air from the air chamber to the body of the kiln. These pit kilns were dug into soil accumulations that were basically light yellowish brown in color. V14d3448 and V14d3449, which should be labeled v163h and v163i respectively, attempt, with little success, to show the reddish color of this accumlation after it has been heated by the air in the kiln. V14d3450, which should be labeled v163j, is an overhead view to the west, of the south kiln, a31. The air chamber, not well defined, probably extended to the right (north) at the bottom (east) end of the photograph. V14d3451, which should be labeled j163k, is a close shot of vitrified material on the north side of the kiln chamber. Among other things some pellets of caprid dung, undoubtedly used as fuel, can be see just to the left of center. V14d3452, which should be labeled v163l is a straight overhead view of the eastern half of the kiln's plaster floor, f359, upon which the vessels to be fired were placed. There was no attempt to make it absolutely smooth as it had no decorative function. [Input: L905jlw.j] |
