TheDanish*Jordanian$ IslamicJarashProject€¦ · TheDanish*Jordanian$ IslamicJarashProject $ $ $...
86
The DanishJordanian Islamic Jarash Project SEASON REPORT, 2012 Area GO Rune Rattenborg & Alan Walmsley Department of Cross Cultural & Regional Studies University of Copenhagen Snorresgade 1719 Copenhagen S DK2300 [email protected] [email protected]
Transcript of TheDanish*Jordanian$ IslamicJarashProject€¦ · TheDanish*Jordanian$ IslamicJarashProject $ $ $...
The Danish-‐Jordanian Islamic Jarash Project
SEASON REPORT, 2012
Area GO
Rune Rattenborg & Alan Walmsley
Department of Cross Cultural & Regional Studies University of Copenhagen
Snorresgade 17-‐19 Copenhagen S
DK-‐2300
[2]
Table of Contents Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Figures .......................................................................................................................... 4 The 2012 Season in Summary ..................................................................................................... 6 Historical Background ..................................................................................................................... 6 Tourism Potential ........................................................................................................................... 6 Area explored this Season .............................................................................................................. 6 Results ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ 8
Participants in the 2012 season .................................................................................................. 9 Detailed Reports on the Fieldwork ............................................................................................. 11 1. Area GO ................................................................................................................................. 12 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 12 Methodology ................................................................................................................................ 12 GO/2: Cleaning and recording (R. Rattenborg) ............................................................................. 13 GO/2 Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 13 GO/2 Locus List ......................................................................................................................... 13 GO/2 Field Object List ............................................................................................................... 13
GO/4: Cleaning and recording (R. Rattenborg) ............................................................................. 13 GO/4 Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 14 GO/4 Locus List ......................................................................................................................... 14
GO/6: The Cistern Complex (R. Rattenborg) ................................................................................. 14 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 14
GO/6 Work Progress (May 23 -‐ July 19) ........................................................................................ 15 The Cistern Passage .................................................................................................................. 15 Removal of the West Baulk ...................................................................................................... 17
Discussion -‐ The Structural Layout of West GO/6 ........................................................................ 18 Courtyard Spaces ...................................................................................................................... 18 The Cistern ................................................................................................................................ 18
GO/6 Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 20 GO/6 Locus List ......................................................................................................................... 20 GO/6 Field Object List ............................................................................................................... 20 GO/6 Feature List ...................................................................................................................... 21 GO/6 Drawings ......................................................................................................................... 21 GO/6 Architectural Elements .................................................................................................... 21
GO/7 (M. Brøndgaard Jensen) ...................................................................................................... 22 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 22
Work Progress (9 June -‐ 23 June) ................................................................................................. 22 Topsoil (loc. 1 and loc. 7) .......................................................................................................... 22 Ashy context (loc. 2, loc. 8, loc. 13 and loc. 19) ........................................................................ 23 Wall 1, wall 2 and wall 3 (loc. 3, loc. 4, loc. 26, loc. 27 and loc. 28) ......................................... 23 Features North of wall 2 (loc. 5, loc. 6, loc. 9, loc. 11, loc. 17) ................................................. 24 Occupational surfaces (loc. 12 and loc. 15) .............................................................................. 25
[3]
Tumble (loc. 14 and loc. 18) ..................................................................................................... 26 Features and wall South of wall 2 (loc. 20, loc. 23, loc. 24, loc. 25) ......................................... 26 Summary and notes for future excavation ............................................................................... 27
GO/7 Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 28 GO/7 Locus List ......................................................................................................................... 28 GO/7 Field Object List ............................................................................................................... 30 GO/7 Feature List ...................................................................................................................... 31 GO/7 Wall List ........................................................................................................................... 31 GO/7 Architectural Elements .................................................................................................... 31
GO/9 (A. Ravn Weinrich) .............................................................................................................. 32 Aim ............................................................................................................................................ 32
Work Progress (23 May -‐ 18 July) ................................................................................................. 32 Further excavation in GO/9 ...................................................................................................... 37
GO/9 Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 37 GO/9 Locus List ......................................................................................................................... 37 GO/9 Feature List ...................................................................................................................... 39 GO/9 Wall List ........................................................................................................................... 40 GO/9 Field Object List ............................................................................................................... 40
GO/10 (L. Tambs) .......................................................................................................................... 42 Work Progress (June 23 -‐ July 19) ................................................................................................. 42 Topsoil and Loc. 2 ..................................................................................................................... 42 Tumble ...................................................................................................................................... 43 The Mosaic Floor, North of Wall # 1 ......................................................................................... 44 The Basin, North of Wall # 1 ..................................................................................................... 45 The Large Building, South of Wall # 1 ....................................................................................... 47 Backfilling .................................................................................................................................. 48 Future Perspectives .................................................................................................................. 48
GO/10 Lists ................................................................................................................................... 49 GO/10 Locus List ....................................................................................................................... 49 GO/10 Field Object List ............................................................................................................. 54 GO/10 Architectural Elements .................................................................................................. 54 GO/10 Wall List ......................................................................................................................... 55 GO/10 Feature List .................................................................................................................... 56 GO/10 Drawings ....................................................................................................................... 57
GO/12: Continuation of Urban Structures to the West (R. Rattenborg) ...................................... 58 GO/12 Lists ................................................................................................................................... 59 GO/12 Locus List ....................................................................................................................... 59 GO/12 Field Object List ............................................................................................................. 59
Discussion: Abbasid Housings ....................................................................................................... 59 GO/11: Urban Spaces Towards the Roman decumanus (S. Jerichau & R. Rattenborg) ................ 62 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 62 Aim ............................................................................................................................................ 63
Work progress (May 23 -‐ June 19) (S. Jerichau) ........................................................................... 63 Work Progress (June 20 -‐ July 19) (R. Rattenborg) ....................................................................... 65 Discussion: Modern intrusions ..................................................................................................... 66
[4]
The Cable Trenches in GO/5, GO/8, and GO/11 ....................................................................... 66 The Clearing of the South Decumanus Lining in GO/5, GO/8, and GO/11 ............................... 67
Discussion: Alterations of the Urban Layout ................................................................................ 68 GO/11: Lists .................................................................................................................................. 68 GO/11: Locus List ...................................................................................................................... 68 GO/11: Field Object List ............................................................................................................ 70 GO/11: Feature List .................................................................................................................. 70 GO/11: Wall List ........................................................................................................................ 71 GO/11: Architectural Elements ................................................................................................. 71 GO/11: Drawings ...................................................................................................................... 71
GO/8 (D. Kannegaard Kvist & A. Ravn Weinrich) .......................................................................... 72 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 72
Work progress (May 23 -‐ June 19) (D. Kannegaard Kvist) ............................................................ 72 Work Progress (June 20 -‐ July 19) (A. Ravn Weinrich) .................................................................. 74 GO/8 Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 76 GO/8: Locus List ........................................................................................................................ 76 GO/8: Field Object List .............................................................................................................. 77 GO/8: Feature List .................................................................................................................... 78 GO/8: Wall List .......................................................................................................................... 79 GO/8: Architectural Elements ................................................................................................... 79 GO/8: Drawings List .................................................................................................................. 79
GO/5 Ext. (M. Brøndgaard Jensen) ............................................................................................... 80 Aim ............................................................................................................................................ 80
Work Progress (June 23 -‐ July 19) ................................................................................................. 80 GO/5 Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 82 GO/5 Locus List ......................................................................................................................... 82 GO/5 Field Object List ............................................................................................................... 83 GO/5 Wall List ........................................................................................................................... 84 GO/5 Drawing List ..................................................................................................................... 84
Discard procedures .................................................................................................................... 85 Spoil removal ............................................................................................................................ 85 Stone removal .......................................................................................................................... 85 Disposal of tile and ceramic material ....................................................................................... 85
References ................................................................................................................................. 86
Table of Figures Figure 1: Plan of excavation area 2011 (@ Hugh Barnes & Elise Thing) ........................................... 11 Figure 2: GO/6 at the beginning of the season (May 27), facing north. ........................................... 15 Figure 3: Basin wall fragment A.7343 ............................................................................................... 16 Figure 4: End season overview of west half of GO/6, facing south. ................................................. 17 Figure 5: Remains of clay piping in GO/9, facing north, ................................................................... 18 Figure 6: Interior of cistern shaft (loc. 20, FE#3), facing north. ........................................................ 19 Figure 7: Crow step with rosette A8215 ........................................................................................... 24 Figure 8: Post-‐excavation view of GO/7, facing east ........................................................................ 27
[5]
Figure 9: Overview of housing unit spanning GO/9 (centre), GO/10 (lower left), and GO/12 (lower right). ........................................................................................................................................ 36
Figure 10: GO/10 loc. 4 and loc. 6, facing southeast. ....................................................................... 43 Figure 11: Stone basin A8488 ........................................................................................................... 43 Figure 12: The mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3) ....................................................................................... 44 Figure 13: The mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3) and pebble surface (loc. 9) ............................................ 44 Figure 14: North of W#1: Mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3), ..................................................................... 45 Figure 15: The basin (FE#3 / loc. 24), ................................................................................................ 46 Figure 16: End of season shot of mosaic floor .................................................................................. 46 Figure 17: Profile of interior West wall in basin ............................................................................... 46 Figure 18: Southern half of GO/10; .................................................................................................. 47 Figure 19: Wall # 1, Wall # 7, arch (FE#2 / loc. 8), Wall # 4, ............................................................. 48 Figure 20: Wall # 7 and loc. 30 ......................................................................................................... 48 Figure 21: Post-‐excavation view of north GO, facing northwest. ..................................................... 60 Figure 22: Overview of GO/11 (June 18) .......................................................................................... 62 Figure 23: GO/11 loc. 17 (Wall 1) ..................................................................................................... 64 Figure 24: Complete oil lamp in situ (GO/11, FO#12) ....................................................................... 64 Figure 25: Occupational surface between loc. 17 (W1) and Roman decumanus. ............................ 65 Figure 26: Earlier occupational surface (loc. 26) with stone lining. .................................................. 66 Figure 27: GO/11 west baulk, facing west. ....................................................................................... 67 Figure 28: End season view of GO/5 Ext., facing south. ................................................................... 82 © 2012, University of Copenhagen and named authors This report comprises a preliminary evaluation of the 2012 season of excavations in Area GO (a corresponding summary of work in Areas MO, SO, and MA will appear in a separate report). This report is compiled from end of season reports written by Rune Rattenborg, Elise Thing, Marie Brøndgaard Jensen, Lena Tambs, Amalie Ravn Weinrich, Ditte Kannegaard Kvist, and Sara Jerichau. Accordingly, some variation in writing style will be noticed, but it was decided to remain faithful, wherever possible, to the original reports so as to present a first-‐hand record of the progress of excavations in central Jarash. Contact address: MSO Professor Alan Walmsley MA (Hons) PhD, FSA Director, Danish-‐Jordanian Islamic Jarash Project Research Leader, Materiality in Islam Research Initiative (MIRI) Department of Cross Cultural & Regional Studies University of Copenhagen Snorresgade 17-‐19 Copenhagen S DK-‐2300 Denmark
[6]
Project name: The Danish–Jordanian Islamic Jarash Project District: Jarash Duration: 5 May – 19 July 2012 Departmental Representatives: Mr Abdul Majid Mejali, Mr Najih Abu Hamdan, Mr Ali Al Owaisi, and Mr Adnan Mejali Number of workers: 63 staff and students, 3 Jordanian students, and 40 workmen Cost of Project (in-‐field) JOD 38,110 Director: Professor Alan Walmsley, Deputy Directors: Mr Rune Rattenborg & Mr Ian Simpson Department of Cross Cultural & Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
The 2012 Season in Summary
Historical Background The major archaeological and tourist site of Jarash is renowned for its Roman-‐period and Byzantine monumental remains, hereunder temples, theatres, piazzas, wide public streets and many churches and Jarash is recognised among the best preserved Roman-‐period sites in Jordan. Until recently, the Islamic expansion into Bilad al-‐Sham (635-‐640 CE) has been viewed in terms of social and urban decay. However, written sources, coins and material culture has demonstrated that life in Jarash flourished into the centuries following the Islamic expansions. The Islamic Jarash Project commenced in 2002 with the primary focus of excavating and recording an Umayyad congregational mosque in the centre of the city and has since expanded to include buildings associated with the early Islamic town-‐centre.
Tourism Potential The well-‐known tourist site of Jarash is primarily identified for its Roman-‐period and Byzantine monuments, while the Islamic period traditionally has been neglected in the presentation of the site. The Islamic Jarash Project seeks to develop the Islamic potential through extensive excavations and a restoration program. The focus is on the area of the intersection of the south decumanus and the cardo, where the early Islamic mosque forms the focal point in the promotion of the dynamic Islamic history of Jarash.
Area explored this Season The principal objectives of the 2012 season of the Danish-‐Jordanian Islamic Jarash Project were to conclude work on the Ummayad congregational mosque in area MO, and to continue the careful exploration of the area west of the mosque, referred to as area GO. Lastly, excavations continued in area SO and MA, south of the mosque as part of the restoration of the mosque. Continuous planning and study of the layout of the streets, tetrakionion piazza and related structures was undertaken by the surveyor on the team.
[7]
Results Urban areas to the west of the mosque (the GO area) Excavations were continued and expanded in the area west of the northern half of the mosque, focusing on two general areas. These were firstly the Early Islamic courtyard structures excavated since 2007, and secondly the area bordering the Roman decumanus north of these. Excavations sought to expand the outline of the structures exposed in former years through continued excavation in three 10 by 10 metre squares, and the opening of a further four new squares. Through the excavation of a long section bordering the decumanus, the project aimed at obtaining a better understanding of the use of this major road and the adjoining urban spaces in the Late Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. The results from the season significantly increased the understanding of the complex development of the area, and furthermore offered some very interesting perspectives for future research. In general, the results of the 2012 season points to a major reorganisation of the urban space west of the mosque during the early Abbasid period, while the role of the Roman decumanus seems to have changed correspondingly. Also, extensive evidence of water management systems was found. These discoveries were tied to the continued exposure of one or more structures, with multiple rooms and an adjoining courtyard with a well-‐preserved cistern on the southern side. To the north of this building, a well-‐preserved mosaic floor, perhaps utilised for processing of agricultural produce or gathering of water was exposed.
[8]
Acknowledgements The participants and staff of the 2012 season of the Islamic Jarash Project are most grateful to Mr. Fares Hmoud, Acting Director-‐General of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, and staff in the Amman Office, and would furthermore like to express our gratitude to the following individuals and institutions:
1. DoA staff at the Jarash Office of Antiquities, especially inspectors Dr Rafe Harahshah and Mr Ahmad al-‐Shami;
2. Our representatives of the Department of Antiquities, namely Mr Abdul Majid Mejali, Mr Najih Abu Hamdan, Mr Ali al-‐Owaisi, and Mr Adnan Mejali;
3. Professor Bill Finlayson, Dr. Carol Palmer, and Mrs Nadja Qaisi, CBRL Amman, for equipment hire and logistical support.
[9]
Participants in the 2012 season # Family name: First name: Second name: Nationality: IJP Field School 1 Aarslev Rasmus Johan Danish 2 Amzourou Salwa Yasmina Danish 3 Andersen Frederik Juel Danish 4 Andersson Sofie Helena Viktoria Swedish 5 Andreasen Julie Wikke Danish 6 Bjerregaard Morten Schlutter Danish 7 Bjoernskov Martin Krejsager Danish 8 Bredsdorff Dyveke Elisa Rask Danish 9 Brok-‐Joergensen Trine -‐ Danish 10 Bulow Nanette Askholm Danish 11 Cengiz Dilan -‐ Danish 12 Grajeda Falon Amalia Danish 13 Grau-‐Andersen Morten -‐ Danish 14 Halkier Peter Benjamin Danish 15 Jensen Pernille Bangsgaard Danish 16 Jensen Marie Broendgaard Danish 17 Jensen Teresa Stenvig Danish 18 Jensen Martin Thygesen Danish 19 Jerichau Sara -‐ Danish 20 Joensen Vár -‐ Danish 21 Jonker Julie Ziff Danish 22 Joergensen Makia -‐ Danish 23 Joergensen Emma Elise Balslev Danish 24 Kammann Henriette Lise-‐Lotte Danish 25 Kilde Sofie Felicia Danish 26 Kristoffersen Johannes Svend Brask Danish 27 Kvist Ditte Kannegaard Danish 28 Lundin Bodil Margrete Danish 29 Mark Bente -‐ Danish 30 Mavrinac Olivia Spelling Danish 31 Meaker Elyse Nightingale Canadian 32 Nielsen Anne Rostgaard Danish 33 Nielsen Oline Ida Danish 34 Pedersen Patrick Noerskov Danish 35 Pickett Jordan Thomas American 36 Plesa Alexandra Daniela Romanian 37 Rasmussen Heidi Louise Danish 38 Rattenborg Rune -‐ Danish 39 Reynolds Daniel Kenneth British 40 Roed Claus Jesper Miksch Danish
[10]
41 Schioedt Sofie -‐ Danish 42 Schnoor Anne-‐Christine Valentine Danish 43 Sjoeberg Mark Emil Danish 44 Sorensen Julie Friis Danish 45 Tambs Lena -‐ Norwegian 46 Thaarup Guenever Bjerre Danish 47 Thing Elise -‐ Danish 48 Thomassen Pia Holme Danish 49 Tyler Nikoline Ernst Danish 50 Van Ree Emil -‐ Danish 51 Weinrich Amalie Ravn Danish 52 Westh Johnny -‐ Danish IJP Restoration 53 Barnes Richard Hugh British 54 Bojesen Patricia Kyle American 55 House Michael -‐ British 56 Juchniewich Karol -‐ Polish 57 McPhillips Stephen -‐ New Zealand 58 Petersen Margit -‐ Danish 59 Steffensen Jonas Noerkaer Danish 60 Strehle Helle -‐ Danish 61 Tarboush Maher -‐ Jordanian 62 van Lanschot Henriette -‐ Danish 63 Yeomans Lisa -‐ British
[11]
Detailed Reports on the Fieldwork Excavations in 2012 concentrated on four main areas (Fig. 1)
1. Further examination of the buildings in area GO immediately west of the Mosque (squares GO/4, GO/5, GO/6, GO/7, GO/8, GO/9, GO/10, and GO/11);
2. Area MO (the Ummayad congregational mosque) 3. Area SO and Area MA, defining the area between the mosque and the macellum (SO/1,
SO/2, SO/3)
Figure 1: Plan of excavation area 2011 (@ Hugh Barnes & Elise Thing)
[12]
1. Area GO
Introduction The following presents a detailed report on excavations in Area GO of the Danish-‐Jordanian Islamic Jarash Project (IJP). Excavations in the GO in 2012 were carried out by staff and students of the University of Copenhagen archaeological field school, and extended over close to 1200 square metres, including continued excavations in areas opened since 2005 and a further four 10x10 metre squares opened in the 2012 season. The field school component comprised 15-‐20 students supervised by four to five field supervisors, further assisted by a team of 5-‐10 local workers. Excavations in the GO area in 2012 were directed by Rune Rattenborg with the assistance of Marie Brøndgaard Jensen and Elise Thing. The account given below briefly summarises the excavation history of the area, before turning to the detailed reports on individual excavation areas. Discussions in relation to the two general areas of investigation provide a short summary of the data so far obtained, along with a general phasing of the archaeological remains so far exposed in the area where deemed possible. Reports on Area GO presented here are divided into two primary zones; firstly the Early Islamic structures located in squares GO/1, GO/2, GO/4, GO/5, GO/6, GO/7, GO/9, GO/10, and GO/12, and secondly investigations conducted on the southern side of the Roman decumanus, being squares GO/5 (Ext.), GO/8, and GO/11. Area GO of the Islamic Jarash Project was first defined and initially cleared and surveyed in 2004, and has seen regular excavation each year since then, except 2011. Following conclusion of the 2012 season, the area now comprises thirteen 10x10 metre excavation units, designated GO/1 through GO/13. Area GO designates a roughly rectangular area, some 50 x 50 metres in extent situated in a relatively even plateau immediately west of the congregational mosque (MO). The border between GO and MO follows the edge of a laneway running the full length of the western wall of the mosque, from the Southern decumanus in the north to a junction of passageways at the northwestern corner of the Roman macellum. As such, Area GO is delineated by the decumanus to its north, where the plateau drops sharply toward the street, and a surmised thoroughfare to its west, running south from a widening in the decumanus colonnade opposite the so-‐called Ummayad House. The southern limit of the area corresponds with the line of the mosque qibla wall. Topographically, the area reaches its highest elevation in the northern half, rising approximately two and a half metres over the level of the decumanus, and slopes gradually towards the south from this point.
Methodology Excavations in the GO were carried out from Wednesday, May 23 to Thursday, July 19. Work comprised minor activity (e.g. cleaning and additional recording) in three 10x10 metre squares, i.e. GO/1, GO/2, GO/4, and full excavation in parts or all of another seven squares, namely GO/5, GO/6, GO/7, GO/8, GO/9, GO/10, and GO/11. Two further squares, GO/12 and GO/13, were designated for recording purposes, but with no actual excavations taking place. Work in individual squares was overseen by field supervisors, assisted by 2-‐3 workers each depending on daily capacity. To each square was furthermore assigned 3-‐5 students, who took part in excavation work in close communication with the field supervisor. In general, excavations were carried out using a combination of large tools, such as pick axes, hoes, brooms, and shovels, and smaller tools, such as trowels, hand picks and brushes for more delicate contexts. Heavy objects, such as limestone blocks from collapsed walls and the like, were removed either manually by hand or mechanically by crane.
[13]
All layers were excavated in respect to the stratigraphic sequence and recorded individually according to a single context locus system. Architectural contexts and baulks were drawn in scale 1:20 and soil strata were sketched in the locus sheets prior to their removal. All contexts were subject to photographic recording both in detail and in relation to neighbouring contexts, and a complete photographic record was carried out upon completion of the excavation.
GO/2: Cleaning and recording (R. Rattenborg) No actual excavation work has been conducted this season within GO/1 & GO/2, although extensive activity took place immediately to the southeast of GO/1, within Area SO. In relation to these activities, the westward laneway south of the GO/1 & GO/2 courtyard complex was utilised for temporary dumping of excavated spoil, which was later removed in the course of back-‐filling excavated areas in Area SO towards the end of the season. Due to a mistake in recording procedures, the cleaning locus laid out for the entirety of GO/2 (loc. 65) in fact also included the northern half of GO/1, demarcated by the east-‐west wall separating the courtyard area from the laneway south of this. Cleaning in GO/1 and GO/2 furthermore aimed at cutting back the west and north baulks, which were in an extensive state of decay following exposure since 2007. Thus, the north baulk of GO/2 was cut back 15 cm to a line 35 cm from the actual north border of the square, whilst the west baulk of GO/2 and the north half of GO/1 was cut back 30 cm, thus 20 cm from the actual border of the square. In the course of these cutbacks, six copper coins were found, all out of context, and recorded as GO/2 FO#22-‐27. Nos. 22-‐25 derive from the north baulk, while 26 & 27 derive from the west baulk of GO/2 proper. Restoration work on the Ummayad congregational mosque also encompassed the eastern demarcation wall of the courtyard space shared between GO/2 and northern GO/1. This stretch of wall, running roughly N-‐S parallel to the western wall of the mosque, is registered as MO/14 loc. 33 W6 (north half) and MO/13 loc. 25 W3 (south half). In the latter half of the season, an additional course of stones was added on top of the preserved remains of this wall.
GO/2 Lists
GO/2 Locus List Locus Description W# FE# Drawing#
65 Cleaning locus covering all of square and N half of GO/1 -‐ -‐ -‐
GO/2 Field Object List FO# Locus Object description Cat# 22 65 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 11326 23 65 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 11327 24 65 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 11328 25 65 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 11329 26 65 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 11330 27 65 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 11331
GO/4: Cleaning and recording (R. Rattenborg) No actual excavation work has been conducted this season within GO/4, as the presently exposed phase was considered the benchmark to be reached in adjoining squares to the west. Two cleaning
[14]
loci were opened for preliminary sweeping and cleaning by local workers. Locus 112 denotes surfaces and walls in the paved building and exterior areas to the north, and 113 the laneway south of the building. Exterior occupation surfaces in particular still contain a good deal of ceramic material, which was collected in relation to cleaning in the beginning of the season. A doorjamb stone in the upper west side of the eastern of two doorways in loc. 7 (W2) has fallen down onto the exterior surface below. Exposed structures and surfaces from the last season in 2010 appeared otherwise unharmed.
GO/4 Lists
GO/4 Locus List Locus Description W# FE# Drawing# 112 Cleaning locus in structure and adjoining courtyards -‐ -‐ -‐ 113 Cleaning locus in westward laneway -‐ -‐ -‐
GO/6: The Cistern Complex (R. Rattenborg) Supervisor: Rune Rattenborg Students: Claus Roed, Morten Bjerregaard, Olivia Mavrinac, Henriette Kammann, Alexandra Plesa (Leiden University), Jinan Khdair Mansur (Yarmuk University), Trine Brok-‐Jørgensen, and Martin Krejsager Bjørnskov.
Introduction First opened in 2009, GO/6 links the two main structural units exposed in the northern part of the GO-‐area, namely in GO/4 (2007-‐2010) and GO/9 (2010-‐2012) to the east and west of GO/6 respectively. Briefly summarised, the 2009 excavation uncovered a substantial double-‐rowed wall running in a northwest to southeast direction (loc. 6, wall 2), cutting the square in halves. A courtyard surface reached in the eastern part of the square in 2009 corresponds with exterior surfaces in GO/4 and GO/5 further east, and has only been subjected to extensive cleaning during this season (loc. 24). Work in GO/6 was mainly confined to the first half of the season, from May 23 -‐ June 19, although the western baulk was removed later in the season. A total of 13 loci were opened, being loc. 23-‐35. Excavation work within GO/6 was focused on obtaining a better understanding of the overall urban layout of the area, and in particular the possible structural relationship between the housing units in GO/4 and GO/9. Following the 2009 season of excavations, the courtyard surface exposed east of the outline wall could be directly linked to exterior surfaces in adjacent GO/4 and elsewhere, whereas the area west of the wall still comprised a substantial layer of fallen limestone blocks, of which a cistern inlet (loc. 20, FE#3) partly exposed in 2009 formed the only indication of underlying structures.
[15]
GO/6 Work Progress (May 23 -‐ July 19)
The Cistern Passage Continuations of excavations in GO/6 provided some interesting points as to the interpretation of the structural layouts of the buildings in the area already within the first couple of weeks. Work was confined to the area west of loc. 6 (W2) running roughly NW-‐SE through the centre of the square, separating exposed courtyard surfaces to the east from the tumble fill exposed in 2009 to the west. Initial cleaning was completed through the laying out of loc. 23 in the latter area, followed by excavation loc. 25, denoting the tumble fill and associated dark greyish to medium brown silty soil, likely the result of prolonged natural buildup. The large amount of tumble in the area seems, at least in part, to represent intentional filling above dilapidated structures, since the stones form no apparent collapse pattern, and are furthermore too numerous and extending too far to the west to comprise the remains of a single wall collapse. Loc. 25 contained relatively little cultural material; a very scarce amount of ceramic and a few bones primarily. A gradient transition to a lighter, more reddish layer of slightly clayey silt prompted a change to loc. 26, though the tumble exposed transects from loc. 25. This is perhaps indicative of a two-‐phased filling or disposal of building material, but may also be due to the extensive natural buildup in the upper layer of tumble. Slight traces of animal burrowing in loc. 26 should also be taken into consideration. As with loc. 25, loc. 26 contained very few cultural remains. The various architectural elements found in this stratum lends some support to the interpretation of it as intentionally disposed
Figure 2: GO/6 at the beginning of the season (May 27), facing north. Loc. 6 (W2) can be seen running the length of the square from lower right to top centre. Cistern vault (loc. 20, FE#3) just visible in left centre side of the square. (IJP_D12035).
[16]
building material, or deliberate filling in order to level out the area. In particular, three larger fragments from the wall of a circular stone basin were located quite close to each other in the south part of the locus (A.7343, A.7512, and A.7513). The shape and material of these, of which two in fact can be readily fitted together, parallels another fragment found higher in the tumble layer in 2009 (i.e. above loc. 25 and cleaning loc. 24), recorded as A.6640 (see also drawing 2009-‐GO/6-‐529, cf. IJP 2009 End Season Report p. 48). The randomly distributed nature of these fragments within the tumble matrix would suggest this layer to be the result of intentional filling above gradual collapse, since curved basin wall fragments are clearly not usable in an architectural structure, and
secondly were not associated with any surface upon which a basin could originally have stood. During excavation of loc. 26, a band of reddish brown silty clay (terra rossa) with chalk inclusions was gradually exposed along the west face of loc. 6 (W2), evidently forming a matrix of washed out wall packing and limestone blocks from this wall. Recorded as loc. 27, this collapse layer continued down to a stamped clay walking surface, which was only traced in the north end of the passageway. Again, only scant cultural remains
were retrieved from this context. Further adding to the general impression of loc. 26 as an intentional filling of the space between loc. 6 (W2) and the gradually appearing outline of the cistern traced in 2009 (loc. 20 FE#3) was the removal of several limestone blocks overlying the cistern outline walls. The line of the east side of the cistern, running roughly parallel with loc. 6 (W2) was continued from the southeast corner of the cistern and into the south baulk by an arch, presumably the upper part of an opening between the passage east of the cistern and the area south of it. This latter area, entrenched between the south wall of the cistern and the aforementioned archway, was excavated as loc. 28 when the matrix of loc. 26 changed into matrix of yellowish-‐brown clayey silt, still with numerous tumble blocks. Though the excavation of this locus served to expose the still standing arch down to a depth of app. 1 metre, no occupational surface was encountered. The tracing of a hard packed surface of white-‐yellowish brown clay in the northernmost part of the area between the cistern east wall and loc. 6 (W2) prompted an arbitrary closing of loc. 26 and opening of underlying loc. 29, in order to differentiate levels close to this occupational surface in the remainder of the passageway. If assuming that the archway in the south part of the area would stand to a height of between 1.5 -‐ 2 metres, and the occupational surface in the north end of the area was located around a level correspondent with the top of the arch, then an occupational surface underneath the tumble would have sloped down gradually towards the south. Though still overlying the wall collapse of loc. 27, the matrix of loc. 29 furthermore exhibited a slight change in composition, becoming siltier closer to the cistern east wall.
Figure 3: Basin wall fragment A.7343 in situ in tumble of GO/6.26 (IJP_D12113)
[17]
Removal of the West Baulk Although the focus of the excavation towards the end of June and throughout July was shifted to the squares along the Roman decumanus, minor excavation was still carried out in GO/6, namely in the removal of the west baulk separating the square from adjacent GO/9. This was done in order to fully relate the courtyard surface exposed in GO/9 and the similar surface found in the northern part of GO/6, and also to fully expose the vault of the cistern, which was partly concealed below the baulk. An initial stratum of recent deposits, chiefly whitish-‐grey sandy silt with gravel and stone inclusions was removed first as loc. 30. Underneath this followed another, more brownish matrix (loc. 31), which could be followed down to a level some 20-‐30 cm above the courtyard surface found in GO/9. Both of these contexts contained pieces of modern rubbish, and most likely datable to the latter half of the 20th century. The lowermost stratum of the west baulk, immediately overlying the cistern vault and outline walls (loc. 20), comprised a medium brown clayey silt very similar to loc. 29 found east of the cistern. Patches of a harder packed, more clayey matrix on the cistern vault was traced in several places within the cistern outline, but did not constitute any continuous layer.
Figure 4: End season overview of west half of GO/6, facing south. Structural features and major loci marked up. Note the flight of steps leading down towards the south along
the outline wall of the cistern (modified from IJP_D13749)
[18]
Discussion -‐ The Structural Layout of West GO/6
Courtyard Spaces No full exposure of occupational surfaces in west GO/6, i.e. west of Wall 2 (loc. 6) separating the passageway around the cistern (loc. 20) from the courtyard space to the east (loc. 24), was obtained this season. The hard packed walking surface traced in the northernmost part of GO/6, and continuing into eastern GO/9 and the extreme southwest corner of GO/7 is demarcated from the area further south along the cistern outline wall by a row of stones between two standing columns, namely loc. 33 FE#4 and loc. 34 FE#5. The first of these (loc. 33) butts against loc. 6 (W2), while the second (loc. 34), is situated next to a flight of steps (loc. 35 FE#6) leading down towards the south along the cistern outline wall. The location of the two columns does not seem readily capable of supporting any substantial superstructure, and so their exact purpose remains puzzling. The courtyard surface extending from GO/6 and spanning most of the eastern half of GO/9 most likely denotes the last extensive phase of use, where several associated features had been left in a state of disrepair. As noted already upon discovery in 2009, the cistern inlet had been sealed by a stone, which seemed very unlikely to have fallen into the inlet drain by accident. No trace of the plastered channel leading to the cistern has been found further away from the inlet drain, though
traces of clay piping were found embedded in the courtyard surface north of the cistern. Another point are the two rows of stone demarcating the cistern vault on its west and north side. Both of these wall lines would appear to have been laid out to delineate a shallow fill above the cistern vault, as they seem too small too have held any significant superstructure. This interpretation furthermore corresponds with the view of limestone tumble in GO/6 loc. 25 and 26 as constituting disposed building material used for filling, since the lower lying passageway would have become obsolete when the cistern had gone out of use.
The Cistern A good deal of further information on the layout of the cistern in GO/6 was obtained this season, although the actual structure was left untouched. Initial exposure of the full extent of a barrel vault, partly traced in 2009 served to establish the dimensions of the structure below the current surface. It should be noted from the outset that the architectural feature in question forms in fact only one part of a larger system, indicated by the lack of a suitable maintenance entrance in the structure currently exposed. The
vault itself covers a vertical shaft, app. 3 x 3 meters in extent, reaching 4.60 meters down (from the top of the barrel vault). Though we were unable to make any exact measurements on the interior dimensions, a rough estimate based on photos taken through the inlet hole in the eastern part of
Figure 5: Remains of clay piping in GO/9, facing north, with associated stone setting and water basins
(IJP_D13940)
[19]
the vaulting would suggest the vault construction itself to reach a height of app. 1 meter, from the supporting points of the outline walls below to the apex of the vault. Below the base of the vault, the walls then continue down a further 3.5 meters. Based on photographs, the lowermost 0.5-‐1 meter visible is most likely cut into natural bedrock. The entire feature has been constructed with great care. In particular the inner face of the barrel vault were the arch stones displays a smooth and regular curve. The vaulting was made from small limestone blocks, around 20x20x50 cm, with the possible inclusion of a few basalt pieces. These stones were set in a sturdy dark greyish mortar also covering the walls below, and forming the foundation for a light buff plaster coating covering the sides of the shaft. The plaster coating is app. 2-‐3 cm thick, and seems to have covered the walls and vaulting to a point just below the inlet hole in the top of the vault. At present, parts of the plaster coating are still preserved to a height covering parts of the south half of vault. One major inlet is readily visible at the bottom of the northern wall, comprising a small arch app. 1.5 meters wide and rising 0.5 -‐ 1 meter above the cistern floor. The possible presence of another opening close to the floor in the eastern wall can be deduced from a marked edge in the plaster surface app. 1 meter above the bottom of the shaft, which would concur with the general slope of the terrain in this direction. From present evidence, however, this point remains speculative.
The functional context of the cistern cannot yet be fully established. As no trace of a maintenance entrance was found in the sides of the cistern shaft, occasional repairs of the construction was either performed through another entrance leading into the cistern shaft from the bottom, or by the, rather tedious, opening up the vault construction in order to enter from the top. In order to frame the possible architectural relationships between the cistern shaft and its surroundings, it should be noted initially that the shaft and vault are laid out on a grid corresponding to the large housing unit excavated in GO/9 and GO/10. Though not effectively ruling out that the cistern shaft itself may be older than this structure, it lends support to the suggestion that the house and the cistern are in fact integrated components of the same general construction phase, thus Abbasid or Late Ummayad in date. We should again rehearse that the cistern shaft can only have served as an inlet to the water supply system of which it formed part, as there is no possibility of extracting water from the shaft through the inlet hole. As such, the water stored in the cistern must have been utilized elsewhere. Several features uncovered in the course of the
2012 season point to an extensive water management system in the Abbasid phases. Traces of clay piping, possibly related to two smaller basins associated with the GO/9 housing, seems to have formed part of a line running from the building to the cistern inlet, further
Figure 6: Interior of cistern shaft (loc. 20, FE#3), facing north. Note the channel outline at the bottom of the shaft.
(Photo by the author)
[20]
accentuated by the relative elevation of the piping, situated 2-‐3 cm above the level of the inlet. The state of preservation of the piping and the plaster lining around the cistern inlet, which seems to have formed the receptacle for a water piping, would point to a terminal phase of occupation where the piping had been left unused and partly removed, and the cistern inlet and vault covered over and turned into a low platform. As with the long sequence of bread ovens installed in the adjacent courtyard space in GO/9, this points to an extensive period of use of the courtyard surface currently visible. We should further relate the cistern shaft and associated water channels to the basin exposed in GO/10, on the northern side of the housing. This relationship is evident from the architectural integration, since the basin feeds water into a stone lined outlet drain seemingly built into the housing structure, again aligned with the same grid as the cistern. Since the outlet drain is situated 11 cm lower than the cistern inlet, the two features can only be related in the sense that they feed into a common system below the housing building, indicated by the northward channel seen in the bottom of the cistern shaft.
GO/6 Lists
GO/6 Locus List Locus Description W# FE# Drawing#
23 Cleaning locus in tumble area, W part of square -‐ -‐ -‐ 24 Cleaning locus, courtyard surface in E part of square -‐ -‐ -‐ 25 Stone fill w/ dark greyish brown silt in passageway
between loc. 20 and loc. 6 -‐ -‐ -‐ 26 Stone fill w/ brown, slightly clayey silt in passageway,
below loc. 25 -‐ -‐ 2012-‐GO/6-‐1023 2012-‐GO/6-‐1089
27 Stone collapse w/ warm reddish brown silty clay along loc. 6 -‐ -‐
2012-‐GO/6-‐1023 2012-‐GO/6-‐1089
28 Stone collapse w/ yellowish-‐brown grey clayey silt, between loc. 20 and S baulk -‐ -‐ 2012-‐GO/6-‐1089
29 Stone collapse w/ slight greyish brown silt, between loc. 20 and loc. 27 -‐ -‐ -‐
30 Modern deposit of whitish-‐grey sandy silt w/ gravel and stone in W baulk -‐ -‐ -‐
31 Greyish brown sandy silt w/ stone inclusions in W baulk -‐ -‐ -‐ 32 Warm medium brown silt w/ stone collapse in W baulk,
overlying loc. 20 -‐ -‐ -‐ 33 Column abutting loc. 6 (W2) in extreme north end of
square -‐ 4 2012-‐GO/6-‐1090 34 Column next to staircase (loc. 35) in northwest corner of
square -‐ 5 2012-‐GO/6-‐1090 35 Limestone steps leading down to the south, next to loc.
34 -‐ 6 2012-‐GO/6-‐1090
GO/6 Field Object List FO# Locus Object description Cat#
[21]
29 25 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 10962 30 30 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13132 31 30 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 12925
GO/6 Feature List FE# Description Locus Drawing
4 Standing limestone column 33 2012-‐GO/6-‐1090 5 Standing limestone column 34 2012-‐GO/6-‐1090 6 Flight of steps, cut limestone blocks 35 2012-‐GO/6-‐1090
GO/6 Drawings Drawing # Loci Wall # Feature # Description 2012-‐GO/6-‐942 30, 31, 32 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section -‐ W baulk E face 2012-‐GO/6-‐996 31, 32 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Tumble 2012-‐GO/6-‐1023 26, 27 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Tumble 2012-‐GO/6-‐1068 20 -‐ 3 1:20 Plan -‐ Cistern vault and outline 2012-‐GO/6-‐1070 6 2 -‐ 1:20 Section -‐ W face of wall 2012-‐GO/6-‐1071 -‐ -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section -‐ W face of arch 2012-‐GO/6-‐1072 -‐ -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Arch 2012-‐GO/6-‐1089 26, 27, 28 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Tumble 2012-‐GO/6-‐1090 33, 34, 35 -‐ 4, 5, 6 1:20 Plan -‐ Features
GO/6 Architectural Elements A# Description Locus Drawing A7321 Column base 25 -‐ A7323 Doorjamb 25 -‐ A7324 Doorjamb 25 -‐ A7343 Basin wall 25 2012-‐GO/6-‐1098 A7345 Doorjamb 25 -‐ A7348 Doorjamb 25 -‐ A7486 Threshold 26 -‐ A7487 Doorjamb 26 -‐ A7488 Doorjamb 26 -‐ A7489 Doorjamb 26 -‐ A7512 Basin wall 26 2012-‐GO/6-‐1102 A7513 Basin wall 26 2012-‐GO/6-‐1095 A7514 Doorjamb 26 A7515 Doorjamb 26 A7583 Unknown 29 A7585 Not removed -‐ unknown 29 A7586 Not removed -‐ unknown 29 A7587 Unknown 27 A7588 Doorjamb 27 A7589 Doorjamb 27 A7590 Doorjamb 27
[22]
A7591 Unknown 27 A7592 Unknown 27 A7593 Unknown 27
GO/7 (M. Brøndgaard Jensen) Supervisor: Marie Brøndgaard Jensen Students: Emil van Ree, Pia Holme Thomasen, Morten Graugaard, Peter Benjamin Halkier, Teresa Stenvig Jensen, Johnny Westh, Amalia Grajeda, Dilan Cengiz, Jinan Khdair Mansur (Yarmuk University)
Introduction GO/7 is situated South of GO/8, North of GO/6, East of GO/5 and West of GO/10. Before excavation a wall in the Western baulk continuing South-‐Eastwards was visible on the surface corresponding to loc. 6 (W2) in GO/6. A few stones in the Eastern centre part of the square indicated yet another wall going in an E-‐W direction. The former was assumed to be part of the big architectural structure that has been found in GO/9 and GO/6. The aim of this season was to investigate whether the structure as proposed, take up most of the two aforementioned squares as well as GO/10, GO/12 and GO/13 as well as GO/7, which this report will account for. A secondary aim was to examine a possible relationship between GO/7 and GO/5 to its Eastern side and GO/7 and GO/6 to its Southern side. This, however, was not completely solved both due to the unsure results from GO/5 excavations in previous years as well as further excavation in GO/7 might shed light on this relationship.
Work Progress (9 June -‐ 23 June) The twenty-‐eight loci are to be described below, however not in numeric order. They will be described in the order in which it will make sense for the overall conclusions for this square.
Topsoil (loc. 1 and loc. 7) GO/7 has never been excavated previously and therefore topsoil had to be removed. This was excavated in locus 1 and locus 7. The two loci differed in immediate appearance. Locus 7 covered the entire Eastern half of the square as well as the South-‐Western corner. Prior to excavation a wall was visible. This was easily defined as a wall (Wall 1, loc. 3). This wall runs in a NW-‐SE direction indicating a connection with the wall in GO/6 with the same orientation yet excavated to a much lower course in GO/6. Due to extensive bulldozing of the entire GO area, wall 1, locus 3 has been quite damaged and remains fragile both in position, condition and in appearance. However, wall 1 has effectively been the cause of protection of what was excavated as locus 1. Locus 1 was in the Western half of the square, although smaller than locus 7. It was situated E of wall 1. It did not require a lot of excavation to establish that the following layers beneath locus 1 could be expected to be of a better context than those beneath locus 7 that had not experienced any such protection. Locus 1 consisted of loose soil with very few patches of Sweileh sand and abundant patches varying in size of ash. Locus 7 consisted of more clayish soil that appeared to be stamped hard by modern activities. This is likely to have occurred during the annual Jerash Festival and additionally by the bulldozing, mentioned above.
[23]
Ashy context (loc. 2, loc. 8, loc. 13 and loc. 19) Locus 2 was beneath locus 1. It was still considered topsoil yet differed in texture and compactness and required its own locus. The soil was much looser than locus 1. This locus appeared to be a mixed deposit, which had layered during decades. It came to reveal a stone feature, namely feature 1, locus 5. Locus 2 consisted of loose soil as did locus 1 yet contained a big amount of ashy areas. Locus 8, locus 13 and locus 19 will be described below as they share resemblance with locus 2. A big stretch of ashy soil made up locus 8. This locus was found below locus 2 and above locus 11. It was situated in the Western end of the square, East of wall 1, North of wall 2 and South of feature 2. This was again very loose soil and similar to locus 2, although contained more charcoal. Contamination of bulldozing could also have disturbed this layer, which could explain it very loose and slightly incoherence. A lot of marble paver fragments were found. The locus was closed when feature 4, locus 11 was revealed underneath. Locus 13 was below locus 2, locus 6 and locus 8 and the same as locus 15. It was situated North of wall 2, East of feature 1 and wall 1 and feature 4. It was south of feature 2. This locus differed from locus 15 as it consisted of very loose, ashy soil much like locus 2 and locus 8. Some patches of yellow clay were visible in the eastern end of the locus resembled the yellow clay by wall 2 in locus 15 (Elaborated upon below). Ash was found concentrated by feature 4 and feature 5 and charcoal remains were excavated along with some burnt animal bones. Two building stones were removed from the locus. They were considered to be single piece tumble stones and remain undrawn as they were out of absolutely any possible context. Quite a few fist size stones were found by the northern baulk. Locus 19 was effectively the same as 13. It was located immediately below locus 6, which was feature 2. One burnt animal bone was excavated and not a lot of ash was found. On the contrary the majority of the locus was made up of quite hard clay similar to that of the Eastern side of locus 13, which is less like the composition of locus 2 and locus 8.
Wall 1, wall 2 and wall 3 (loc. 3, loc. 4, loc. 26, loc. 27 and loc. 28) Locus 3 is the aforementioned wall 1. The wall is butted by wall 2 (locus 4) and by wall 4 (locus 28). This locus contains feature 8 (locus 26) in its Southern end. This wall was one of the obvious reason that excavation was carried out here in the first place due to it visibility pre-‐excavation. It was mentioned above that the condition, position and appearance of the wall had been compromised during the bulldozing. Bulldozing marks are visible on at least five stones. It is a double row wall and two courses are visible, although by feature 4 and where wall 2 butts wall 1, there is no third course and merely soil carried the weight of the wall here. In the same area no top course is preserved as it is in the remaining structure. The loss of the top course can be explained by bulldozing or later reuse of those particular stones as they are nowhere to be found as tumble. However, the lack of a lower course remains a mystery. Plaster remains have been found on the Western side of the wall. The aforementioned threshold in wall 1, is feature 8, locus 26. This was same as locus 3 and below locus 18. It is situated in the Southern end of the wall. It consists of one big doorjamb or threshold stone, which to its Western side has two building stones aligned in front of it to make a bigger levelled step than provided by the threshold stone itself. On either side, to its North and South, is a doorjamb. The Northern door jamb is considerably bigger than other doorjambs from GO/7, further it is made of granite and not limestone, which is the common building material in the GO area. The threshold itself has three worked cuts on its top step. The two worked cuts on either edge of the threshold appear to be postholes where as the one in the middle is less easily explained. Locus 4 was assigned to wall 2 as previously mentioned. This butts wall 1, which indicates its later construction than the former. The Eastern end was slightly visible previous to excavation; however,
[24]
it was fully uncovered during excavation of locus 1 and locus 7. It is constructed with a double row outline, much like wall 1, however made up of building stones in varying size whereas wall 1 appears to be either more planned for or less effort has been put into the construction of wall 2. The wall contains feature 9, loc. 27, which is a doorway that is to be elaborated upon below. The wall remains as just one single course, which means we have excavated the wall fully. This is further evidence of its younger age than that of wall 1. Three aligned stones appear on the surface beneath wall 2 in the Western part on the Southern face. These three stone do not run parallel with the wall nor do they appear to be a part of any structures in the Southern part of the square. They are all highly eroded and must be an earlier structure; however it does seem a bit strange to have left them there. Due to their high erosion it is impossible at this stage to say whether they have been wedged in between the wall and the surface or if they are an earlier structure. This last point is very vague and further excavation on the Southern side of wall 2 or a better understanding of the features in that area would be beneficial in drawing any conclusion on these stones. The aforementioned doorway in wall 2 is feature 9, locus 27. It is same as and part of wall 2. It is made up of one big threshold stone with a cut where the door would have been shut. The door would supposedly have opened outwards to the North. On either side are a building stone that is likely to have held doorjambs. The feature is quite obviously defined in that wall 2 is a double row wall and by each side of the doorway is only one stone. Locus 28 is wall 4. It runs in a SW-‐NE direction. This wall was not excavated as it was found at the very end of the season. Presently, only three stones are visible but it appears to have been a double row wall. A fourth stone, aiding this assumption was too loose and fell after excavation and is no longer a part of the wall. This is also partly due to disturbance by bulldozing. The wall continues into the Western baulk and GO/10 and has a possible connection to a wall in GO/9 as well. It appears to have been built at the same time as wall 1 and is a part of the aforementioned structure that is a big part of the GO area including GO/6, GO/7, GO/9, GO/10 and which continues further into the unexcavated GO/12 and GO/13.
Features North of wall 2 (loc. 5, loc. 6, loc. 9, loc. 11, loc. 17) On the Northern side of wall 2 and the butting wall 1 from the East was feature 1, locus 5. This feature was removed this year. It was below locus 1 and locus 2. It was a bench and a later addition to wall 1. It is plausible that is was constructed contemporary with wall 2 yet could easily be even later. The bench is made of reused building stones whereof one is a crow step stone. This received the architectural element number A8215. When the crow step was removed it revealed a symbol on the side that had been downwards. The symbol was a carved circle with a six fangs making up a sort of star. The feature was heavily damaged by bulldozing indicating how far down the bulldozing has contaminated and affected the archaeology, as this stone was approximately 40 cm lower than wall 1. The remaining stones in the feature were reused
Figure 7: Crow step with rosette A8215 (IJP_D13478)
[25]
building stones making up the outer border of the feature leaving space in the middle only for fill and fist sized stones. Immediately under feature 1 another similar feature was found. This became feature 5, locus 17. This is likely to have been used and built contemporary with feature 4, described below. This feature is a bench and butts wall 1 on its Eastern side just the same as feature 1. The feature is a bench, which now remains in the square. It runs parallel with wall 1 and is made up of building stones at its Eastern border using wall 1 as its Western border. The fill of the bench is a mixture of medium and compact soil with stones of varying sizes. The following feature to be revealed was feature 2, locus 6. This locus was below locus 1 and same as locus 2. It was a fireplace made up of two building stones and a reused marble paver in the middle. It used feature 5, loc. 17 as its Western border. The building stones we reused as one was an architectural element: A8216. Where the actual fire had been was the marble paver aforementioned, now all covered in a densely thick layer of sooth. This feature was, too, removed this year. Locus 9 was below locus 7 and was the locus assigned for feature 3. It was situated on the Northern side of wall 2 in its Eastern end. The feature contains locus 16, which was the feature fill. When feature 3 was removed, one architectural element was among the buildings stones: A8214. The feature consisted of three reused building stones, evidenced especially by the architectural element. This was drawn from two sides, then unfortunately destroyed due to it vulnerability. The feature could have been some sort of storage yet it is fairly small. After first glance it was assumed to have been a fireplace, however, the fill showed little if any evidence of that. The feature was a later addition to wall 2 and also butted this. Locus 16 was as mentioned above the fill and it was immediately below locus 7. Due to three field objects being found rapidly after each other the locus was sieved. The field object numbers were 3, 4 and 5 and all three were coins. The fourth feature of GO/7 was given the locus number 11. This was below locus 8 and same as locus 17. Further it contained locus 10 and butts wall 1, wall 2 and feature 1. This feature is most postdate both wall 1, wall 2 and feature 5, since it essentially consists of two buildings stones that are placed between the three structures mentioned above. It is likely to have been used contemporary with feature 5. The fill of the feature was locus 10. This was also below locus 8. No ash in this locus was found and no plaster remains on the inside were evidenced during excavation. It could have been a space for storage or the plaster could simply have fallen off. The fill is unlikely to have been a part of the feature and it being an extension of feature 5 is disregarded. The fill was made up of red and yellow soil and contained an abundant amount of smaller stones in this fill.
Occupational surfaces (loc. 12 and loc. 15) Locus 12 and locus 15 are loci that are now exposed to the weather. This season reached no further than to those surfaces. Neither locus 12 nor locus 15 corresponded to the surfaces visible in GO/5 and GO/6. It had been the aim to reach the level of those two squares; however both locus 15 and locus 12 appeared to be occupational surfaces themselves yet younger than those of the adjacent squares. Locus 12 was below locus 7 and same as locus 15. It is located on the Southern side of wall 2 stretching to the Southern baulk. This locus had two phases yet was excavated as one due to unevenness in surface that made it difficult to see change in soil. As GO/7 is on a slight slope the occupational surfaces are significantly lower in the Eastern end of the square. The top layer of this locus was hard packed soil. The lower was an occupational surface that showed solid plough marks from the direction of the South-‐Western corner. Although this is the direction all bulldozing marks show in upper layers, it is unlikely that the bulldozing marks would be this well defined this far down. The pottery sherds found in this locus were abundant and was the same mixture of wares
[26]
and time periods as was seen in GO/5 proper from the 2010 excavations. Fifteen field objects (FO# 11, 13-‐16, 18, 19, 25-‐33) were found in this locus whereof all of them were coins. Locus 15 was below locus 7 and same as locus 12. This was on the northern side of wall 2 covering the square as far as the Northern baulk, East of locus 13. This is thought to have been an occupational outdoor surface yet due to is location so close to topsoil the bulldozing has had a damaging effect here, too. Running along wall 2 clay patches had been preserved from weathering and bulldozing and especially in the Western end and by the doorway (feature 9) the clay surface had been very well preserved. The same clay layer was found in locus 13 and locus 19. The clay was removed in the hope of finding an older surface and although this succeeded the lower surface had suffered badly from modern activities. Field objects 9, 12 and 6 were found, all coins.
Tumble (loc. 14 and loc. 18) Locus 14 consisted of wall packing in the South-‐Western corner of the square. It was found below locus 7 and above locus 18. Some traces of terra rosa were found. An entire bottom half of an oil lamp was found close by the Southern baulk. Some architectural fragments were found yet evidence little but worked surfaces. Six architectural elements were found in this locus. These were A8217, A8218, A8219, A8220 (which went missing before recording and remains now only drawn on the tumble drawing), A8221 and A8322. The two door jambs in feature 8 became visible during excavation. When it became obvious that tumble stones would appear this locus was closed and locus 18 was opened. Locus 18 was twenty-‐four tumble stones. Field object number 21, which was a marble object, was found in situ. Some ash was found among tumble stones in the South-‐western corner. The ash contained no ceramics or other objects and can therefore receive no concluding remarks. Below the tumble stones appeared feature 8 (locus 26) in wall 2. A layer of thick, yellow clay was atop this. This was excavated as locus 21. It was above locus 26, below locus 18 and same as locus 3. The fact that the clay was so hard might be an indication that it was on the threshold for some time during the use of this threshold.
Features and wall South of wall 2 (loc. 20, loc. 23, loc. 24, loc. 25) The following loci (locus 20, 23, 24, 25) all witness of a later use of the South-‐Eastern part of GO/7. They are all younger than wall 2 and much younger than wall 1. They witness of a different use of GO/7 than what its original purpose was. Locus 20 was opened in order to examine a possible relationship between wall 3 (locus 25) feature 6 and feature 7 (all to be described below). Locus 20 was below 12 and East of wall 1, South of wall 2, North of feature 6. This locus was closed when a well defined clay surface was discovered underneath. East of wall 1 and South of wall 2, in the corner where the two walls meet is where locus 22 was excavated. This was the same as locus 20 and equally found below locus 18. This layer was pure ash and was 1.20 m long and 0.90 m wide. A lot of ceramic was found partly in situ, which made it plausible at first sight that it was a tabun but alas not. Although not a tabun it must have been a fireplace. It is interesting that it is in the corner of wall 1 and wall 2, which would have been a good and sheltered place for a fireplace. This, however, raises new questions on the use of the room between wall 1, 2 and 3 and feature 6 and feature 7, to be described as the following. Feature 6, locus 23 are two aligned building stones in the Southern baulk. This locus is the same as locus 24 (FE# 7), locus 25 (wall 3), locus 20. As the majority of this feature is situated in the Southern baulk it is difficult to conclude much on its original purpose. However it is perpendicular with feature 7 and wall 3. It runs parallel with wall 2. These structures appear to all be part of a much later added room. The fireplace in locus 22 indicated that the room here could have been a
[27]
storage room as there appears to be no Eastern exit. It could also, again drawing on locus 22, have been used as a kitchen facility. Feature 7 (locus 24) is contemporary with feature 6 and wall 3. This feature is a later added step to the threshold (feature 8) in wall 1. The step consists of only three building stones. This feature has been interpreted as a later added step and not a blocking of the door in wall 1. Had it been a blocking it would have been in the doorway and on the threshold. Instead it is a step added as a surface on the Eastern surface would have become higher. The last of the three structures is locus 25, wall 3. It is called wall 3 yet it must be noted that it is not a part of any bearing construction; it is either a partition or retaining wall. Its purpose could have been either to divide the Southern part of GO/7 or to hold a small back wall to a later added room. It consists of only three stones yet it would have been a bigger construction when in use. It runs semi-‐parallel with wall 1 and butts wall 2. It is awkwardly built West of feature 9 (doorway in wall 2) and does not run perpendicular with wall 2 at all. This could be a testimony of the insignificance of either wall 2 in a later phase or at least a less prominent use and access to the doorway. Removal of the Southern baulk in GO/7 could help clarify the later use of this area.
Summary and notes for future excavation GO/7 has indeed shown to be an interesting component of the GO-‐squares. In situ Abbasid ceramics were found close to the Western baulk, on the Western face of wall 1. This wall and wall 4 has helped confirm the assumption that the big GO-‐structure had its Eastern end wall in GO/7. Everything East of wall 1 has introduced the excavators to one or two later phases of this area. The later wall 2 and the unsolved even later addition of retaining wall 3, feature 6 and feature 7 shows how GO/7 has been adapted to different uses and different needs of different time periods. A link is still needed between GO/7 and GO/5 as well as between GO/7 and GO/6. However, this season showed an interesting occupational history in GO/7 and more work could be carried out in the square, especially the South-‐Western corner where baulks could be removed in the search for links between GO/6, GO/7, GO/9 and GO/10. The Eastern end of GO/7 could be excavated further on both sides of wall 2 to reveal a connection between GO/7 and GO/5 to the East as well as between GO/7 and GO/6 to the South.
Figure 8: Post-‐excavation view of GO/7, facing east (modified from IJP_D13757)
[28]
GO/7 Lists
GO/7 Locus List Locus # Description Location Drawing #
Locus 1 Top soil. Western part. East of w. 1.
Below the sky. Above loc. 2, 8 and 13. Same as loc. 7.
Locus 2 Ashy soil. Western part of square. Below loc. 1. Above loc. 8 and loc. 13.
Locus 3 Wall 1. NW-‐SE direction. W end of square. Continues into GO/10 and GO/6. Same as FE# 8 and w. 4.
2012-‐GO/7-‐998 2012-‐GO/7-‐1073
Locus 4 Wall 2. E-‐W direction. Runs through middle of square. Same as FE# 9. Below loc. 1 and loc. 7.
2012-‐GO/7-‐931 2012-‐GO/7-‐1042 2012-‐GO/7-‐1063
Locus 5 FE# 1. E of w. 1, mid wall, N of FE#4, S of FE#2. Above FE# 5. Below loc. 1 and loc 2.
2012-‐GO/7-‐900 2012-‐GO/7-‐ 954
Locus 6 FE# 2. N of FE#1, E of w. 1, NW corner. Below loc. 1 and same as loc. 2.
2012-‐GO/7-‐911
Locus 7 Top soil. Eastern part of square and SW corner of square. Below the sky. Above loc. 12 and loc. 14. Same as loc. 1.
Locus 8 Ashy soil. W end of square, E of w. 1, N of w. 2, S of FE# 2. Above loc. 13. Below loc. 2.
Locus 9 FE# 3. Possible storage enclosure. NE part of square, N of w. 2. Below loc. 7. Contains loc. 15.
2012-‐GO/7-‐955
Locus 10 Fill in FE# 4. Western part of square. S of FE#1, E of w. 1, N of w. 2. Below loc. 8. Contained by FE# 4.
Locus 11 FE# 4. Possible storage enclosure. S of FE#1, E of w. 1, N of w. 2. Below 8. Same as 17. Contains loc. 10. Butts w. 1, w. 2 and FE# 1.
2012-‐GO/7-‐1054 2012-‐GO/7-‐1069
Locus 12 Floor surface. SE part of square. S of w. 2, E of loc. 14. Below 7 and same as 15 and loc. 13.
Locus 13 Mixed deposit of clay, ash and N of w. 2, E of w. 1, E of
[29]
loose soil. FE#1, E of FE#4 and S of FE#2. Below loc. 2, 8 and 6. Same as loc. 15 and loc. 12.
Locus 14 Wall packing between tumble stones.
SW corner of square, S of w. 2. Above loc. 18. Below loc. 7.
Locus 15 Change in soil after excavating Loc. 7.
NE part of square. N of w. 2, E of FE#1 and FE#2. Below loc. 7. Same as loc. 13 and loc. 12.
Locus 16 Fill in FE# 3. Inside FE#3, N of w. 2, E end of square. Below loc. 7.
Locus 17 FE# 5. Bench. Immediately under FE# 1.
N of w. 2. E of w. 1. Below FE# 1 and same as FE# 4. Butts w. 1.
2012-‐GO/7-‐968 2012-‐GO/7-‐1069
Locus 18 Tumble stones with soil. SW corner of square. Both sides if w. 1. S of w. 2. Below locus 14.
2012-‐GO/7-‐997
Locus 19 Soil immediately under FE# 2, loc. 6.
NE corner of square. Same as loc. 13 and below loc. 6.
Locus 20 Loose soil on top of occupational clay surface.
E of w. 1, S of w. 2, N of FE# 6. Below 12.
Locus 21 Layer of clay on threshold, feature 8. SW corner of square.
SW corner of square. Below loc. 18, above 26 and same as loc. 3.
Locus 22 Possible fireplace. Same as loc. 20. Below loc. 18.
Locus 23 FE# 6. Two aligned stone S baulk. SW part of S baulk. Same as loc. 24, 25, 20. Butts loc. 7. Below loc. 12.
2012-‐GO/7-‐992
Locus 24 FE# 7. Later added step to the immediately East of FE# 8 in wall 1.
SW corner of square. E of FE# 8. N of FE# 6. Same as w. 3 and FE# 6.
2012-‐GO/7-‐992
Locus 25 Wall 3. Partition or retaining wall.
S of w. 2. E of w. 1. Same as FE# 6 and FE# 7.
2012-‐GO/7-‐992
Locus 26 Feature 8. Threshold in w. 1. SW corner of square. S end of w. 1. Same as w. 1. Below loc. 21.
2012-‐GO/7-‐998
Locus 27 Feature 9. Doorway in w. 2. Western part of square and wall. East of w. 1. Same as and part of wall 2.
2012-‐GO/7-‐931 2012-‐GO/7-‐1042 2012-‐GO/7-‐1063
Locus 28 Wall 4. SW corner of square. W of w. 1, E of baulk. Runs into baulk. Same as and butts loc. 3, w. 1.
2012-‐GO/7-‐1055
[30]
GO/7 Field Object List Field Obj. #
Loc. Description Date Found Measured Position Photo # CAT#
1 7 Coin 18.06.12 Not in situ 12025 2 7 Coin 20.06.12 Not in situ 12026 3 16 Coin 25.06.2012 Not in situ 12250 4 16 Coin 25.06.2012 Not in situ 12251 5 16 Coin 25.06.2012 Not in situ 12253 6 15 Coin 25.06.2012 Not in situ 12254 7 12 Coin 26.06.2012 Not in situ 12340 8 12 Metal
heart 26.06.2012 Not in situ 12353
9 15 Coin 26.06.2012 Not in situ 12341 10 13 Coin 26.06.2012 Not in situ 12342 11 12 Coin 26.06.2012 Not in situ 12337 12 15 Coin 26.06.2012 Not in situ 12332 13 12 Coin 26.06.2012 Not in situ 12335 14 12 Coin 27.06.2012 Not in situ 12376 15 12 Coin 27.06.2012 Not in situ 12379 16 12 Coin 27.06.2012 Not in situ 12380 17 13 Bone
object 27.06.2012 Not in situ 12402
18 12 Coin 28.06.2012 In situ IJP_D 12304 IJP_D 12305
12448
19 12 Coin 28.06.2012 In situ IJP_D 12309 IJP_D 12310
12449
20 13 Coin 28.06.2012 Not in situ 12450 21 18 Stone
object 30.06.2012 Not in situ 12546
22 19 Metal object
02.07.2012 Not in situ 12728
23 20 Coin 03.07.2012 Not in situ 12654 24 20 Coin 05.06.2012 Not in situ 12765 25 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12762 26 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12764 27 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12767 28 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12769 29 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12771 30 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12773 31 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12775 32 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12777 33 12 Coin 08.07.2012 Not in situ 12778
[31]
GO/7 Feature List FE# Description Locus # Drawing # 1 Bench abutting wall 1. 5 2012-‐GO/7-‐900
2012-‐GO/7-‐ 954 2 Fireplace, including reused, marble paver. East of wall 1. 6 2012-‐GO/7-‐911 3 Crescent of three stones abutting wall 2. North of wall 2,
Eastern end. 9 2012-‐GO/7-‐955
4 Possible storage room. Abutting FE# 5 and wall 1 and wall 2. 11 2012-‐GO/7-‐1054 2012-‐GO/7-‐1069
5 Bench. Below FE# 1. 17 2012-‐GO/7-‐968 2012-‐GO/7-‐1069
6 Door step. East of wall 1. East of FE# 8. 23 2012-‐GO/7-‐992 7 Two aligned stones. Partly in the Southern baulk. Parallel
with wall 2. Found under tumble, loc. 18. 24 2012-‐GO/7-‐992
8 Threshold. In wall 1. West of FE# 7. 26 2012-‐GO/7-‐998 9 Doorway in w. 2 27 2012-‐GO/7-‐931
2012-‐GO/7-‐1042 2012-‐GO/7-‐1063
GO/7 Wall List Wall # Description Locus # Drawing # Wall 1 N-‐W direction 3 2012-‐GO/7-‐998
2012-‐GO/7-‐1073 Wall 2 E-‐W direction 4 2012-‐GO/7-‐931
2012-‐GO/7-‐1042 2012-‐GO/7-‐1063
Wall 3 N-‐S direction 25 2012-‐GO/7-‐992 Wall 4 SW-‐NE direction 28 2012-‐GO/7-‐1055
GO/7 Architectural Elements A# Description Locus #/ FE# Drawing # Photo # A8214 Stone with a worked hole of
approx. 5 cm and a 0.5 cm wide worked cut that ran through the entirety of one side.
Found in FE# 3, loc. 9. 2012-‐GO/7-‐964 No photos could be taken, as stone broke during recording.
A8215 Crow stone. Stone with three steps on each side. One side has a circular symbol.
Found in FE# 1, loc. 5. 2012-‐GO/7-‐979 IJP_D 13478 IJP_D 13479 IJP_D 13480
A8216 Reused doorjamb with posthole bottom side.
Found in FE# 2, loc. 6. 2012-‐GO/7-‐980 IJP_D12338, IJP_D12339, IJP_D 12340
A8217 Found in tumble, loc. 18.
Not drawn individually, only
[32]
drawn on tumble drawing.
A8218 Doorjamb. Found in tumble, loc. 18.
A8219 Doorjamb. Found in tumble, loc. 18.
Not drawn individually, only drawn on tumble drawing.
IJP_D12341 IJP_D12342 IJP_D12343
A8220 This went missing A8221 Doorjamb, bad condition. Found in tumble, loc.
18. Not drawn individually, only drawn on tumble drawing.
IJP_D12335 IJP_D12336 IJP_D12337
A8322 Stone with two worked holes, one on each side. Plaster remains are visible on side with the worked holes.
Found in tumble, loc. 18.
GO/9 (A. Ravn Weinrich) Supervisor: Amalie Ravn Weinrich Students: Nanette Bülow, Heidi Rasmussen, Morten Graugaard, Johannes Kristoffersen, Olivia Mavrinac, Patrick Noerskov Pedersen, Sofie Andersson.
Aim The aim of the 2012 excavation season for GO/9 was twofold. Firstly, excavation in GO/9 could help establishing continuity between itself and GO/6 and secondly there was a general wish to investigate the north-‐western and northern rooms, which are both located on a right angle with the structures found in GO/6 and GO/4. In the 2010 excavation season an ash layer was found in the northern room of the square, which needs to be further investigated. Furthermore, the large eastern area of the square, which contains tumble stones needs to be excavated as well.
Work Progress (23 May -‐ 18 July) GO/9 was opened in the 2010 excavation season where only few parts of the rooms had been backfilled and large areas of the square have therefore been exposed to the environment since 2010. Three cleaning loci (19, 20 and 21) were opened in order to clean the top layer of the square. Locus 19 was situated in the western part of the square, containing the room with the stone floor and the smaller room in the northwestern area. Locus 20 was situated in the eastern area of the square, outside of the structures dominating the western and northern area and locus 21 was located in the northern area of the square in between locus 19 and 20, consisting of a room and an outside area south of the room. The cleaning loci were naturally divided by wall no. 1(locus 6) running from SW to NW, wall no. 3 (locus 15) running from the mid-‐western baulk towards east and wall no. 4 (locus 39) running from mid of wall no. 1 towards east. Locus 22 was opened and excavated until a new layer similar to the layer in locus 21 was reached. The locus was a small sized, brown fill layer situated east of locus 21. North of locus 21, locus 23 was opened with the same
[33]
purpose as locus 22. The soil was a brown fill layer, which was excavated down to the same level as locus 21. On the western side of the doorway (feature no. 2, locus 17) and wall no. 1, inside the small room, locus 24 was opened and excavated until a clayey floor level was reached throughout. No significant founds have been located within the loci so far. Locus 25 was dominating most of the eastern part of the square and extended from the mid-‐northern to the mid-‐southern baulk containing a great amount of tumble stones. The dark brown, large sized locus was excavated until the tumble was revealed. Furthermore, several metal objects (F.O. # 32, 33, 34 and 43), one stone object (F.O. #37) and a coin found in situ (F.O. #44) were all located within locus 25. West of locus 25 still outside of the western room and wall 1, locus 26 was defined due to a slightly different soil colour compared with locus 25. The locus expanded from a stone structure close to locus 22 and south to the southern baulk. As similar to locus 25, locus 26 contained a high number of tumble stones. In the northeastern corner of GO/9, three more loci were opened. Locus 27 was situated upon wall 4 and was a very small sized locus which was excavated down to where the wall began. Locus 28 and 29 were both situated east of wall 4 (locus 39), upon wall 5 (locus 40) and were too both small in size. They were excavated in order to expose and clean the wall and some tumble stones. In the northwestern corner of GO/9, west of feature 2, a small locus named 30 was opened. It contained an architectural element (A7318) and few other large tumble stones. When all the wall packing was excavated and the same level as the yellowish soil beneath was reached the locus was closed. In the 2010 excavation season, feature 2 was discovered. However, a new locus was opened within the feature in order to excavate a possible doorstep. This locus was called locus 31. After approximately 15 cm of excavating a doorstep appeared and the locus was closed. Locus 32 was opened after locus 30 was closed. The locus was situated in the far northwestern corner and was excavated in order to reach the same floor level was already reached within half of the room. Furthermore, the floor level has also been exposed after excavating locus 24 located south of locus 32. After reaching the floor level all over the room, locus 32 was closed. In the 2010 excavation season the beginning of an ash layer was reached within the northern room located east of feature 2 and wall 1 and north of wall 4. In this season, after excavating locus 22 and 23 the ash layer was reached throughout the entire room. This layer was called locus 33. Not only did locus 33 contain a large amount of large vessels and a great amount of animal bones which have been exposed to fire, a copper ball (F.O. #31), a hair pin (F.O. #38), two metal objects (F.O. #39, 40), a copper object (F.O. #41) and a small stone object (F.O. #42) was all located within the locus. After excavating 10 cm, several tumble stones appeared and located in the south-‐eastern corner of the locus a stone with cross marks engraved (A7541) was found. The purpose of the stone could very well have a connection with the use of water, which too matches the artifacts. In the southwestern corner some of the tumble stones formed a circle and enclosed the remains of a tabun. Furthermore, more remains of two other tabuns were located in the northern part of the locus. Samples of the three tabuns were collected and the remains were removed. In the southern part of the locus a doorway leading out of the room was excavated as well as a part of locus 33. It became clear that the ash continued out of the room through the doorway (F.E. #8) and a new locus was opened outside the doorway, south of locus 33. This locus was given the number 35 and was opened in order to excavate and investigate the ash and a possible floor level. After excavating approximately 40-‐50 cm of pure ash in locus 33, a light, clayey and compact floor level was reached throughout the room and the locus was closed.
[34]
As mentioned briefly, locus 35 was opened in order to reach an outside floor level and also to investigate the ash found within the room, which continues throughout the doorway (F.E. #8). Locus 35 contained five tumble stones, four on a row to the east and one placed in the middle. To the south locus 35 buts three stones where the locus stops. Within locus 35 a metal object (F.O. # 35) was located and a medium sized ceramic piece, which was glazed on both sides. On the outside a clear green, bluish colour appeared and on the inside a light white colour was to be seen. Furthermore, excavation of the locus revealed burned animal bones, large ceramic pieces and fire marks on the stones belonging to wall 1. The soil was very similar to the one excavated in locus 33 and contained a great amount of ash. The locus was excavated until a light, clayey and compact floor level was reached and the locus was closed. Locus 34 was situated in the smaller room located in the northwestern corner of the square west of feature #2. The locus was opened due to the wish of reaching a floor level which will match the floor level found on the other side of wall 3 (locus 15), which is the stone floor excavated in 2010. However, few stones were revealed in the southeastern corner of the locus but due to the end of the season no further work was conducted within this locus and it was closed. Among the artifacts located within the locus was a piece of glazed ceramic very similar to the one found in locus 35. It was glazed on both sides and had the same clear green, bluish colour. Furthermore, a nail (F.O. #45) was located. The locus contained also feature number 7, which was a stone structure containing four stones forming a square/stone setting. This structure was fully excavated in the past 2010 excavation season but due to the season end had not been fully recorded. In order to excavate locus 34, the stone setting was removed and one architectural element was revealed (A7563) which was formed as a doorjamb. In the eastern part of the square, east of wall 5 and north of wall 4, a blocked doorway (F.E. # 10) was visible. Soil and stone tumble was filled within the room and was opened as locus 36. The reason for excavating the locus was to expose the doorway and investigate the small sized room. The locus contained tumble stones, but compared with the room west of the locus (locus 33) no ash was to be found within the locus. The tumble stones blocking the doorway were not an intentionally blocking as with the case of the doorway found in wall 4 which would have connected the large, northern room with this smaller room. A doorstep belonging to the doorway (F.E. # 10) was reached. It was made of two large stones. One of the stones had several holes within and was cracked in the middle. Furthermore, the highly used and somehow damaged doorstep shows signs of being used in a long time and in many different ways. This interpretation is based on the many different holes, a smaller stone with a hole found in the eastern side of the doorstep and the condition of the doorstep itself. On the same level as the doorstep a light, clayey and compact floor level was reached. Furthermore, a glazed ceramic piece was also located within this locus, similar to the two found in locus 35 and 34. When the floor level was reached the locus was closed. In the northeast part of the square feature #6 was located which was two plastered stones butting feature #5 which is a water basin. The fill inside feature #5 was opened as locus 37 in order to investigate the bottom of feature #5 and trace the plaster found both on the outside and inside of the stones. The small sized locus revealed some interesting artifacts, among them large animal bones, large ceramic pieces and a coin (F.O. #36). The plaster continued inside of the feature all the way down to the bottom. Furthermore, a stone structure was visible in the bottom, possible belonging to an earlier construction based on the difference in the line and layout of the stone. When the bottom was reached the locus was closed.
[35]
After excavating the ashy locus 33 a floor level was reached. This floor level expanded throughout the entire room and stopped where the doorway (F.E. #8) began. However, the doorstep was covered by the compact floor level. Locus 38 was opened in the room with the purpose of reaching the floor level belonging to the doorstep. After 10 cm the doorstep was reached and a new floor level expanded throughout the room. Near the doorway, located in the southeast corner of the locus a bone comb (F.O. #46) was found. It was half and only the decorated top was found, almost intact. Furthermore, a copper object (F.O. #47) and a piece of charred steatite were found as well. The floor level was reached throughout the room and the locus was closed. Wall 4 (locus 39) contains a doorway named feature #8 and runs from the mid of wall 1 where wall 3 meets and towards the northeast corner of the square. Furthermore, wall 4 contains also the doorway feature #10 which divides the courtyard and the small room located in the northeast area of the square. Located approximately halfway of wall 4, wall 5 (locus 40) butts wall 4 and runs only a few meters north into the north baulk and contains a blocked doorway, feature #9. In the southeast corner of the square wall 6 (locus 54) is located. It runs from the eastern baulk towards the northwest corner and approximately half through into the courtyard. Both wall 4 and wall 5 is approximately at the same height as the three walls (1, 2 and 3) excavated in the 2010 season. However, wall 6 reaches only about 40 cm above the courtyard level. Wall 7 (locus 55) is located within the large, northern room and was revealed after excavating the ash layer. It runs from the mid of wall 4 towards the northern baulk and expands halfway into the room. However, the wall may very well be a part of an earlier foundation and not belonging originally to the structures dominating GO/9. This interpretation is based on the position of the wall, its height and the fact that the wall continues under wall 4. However, wall 7 is not visible on the other side of wall 4. The last wall found in GO/9 in this season is wall 8 (locus 66). As similar to wall 7, it may belong to an earlier time period. It was excavated in the clayey floor in the courtyard, running from mid of wall 1 towards the northeast part of the square. It is highly damaged and only 10 cm of the stones are visible. When excavating the ashy fill within the large, northern room, what seems to be an earlier wall appeared underneath wall 1. The stones are only partly visible but may very well be a part of an earlier foundation and not originally belonging to the period where wall 1 was in use. However, more work needs to be done if further conclusion should be drawn. Since the beginning of the 2012 excavation season 15 features have been excavated. Feature #4 (locus 41) is a round stone structure located in the northeast corner where feature #5 and #6 (locus 42 and 43) are located as well. Feature #5 is a stone, which has been worked into a basin and contains a hole in one of the sides. The basin is butted by feature #6, which is comprised by two plastered stones. It is possible that the two features have been used simultaneously due to their construction and furthermore, it seems likely that feature #6 is a later construction to feature #5. Feature #4, the five stones forming a large circle, has been found only a meter from the water basin and the plastered stones. Their positions in the courtyard surface indicate that they were all in use in the same period. Furthermore, feature #4 may have a direct connection with the water basin and could have been used as a pot emplacement for large water vessels. Feature #7 (locus 44) was fully excavated in the 2010 excavation season but was recorded in this season. It was located in the small northern room, which is enclosed by wall 1 and 3. It is a stone setting made of 4 stones. The purpose of the feature is so far unknown, but the soil around the setting has contained pieces of burned animal bones and large ceramic pieces as well. Feature #8 (locus 45), feature #9 (locus 46) and feature #10 (locus 47) are all doorways. Both feature #8 and #10 are located within wall 4, feature #8 in the western part and feature #10 in the eastern. Feature
[36]
#9 is a blocked doorway situated in wall 5 which before blocking would have connected the large, northwest room with the smaller northeast room. Also found within wall 5 is a stone which was given the feature #17 (locus 59). It is formed as an arch and may have a connection to the structures located north of GO/9.
When excavating the eastern area of GO/9 several features were revealed. Feature #11(locus 48) was found when locus 26 was excavated. It is a rectangular stone setting situated east of wall 1. Feature #12 (locus 49) is a stone, which is situated upon a decorated base, which was given the feature #16 (locus 53) and has very well been a part of an arch. Feature #13 (locus 50) is a round base, which is situated in the centre of the courtyard, east of feature #11. It has not been fully excavated, however the sides appear decorated probably in the same or similar pattern as seen on feature #15 and #16. Running east of feature #11, five stones on a line were given the feature #14 (locus 51). It is clear that the stones have been placed in the ground with a purpose. However, it is not yet clear what the purpose was. Furthermore, the edge of feature #11, the line, which is formed by feature #14 and wall 6 is forming a square in the south-‐eastern corner of GO/9. Also placed on the same line is feature #15 and #16. The two decorated bases are similar in size and shape and have the same leaf and acorn decoration on the side. Furthermore, the decoration is not characteristic Early Islamic and the stones may very well have been reused, originally belonging to the Roman/Byzantine period in Jarash. Feature #17 (locus 59) and #18 (locus 67) are both arches.
Figure 9: Overview of housing unit spanning GO/9 (centre), GO/10 (lower left), and GO/12 (lower right). Note the alterations evidenced in the blocked archway and doorway on the left. Facing southeast.
(Modified from IJP_D13708)
[37]
Feature #17 is one arch stone found within wall 5 and feature #18 is 6 stones forming what firstly appeared to be a wall. However, it later became clear that the wall was in fact a feature. Towards the end of the excavation season three tabuns of a small size were traced in the courtyard area. The three tabuns were located on a line, east of wall 1. Due to the end of the season the tabuns were not excavated and recorded until July 14th. The three tabuns got the loci numbers 60, 61 and 62. The fill was excavated thoroughly and contained parts of the tabun wall and some larger ceramic pieces as well. The fill of the three tabuns was given the loci numbers 56, 57 and 58 where the cut of each of the three tabuns was given the loci numbers 63, 64 and 65. After the tabuns were excavated and fully recorded no further work was conducted within GO/9 and the excavation season came to an end. As the season came to an end in GO/9 several important finds have been found. The room in the southwest area with the stone floor have not been investigated any further in this season. The focus point has been twofold. Firstly, the three northern rooms and especially the large room containing a great amount of ashy soil have been of high priority. It has been important to establish an idea of the type and purposes of the rooms and too the connection between each of them. As the many doorways indicate, the rooms have been used different throughout the time and some doorways have even been blocked. Furthermore, among founds of great value are the three pieces of blue-‐greenish glazed ceramic which have been found in three different rooms. The excavation of the eastern part of the square have not only revealed a hard packed, light clayey courtyard but also several stone features most likely belonging to the same occupation phase. In the northeast corner three features, which may have been used in connection with water and storage have been located. Three more undefined features were found in the southern part of GO/9. However, more work will be needed within this area to establish a better idea of the purposes of the features.
Further excavation in GO/9 After the 2012 excavation season in GO/9, a lot have happened. Even though the thorough excavation of the three rooms in the northern area and the excavation of the large eastern part of the square have helped establish more continuity to the eastern part of the GO area and especially to GO/6, more work still needs to be done within GO/9. Furthermore, parts of older walls (i.e. wall under wall 1, wall 6, 7 and 8) have showed that the area most likely has an earlier occupation phase. A smaller room in the mid-‐south area of GO/9 has not been investigated during this season but might help inform us and establish a better idea of the features forming a small square in the southern part of GO/9. Furthermore, the cistern found in GO/6 and in the eastern baulk dividing GO/6 and GO/9 is too of great interest to the structures in GO/9. Therefore, a more thoroughly investigation of the eastern part of the square would be of great interest and necessarily to draw a greater picture of the buildings in the whole GO area.
GO/9 Lists
GO/9 Locus List Locus # Description Wall # F.E. # Drawing # 19 Cleaning locus. Light brown loose sandy silt. 20 Cleaning locus. Brown loose sandy silt. 21 Cleaning locus. Light brown loose sandy silt. 22 Fill layer. Brown, yellowish loose sandy silt. Below
[38]
cleaning locus 21. 23 Fill layer. Brown, yellowish loose sandy silt with
ash and chalk inclusions. Below cleaning locus 21.
24 Fill layer. Yellow medium loose clayey silt. Below cleaning locus 19.
25 Soil around stone tumble. Dark brown medium silt. Below cleaning locus 20.
2012-‐GO/9-‐1078 2012-‐GO/9-‐1081
26 Soil around stone tumble. Brown, yellowish medium silt. Below cleaning locus 20.
2012-‐GO/9-‐1083
27 Fill layer. Light brown medium loose silt. Above wall 5 and below cleaning locus 21.
28 Fill layer. Grey, brown loose silt. Above wall 4 and below cleaning locus 20.
29 Fill layer. Brown, yellowish loose silt with chalk inclusions. Below cleaning locus 20.
30 Soil around stone tumble. Brown, reddish medium loose clay. Below cleaning locus 19 and above locus 24.
31 Fill layer. Grey, yellowish medium loose silt. Excavation of fill within feature #2. Below cleaning locus 19.
32 Fill layer. Brown, yellowish medium loose clayey silt. Below locus 30 and above locus 24.
33 Ashy fill layer. Light brown medium loose sandy silt with a great amount of ash. Below cleaning locus 21 and above locus 38.
2012-‐GO/9-‐1105
34 Yellow clay fill layer. Light brown, yellowish medium clayey silt. Below locus 24 and 30.
35 Ash fill layer. Brown, greyish ashy loose silt. Below cleaning locus 20 and above clayey floor layer which was reached throughout the eastern part of the square.
2012-‐GO/9-‐1084
36 Fill layer. Brown, reddish medium loose silt with tumble stones. Below cleaning locus 21 and above feature #10.
37 Fill layer of feature #6. Light brown loose clayey silt.
38 Yellow clay. Light, yellowish medium clayey silt. Slightly contaminated by few mole holes. Floor level. Below locus 33.
39 Wall. Contains two doorways, feature #8 and #10. 4 2012-‐GO/9-‐916 2012-‐GO/9-‐1066 2012-‐GO/9-‐1091
40 Wall. Contains feature #9 which is a blocked doorway and feature #17 which a part of an arch.
5 2012-‐GO/9-‐1046 2012-‐GO/9-‐1076
41 Stone circle formed by five stones. NE corner of 4 2012-‐GO/9-‐1080
[39]
the square. 42 Water basin. NE corner of the square. 5 2012-‐GO/9-‐1087 43 Two plastered stones, possible in connection with
FE #5. NE corner of the square. 6 2012-‐GO/9-‐1087
44 Stone setting. Four stones forming a square. NW corner of the square.
7 2012-‐GO/9-‐1082
45 Doorway in wall 4. NW corner of the square. 8 46 Doorway in wall 5. Blocked. Northern area of the
square. 9 2012-‐GO/9-‐1046
47 Doorway in wall 4. NE corner of the square. 10 2012-‐GO/9-‐928 48 Stone setting. East of wall 1 in the southern area
of the square. 11
49 Stone situated upon decorated base. Northern area of the square.
12 2012-‐GO/9-‐1077
50 Round base. Centre of the square. 13 2012-‐GO/9-‐929 51 Five stones on a line. Southern area of the
square. 14 2012-‐GO/9-‐1079
52 Decorated base. SE corner of the square. 15 53 Decorated base. Northern area of the square. 16 54 Wall. 6 2012-‐GO/9-‐1085 55 Wall. 7 2012-‐GO/9-‐1053 56 Tabun fill. 2012-‐GO/9-‐1065 57 Tabun fill. 2012-‐GO/9-‐1065 58 Tabun fill. 2012-‐GO/9-‐1065 59 Arch in wall 5. 17 2012-‐GO/9-‐1046 60 Tabun. 61 Tabun. 62 Tabun. 63 Cut of tabun. 64 Cut of tabun. 65 Cut of tabun. 66 Wall. 8 2012-‐GO/9-‐1052 67 An arch. 18 2012-‐GO/9-‐1067
GO/9 Feature List FE # Description Locus Drawing # 4 Stone circle formed by five stones. NE corner of the
square. 41 2012-‐GO/9-‐1080
5 Water basin. NE corner of the square. 42 2012-‐GO/9-‐1087 6 Two plastered stones, possible in connection with FE #5.
NE corner of the square. 43 2012-‐GO/9-‐1087
7 Stone setting. Four stones forming a square. NW corner of the square.
44 2012-‐GO/9-‐1082
8 Doorway in wall 4. NW corner of the square. 45 9 Doorway in wall 5. Blocked. Northern area of the square. 46 2012-‐GO/9-‐1046 10 Doorway in wall 4. NE corner of the square. 47 2012-‐GO/9-‐928
[40]
11 Stone setting. East of wall 1 in the southern area of the square.
48
12 Stone situated upon decorated base. Northern area of the square.
49 2012-‐GO/9-‐1077
13 Round base. Centre of the square. 50 2012-‐GO/9-‐929 14 Five stones on a line. Southern area of the square. 51 2012-‐GO/9-‐1079 15 Decorated base. SE corner of the square. 52 16 Decorated base. Northern area of the square. 53 17 Arch. Found as a part of wall 5 which is located in the
northern part of the square. 59 2012-‐GO/9-‐1046
18 An arch. Located within the western baulk in the northern part of the square.
67 2012-‐GO/9-‐1067
GO/9 Wall List Wall # Description Locus Drawing # 4 Starting mid of wall 1. Going W/NE. 39 2012-‐GO/9-‐916
2012-‐GO/9-‐1066 2012-‐GO/9-‐1091
5 Start mid N baulk. Going N/SE. 40 2012-‐GO/9-‐1046 2012-‐GO/9-‐1076
6 Start south E baulk. Going SE/NW. 54 2012-‐GO/9-‐1085 7 Start mid of wall 4. Going S/N 55 2012-‐GO/9-‐1053 8 Start mid of wall 1. Going W/NE. 66 2012-‐GO/9-‐1052
GO/9 Field Object List FO # Description Locus 31 Copper ball. Not in situ. 33 32 Nail. Not in situ. 25 33 Metal object. Not in situ. 25 34 Copper ring. Not in situ. 25 35 Metal object. Not in situ. 35 36 Coin. In situ. 37 37 Stone object. Not in situ. 25 38 Hair pin. Not in situ. 33 39 Metal object. Not in situ. 33 40 Metal object. Not in situ. 33 41 Copper object. Not in situ. 33 42 Stone object. Not in situ. 33 43 Hair pin. Not in situ. 25 44 Coin. In situ. 25 45 Nail. Not in situ. 34 46 Bone comb, decorated on top. Fragmented. Not in situ. 38 47 Copper object. Not in situ. 38 GO/9 Architectural Elements A # Locus Description Drawing #
[41]
A7330 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7318 30 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7342 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7350 26 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7465 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7466 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7452 33 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7444 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7485 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7492 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7541 33 Stone with cross marks. In tumble. A7560 36 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7561 25 Stone with hole in the middle. In tumble. A7562 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A7563 34 Doorjamb. Part of feature #7. A8510 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A8511 25 Water basin with two holes on each side. In tumble. A8512 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. A8513 25 Doorjamb. In tumble. GO/9 Drawings Drawing # Locus # Description 2012-‐GO/9-‐916 39 1:20 Profile drawing of wall 4. 2012-‐GO/9-‐928 47 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 10 2012-‐GO/9-‐929 50 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 13 2012-‐GO/9-‐930 1:20 Profile drawing of wall 1. 2012-‐GO/9-‐1045 1:20 Profile drawing of Wall 1 & Feature 2 2012-‐GO/9-‐1046 40, 46, 59 1:20 Profile drawing of Wall 5, Feature 9 and 17 2012-‐GO/9-‐1047 18 1:20 Profile drawing of Wall 3 N face 2012-‐GO/9-‐1052 66 1:20 Plan drawing of Wall 8 2012-‐GO/9-‐1053 55 1:20 Plan drawing of Wall 7 2012-‐GO/9-‐1065 56, 57, 58 1:20 Plan drawing of tabun outlines 2012-‐GO/9-‐1066 41 1:20 Profile drawing of Wall 4 N face 2012-‐GO/9-‐1067 67 1:20 Profile drawing of Feature 18 2012-‐GO/9-‐1076 40 1:20 Plan drawing of Wall 5 2012-‐GO/9-‐1077 49 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 12 2012-‐GO/9-‐1078 25 1:20 Plan drawing of tumble 2012-‐GO/9-‐1079 51 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 14 2012-‐GO/9-‐1080 41 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 4 2012-‐GO/9-‐1081 25 1:20 Plan drawing of tumble 2012-‐GO/9-‐1082 44 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 7 2012-‐GO/9-‐1083 26 1:20 Plan drawing of tumble 2012-‐GO/9-‐1084 35 1:20 Plan drawing of tumble 2012-‐GO/9-‐1085 54 1:20 Plan drawing of Wall 6 2012-‐GO/9-‐1086 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 2 2012-‐GO/9-‐1087 42, 43 1:20 Plan drawing of Feature 5 & 6
[42]
2012-‐GO/9-‐1088 1:10 Drawing of A8511 2012-‐GO/9-‐1091 41 1:20 Plan drawing of Wall 4 2012-‐GO/9-‐1096 1:20 Section drawing of N baulk S face 2012-‐GO/9-‐1097 1:20 Section drawing of W baulk E face 2012-‐GO/9-‐1105 33 1:20 Plan drawing of tumble
GO/10 (L. Tambs) Supervisor: Lena Tambs Students: Martin Thygesen Jensen, Nikoline Tyler, Bodil Lundin, Anne-‐Christine Schnoor, Julie Wikke Andreasen, Julie Friis, Bente Mark, Benjamin Halkier, Salwa Amzourou, Teresa Stenvig Jensen Introduction GO/10 is part of the GO-‐area which is located W of the congregational mosque, and the 10 by 10 m square designated GO/10 is positioned N of GO/09, W of GO/07 and S of GO/11. While the area W of GO/10, GO/12, remains unexcavated, the abovementioned squares to its N, E and S were already partially excavated. GO/10 was opened to enable a better understanding of the area as a whole to be established. S of GO/10 remains of a large building had been found, and by excavating GO/10 we hoped to reveal more information about this building by hopefully being able to connect new discoveries to structures already uncovered in GO/07 and GO/09. Traces of a wall running in a NE to SW direction were visible on the surface, and this wall was thought likely to form the northernmost border of this large building. Also, excavations in GO/10 would potentially help understand the later usage of the decumanus to the N of GO/11.
Work Progress (June 23 -‐ July 19)
Topsoil and Loc. 2 W#1 (loc. 5), W#2 (loc. 7), FE#1 (loc. 3), Loc. 1, 2 and 9 Initially the square was put out and the topsoil defined as loc. 1. Even though the topsoil varied both in colour and composition, and the square was presumably divided into a northern and a southern half by the wall of which traces was visible on the surface (W#1 / loc. 5), the topsoil was given only one locus number throughout. After initially levelling out the topsoil surface we began removing app. 10 cm of topsoil in an E to W direction. Almost immediately a mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3) unexpectedly appeared only few cm below the surface in the NE corner of the square. Due to this discovery we abandoned the previous plan to remove c. 10 cm from E to W, and rather started removing c. 5 cm of the topsoil from W to E. This was done to enable the extent of the mosaic floor to be defined. Shortly after the mosaic floor was found, it became apparent that it was covered by a layer of more compact clayey soil defined as loc. 2. Tracing loc. 2 we learned that its thickness varied greatly, from some 20 cm to in other places being non-‐existent. Where loc. 2 were not traceable, either the mosaic floor or its subsurface construction surface made up by smooth pebbles and mortar (loc. 9) was found. As mentioned, traces of a double-‐row wall with wall packing running in a NE to SW direction (W#1 / loc. 5) was visible on the surface, and both the mosaic floor, pebble surface (loc. 9) and loc. 2 was situated directly N of this wall. Tracing loc. 2 it became apparent that c. 1.50 m N of W#1 a single-‐row wall or outline wall running parallel with it (W#2 / loc. 7) was preserved. N of W#2 we reached a lower level without being able to identify either loc. 2 or the mosaic floor, and
[43]
considering the location of loc. 2 as well as the pattern in which the tesserae in the mosaic floor were laid out, it became evident that W#2 formed the northernmost border both of the mosaic floor, pebble surface (loc. 9) and loc. 2. Both W#2 and loc. 2 started in the E baulk and stopped c. halfway through the square.
Tumble Loc. 4, 6, 16 and 17 Simultaneously we finished removing c. 5 cm of the topsoil (loc. 1) in the entire square. After it became apparent that loc. 2 could not be traced further W than about midway in the square, we started levelling out the square to the level reached here. Except for in the N/NW part of the square numerous tumble stones were found throughout. These were divided into two loci, the tumble N of W#1 being defined as loc. 4 and those S of W#1 as loc. 6. As the earth removed when levelling out the square was treated as part of the topsoil (loc. 1), mistakably both soil and finds found in-‐between these tumble stones were recorded as
belonging to the topsoil rather than loc. 4 or loc. 6. Loc. 4 contained two layers of tumble, both of which seems to be collapse fallen northwards from W#1, as the tumble stones were only found from W#1 and c. 2.50 m to the N of it. The first tumble layer stretched from the E baulk to the W baulk, also being present above and in loc. 2, while the second layer was only found in the W half of the square. Loc. 4 contained 7 architectural elements, most of which were doorjambs. Removing the second tumble layer, a rounded squarish stone with a shallow round indentation, possibly a basin, was found upside-‐down among the tumble (A8488). Unfortunately A8488 was very fragile, resulting in it crumbling into several pieces after removal. After reaching the level on which the second tumble layer had fallen loc. 4 were closed. Loc. 6 covered the entire area S of W#1 and also consisted of two layers of tumble stones. Loc. 6 seems to be collapse of a number of walls and features and the colour of the soil in-‐between the stones varied accordingly. Loc. 6 contained 6 architectural elements, most of which were doorjambs. Removing the second layer of tumble from loc. 6 another double-‐row wall with wall packing (W#4 / loc. 15) were found as well as yet another layer of tumble. Loc. 6 was now closed and the new tumble layer was divided into
Figure 10: GO/10 loc. 4 and loc. 6, facing southeast. First tumble layer.
Figure 11: Stone basin A8488
[44]
loc. 16 and loc. 17. Loc. 16 is situated W of W#4, N of the S baulk, E of the W baulk and S of loc. 13, 14 and 22. Loc. 16 was not excavated this season and the tumble stones have not yet been treated or recorded.
Loc. 17, situated E of W#4, S of W#1, W of the E baulk and N of the S baulk, was partially excavated this season, but as the season was soon coming to an end, we were unable to fully excavate the locus. The locus was levelled out to the lowest level reached, but no tumble stones were recorded or removed this season. Worth noticing is, that the S face of W#1 was apparently plastered. No in situ plaster has been identified, but several
pieces of plaster with an orange surface and impressed simple decorations were found in the soil in the area S of W#1.
The Mosaic Floor, North of Wall # 1 W#2 (loc. 7), W#5 (loc. 18), FE#1 (loc. 3), FE#9 (loc. 31), Loc. 1, 2, 9 After the tumble of loc. 4 were removed the more compact clayey layer found in-‐between W#1 and W#2 (loc. 2) was excavated, exposing the mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3) and, where the floor was not preserved, its subsurface construction surface of smooth pebbles and mortar (loc. 9). The previous assumption that W#2 was an outline wall defining the mosaic floors northern border was confirmed by the pattern of the mosaic; alongside both walls the tesserae were laid out parallel with the walls, while in the middle part they were diagonal. After washing the mosaic it also became evident, that while the vast majority of the tesserae were white, the third parallel line counting from the diagonally laid was red in colour. In the far eastern part the floor is highly damaged.
Figure 13: The mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3) and pebble surface (loc. 9) bordered by Walls # 1 and # 2, washed but dry.
Figure 12: The mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3) and pebble surface (loc. 9) bordered by Walls # 1 and # 2,
wet.
[45]
Still it is clear that here the pattern changes once again as the tesserae changing direction, including the presence of yet another line of red tesserae, indicating that the floor is likely to have ended shortly to the E. The western part of the mosaic floor is not preserved, and here loc. 9 has been exposed. To its W, loc. 9, and thus also the mosaic floor, is bordered by W#5 (loc. 18). The entire floor sloops downwards, the W end being c. 10 cm lower than the E end. Shortly W of the transition between where the mosaic floor is preserved and lost, a drain was discovered in W#1 (FE#9 / loc. 31). As the mosaic floor is not preserved W of this, it is possible that this drain has been a factor as to the extent of damage done to the floor in this part (see below).
The Basin, North of Wall # 1 W#3 (loc. 12), W#5 (loc. 18), W#6 (loc. 19), FE#3 (loc. 24), FE#5 (loc. 26), FE#8 (loc. 29), loc. 10, 11 and 23 While excavating loc. 4, a double-‐row wall (W#3 / loc. 12), also running parallel with W#1 c. 1.50 m to its N, became visible. Despite its location and direction, W#3 is not directly connected to the outline-‐wall of the mosaic floor (W#2). Rather it is connected to W#1 by smaller walls running in-‐between the two, in its E end by W#5 (loc. 18), a small single-‐row wall, and in its W end by W#6 (loc. 19), a small plastered wall containing an inlet/overflow drain (FE#6 / loc. 29). When loc. 4 was closed, the area S of W#3, W of W#5, N of W#1 and E of W#6 was defined as loc. 10, while the area S of W#3, W of W#6, N of W#1 and E of the W baulk was defined as loc. 11. The area N of W#2 and W#3, E of the W baulk and S of the N baulk was defined as loc. 23, but this locus was not excavated this season. As loc. 10 was excavated it soon became evident that the walls surrounding this locus were all plastered. Realising that loc. 10 was in fact the fill of a large basin, the basin was defined as FE#3 (loc. 24). We were able to excavate the entire fill layer (loc. 10), removing c. 10 cm at the time. A few tumble stones were found inside loc. 10 but except for this relatively few finds were uncovered. Some 10-‐20 cm above the bottom of the basin we started sieving as the amount of finds, especially bigger ceramics fragments, bones and tesserae, increased noticeably. The inclination of the mosaic floor, the position of the drain in W#1 (FE#9 / loc. 31) slightly W of where the mosaic floor is no longer preserved, and the amount both of single tesserae and collective pieces of tesserae still glued together found at the bottom of the basin could indicate that possibly some sort of fluid from the drain has washed some of the now lost tesserae downwards into the basin.
Figure 14: North of W#1: Mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3), pebble surface (loc. 9), loc. 10, 11 and 23. South of Wall # 1; Wall #
4 and Second tumble layer of loc. 6.
[46]
As the basin was fully exposed, we discovered that there is a drainage hole (FE#5 / loc. 26) in the bottom SW corner of the basin. The basin is 83 cm deep, measuring from a 9 cm wide ledge situated on its S wall (W#1, N face). All its interior walls are plastered, but only W#6 is plaster on the exterior as well. The plaster is c. 2.5 cm thick, and the plaster covering the interior S wall of the basin is tempered with ceramic fragments, many of which were painted.
Loc. 11, located directly W of the basin and W#6 containing the inlet/overflow drain (FE#8 / loc. 29), is likely somehow to be connected to the basin. Thus, even though the season was soon coming to an end, partially excavating loc. 11 was prioritised and we were able to remove c. 25 cm of soil in this locus. Excavating loc. 11, we were especially looking out for more plaster, which was only found on the W face of W#6. Characterizing the locus was numerous large ceramics fragments, some of which clearly deriving from the same vessels. In the lower layers reached vast amounts of animal bones were found, and in the NE part of the locus small patches of mortar appeared at the level reached.
Figure 15: The basin (FE#3 / loc. 24), Wall # 1, Wall # 3, Wall # 5 and Wall # 6 including inlet-‐/overflow drain (FE#8 / loc. 29)
Figure 17: Profile of interior West wall in basin (FE#3 / loc. 24) including drainage hole (FE#5 / loc. 26) and
inlet-‐/overflow drain (FE#8 / loc. 29)
Figure 16: End of season shot of mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3), pebble surface (loc. 9), basin (FE#3 / loc.
24) and loc. 11
[47]
The Large Building, South of Wall # 1 W#1 (loc. 5), W#4, (loc. 15), W#7 (loc. 20), W#8 (loc. 21), FE#2 (loc. 8), FE#4 (loc. 25), FE#6 (loc. 27), FE#7 (loc. 28), loc. 13, 14, 22 and 30 The assumption that the wall visible on the surface (W#1) defines the northernmost border of the large building in the area S of GO/10 has been confirmed. W#1 is directly joined to a wall in GO/07 by a large corner stone, and to the W, W#1 continues into GO/13 and GO/12, neither of which has yet been excavated. Drawing the plan of W#1, what was visible of the wall on the surface in GO/12 and GO/13 was included on the drawing. S of W#1 more walls and features of this large building have been unearthed as well: Slightly E of the middle of the square another double-‐row wall with wall packing (W#4 / loc. 15) running in an N to S direction was found. This wall seems to be contemporary with W#1, evident by a stone from W#4 being built into W#1. In the S baulk W#4 may butt a wall running in an NE to SW direction in GO/, but this may not be confirmed unless removing the baulk. In the southern part of W#4 a narrow blocked doorway (FE#6 / loc. 27 and FE#7 / loc. 28) was found.
A single-‐row wall running E of W#4 in the far SE corner of the square has been defined as W#8 (loc. 21). Only three stones of this wall are visible and its relation to the surrounding building is thus uncertain at this point. An arch foundation running S from W#1 (FE#2 / loc. 8) slightly W of the middle of the square is the counterpart of an arch foundation in GO/09. Another arch foundation runs E of W#4 (FE#4 / loc. 25), but the counterpart of this have not been found and is likely to be
located in the E baulk. The soil in tumble-‐layer loc. 17 found directly E of this arch is looser and lighter grey in colour than the rest of loc. 17. While most of the soil excavated S of W#1 was stone tumble with earth (loc. 6, 16 and 17), some surface layers were also identified; Loc. 13 was situated S of W#1, W of W#7, N of loc. 16 and E of the W baulk. Loc. 13 was defined by having a light grey colour and very fine dry almost powder-‐like composition. Some smooth pebbles very similar to those found in the pebble and mortar layer below the mosaic floor (loc. 9) were found directly above the locus, and might have been associated with it. These were, however, removed by the workmen without being recorded. Loc. 13 contained very few finds and was only some 5 cm thick, covering a fill layer (loc. 30) and a lower layer of stones possibly connected to W#7.
Figure 18: Southern half of GO/10; Walls and features of the larger building and tumble of loc. 16 and 17
[48]
Loc. 14, a surface layer of yellow clay, was situated S of W#1, W of the arch (FE#2 / loc. 8), N of loc. 16 and E of W#7. This surface layer was found at approximately the same level as loc. 13, but was not excavated this season. Loc. 22 was situated S of W#1, W of W#4, N of loc. 16 and E of the arch (FE#2 / loc. 8). This locus is distinguishable from loc. 16 by containing less large tumble stones but more stones of a smaller size. Also, while loc. 16 is dark grayish brown in colour, loc. 22 is more reddish brown. Loc. 22 was not excavated this season, but some cleaning was undertaken while tracing the transition between loc. 22 and loc. 16.
Finally should be mentioned, that in the far SW part of the square what was at first believed to be a small single-‐row wall was found and defined as W#7 (loc. 20). Later we though discovered that rather than butting W#1, W#7 was a line of only three stones not connected to any surrounding structures on the same level. Excavating loc. 13, more large stones were unearthed below these three stones. The connection between these stones and the nature of the feature they may be parts of may not be determined at this point. Thus the three upper stones remain defined as W#7 while the lower stones have not yet been defined. All the stones have though been included on the drawing of W#7. The fill layer (loc. 30) was not excavated this season
Backfilling At the end of the season, the mosaic floor (FE#1 / loc. 3), the pebble surface (loc. 9), the basin (FE#3 / loc. 24), the drainage hole at the bottom of the basin (FE#5, loc. 26), the overflow/inlet drain in W#6 (FE#8, loc. 29), wall # 5 (loc. 18), wall # 6 (loc. 19), loc. 11, wall # 7 (loc. 20), loc. 14 and loc. 30 were backfilled. Wall # 2 and wall # 3 was partially covered due to the backfilling of their surroundings.
Future Perspectives In general the GO-‐area is highly disturbed, but excavating GO/10 it became clear that this square is somewhat less disturbed than the surrounding excavation units. This is mainly evident by the mosaic floor and pebble surface being relatively well preserved despites their very high level, but also by the height of some of the preserved walls. Thus, though GO/10 was only opened this
Figure 19: Wall # 1, Wall # 7, arch (FE#2 / loc. 8), Wall # 4, Loc. 13, 14, 22 and 16
Figure 20: Wall # 7 and loc. 30
[49]
season, many walls and features were discovered, but much work remains to be done in the square to fully understand their relations. This season several structures which can be linked to the larger building S of W#1 were discovered, but reaching a level closer to that reached in the GO/07 and especially in GO/09 will hopefully help us to better understand the connections between the walls and features found in these squares. Further excavations need to be undertaken in order to determine the nature of the far SW corner of the square, including W#7 and loc. 30. Also the stones found below W #7 needs to be defined. N of W#1, the area in-‐between W#1 and W#2 / W#3 were prioritised this season. It seems likely that the mosaic floor and basin is connected, but their function may not be securely established at this point. Further excavations in loc. 11 should be of interest, as this might provide more clues as to the function and usage of this area. So far, W#3 has been believed to run from where it is butted by W#5 all the way to the W baulk. Whether the stones between where W#3 is butted by W#6 and the W baulk is in fact part of W#3 or rather tumble stones belonging to loc. 4 is though questionable. Further excavations in this area would hopefully help determine this. Due to the level reached by the end of this season, it was decided that no baulks were to be drawn. For the same reason, no wall or feature profiles have been drawn, except for the profiles of the basins interior walls. The tumble stones in both loc. 16 and loc. 17 have not been drawn and their levels have not been taken.
GO/10 Lists
GO/10 Locus List Locus Description Wall # FE # Drawing # Photo #
1 Topsoil. Varies in colour and composition.
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13262-‐13265, 13508-‐13509
2 Compact layer covering the mosaic floor (FE # 1) and pebble surface (loc. 9). Compact silty clay. Yellowish light grey. Almost sterile.
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13339-‐13342, 13358-‐13360
3 Mosaic floor situated in-‐between walls # 1 and # 2, bordered by wall # 5 to the west. Mostly white with some red tesserae. (not excavated) (backfilled)
-‐ 1 2012-‐GO/10-‐1037, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1027, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1028, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1050
13266-‐13273, 13358-‐13365, 13431-‐13435, 13438, 13522-‐13523, 13534-‐13538, 13561, 13866-‐13869,
[50]
13916-‐13931, 12443-‐12445
4 Tumble with earth north of Wall # 1. Medium-‐loose sandy silt. Varying from medium to dark brown.
-‐ -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐965, 2012-‐GO/10-‐966, 2012-‐GO/10-‐995, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1015
13319-‐13323, 13392-‐13393, 13557-‐13560, 13637-‐13654, 12422-‐12425
5 Wall. Double-‐row wall with wall packing and smaller stones running throughout the square in a NE to SW direction. (not excavated)
1 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1024
13866-‐13869, 13891-‐13892, 13896-‐13901
6 Tumble with earth south of Wall # 1. Medium-‐loose sandy silt. Varying from medium brown to dark brownish grey to reddish brown.
-‐ -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐984, 2012-‐GO/10-‐994, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1013
13324-‐13329, 13510-‐13514, 12419-‐12421, 12426-‐12440
7 Outline wall. Single-‐row wall north of wall # 1 and east of wall # 3. Running parallel with wall # 1 from the far NE corner app. halfway through the square. (not excavated)
2 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1037
13866-‐13869, 13891-‐13892, 13896-‐13899
8 Arch in the SW part of the square. Running south of wall # 1, connecting to an arch situated in GO/09. (not excavated)
-‐ 2 2012-‐GO/10-‐1024
13879, 13882-‐13890
[51]
9 Pebble surface with mortar situated in-‐between walls # 1 and # 2, bordered by wall # 5 to the west. Construction surface for the mosaic floor (FE # 1). (not excavated) (backfilled)
-‐ -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1037
13362, 13365, 13431-‐13432, 13436-‐13438, 13522-‐13523, 13561, 13866-‐13869, 13916-‐13918, 13928-‐13931, 12443-‐12445
10 Fill in basin (FE # 3). Loose clayey silt. Medium brown.
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13394-‐13395, 13515-‐13519, 13522-‐13523, 13557-‐13561, 13565-‐13566, 13838-‐13840
11 Soil in-‐between walls # 1 and # 3, west of wall # 6. Medium clayey silt. Reddish brown. (backfilled)
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13520-‐13523, 13560-‐13561, 13866-‐13869, 12443-‐12445
12 Wall. Double-‐row wall north of wall # 1 and west of wall # 2. Running parallel with wall # 1 from about the middle of the square to the west baulk. (not excavated)
3 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1049
13866-‐13869, 13891-‐13892, 13900-‐13901
13 Soil in SW corner, west of wall # 7. Loose sandy almost powder-‐like silt. Light grey.
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13524-‐13525, 13870-‐13879
[52]
14 Soil in-‐between wall # 7 and FE # 2 (arch). Medium-‐compact yellow clay. (not excavated) (backfilled)
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13526-‐13528, 13879-‐13881, 13884
15 Wall. Double-‐row wall with wall packing and smaller stones running south app. from the middle of wall # 1 to the south baulk. (not excavated)
4 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1048
12446-‐12451, 12459-‐12460
16 Tumble with earth west of wall # 4.
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13908-‐13910
17 Tumble with earth east of wall # 4.
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13914-‐13915
18 Wall. Short single-‐row wall running between walls # 1 and # 3, west of loc. 9 (pebble surface) and east of FE # 3 (basin). (not excavated) (backfilled)
5 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1049
13866-‐13869
19 Wall. Short single-‐row wall running between walls # 1 and # 3, west of FE # 3 (basin) and east of loc. 11. (not excavated) (backfilled)
6 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1049
13862-‐13869
20 “Wall”. Row of three worked stones separating loc. 13 and loc. 14. Not connected to any other walls but more stones discovered at a lower level (see drawing). Function unknown. (not excavated) (backfilled)
7 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1060
13870-‐13879
21 Wall. Short single-‐row wall running east from wall # 4. Situated in the far SE corner of the square. (not excavated)
8 -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1062
12461-‐12464
22 Soil in-‐between FE # 2 (arch) and wall # 4. Medium silty clay. Reddish brown. (not excavated)
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13911-‐13913
23 Soil north of Walls # 2 and # 3. Medium sandy silt. Medium brown. (not excavated)
-‐ -‐ -‐ 13893-‐13895
[53]
24 Basin bordered by wall # 2 to the north, wall # 5 to the east, wall # 1 to the south and wall # 6 to the west. (not excavated) (backfilled)
-‐ 3 2012-‐GO/10-‐1049, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1056, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1057, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1058, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1059, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1064
13394-‐13395, 13515-‐13519, 13522-‐13523, 13557-‐13561, 13565-‐13566, 13838-‐13850, 13853-‐13861, 13866-‐13869, 12443-‐12445
25 Arch in the SE part of the square. Running east of wall # 4. (not excavated)
-‐ 4 2012-‐GO/10-‐1048
12465-‐12470
26 Drainage hole in the bottom of the westernmost wall of FE # 3 (basin). (not excavated) (backfilled)
-‐ 5 2012-‐GO/10-‐1049, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1059
13849-‐13852
27 Doorway in wall # 4. Situated in the SE corner of the square. (not excavated)
-‐ 6 2012-‐GO/10-‐1048
12452-‐12458
28 Blocking of doorway in wall # 4. Situated in the SE corner of the square. (not excavated)
-‐ 7 2012-‐GO/10-‐1048
12452-‐12458
29 Inlet/overflow drain in wall # 6, associated with the basin (FE # 3). (not excavated) (backfilled)
-‐ 8 2012-‐GO/10-‐1049, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1059
13838-‐13848, 13849-‐13850, 13862-‐13869, 13866-‐13869, 12443-‐12445
30 Fill layer of wall # 7 and its associated stone construction. Below loc. 13. Large stone and slab inclusions. (not excavated) (backfilled)
-‐ -‐ 2012-‐GO/10-‐1030
13870-‐13879
[54]
31 Drain in wall # 1, slightly east of where wall # 4 is connected to wall # 1. (not excavated)
-‐ 9 2012-‐GO/10-‐1024
13902-‐13907
GO/10 Field Object List
FO # Locus # Description Measured Position CAT # Photo #
1 1 Coin SW 8,15 m NW 2,55 m C.L. 103,79
12118
2 1 Ceramic animal head
Not in situ -‐
3 1 Bead Not in situ 12262
4 1 Metal object Not in situ 12350
5 1 Incised ceramic fragment
Not in situ -‐
6 1 Coin Not in situ 12446
7 1 Coin Not in situ 12447
8 1 Textile “ball” Not in situ 12545
9 1 Metal object Not in situ 12535
10 1 Coin Not in situ 12561
11 1 Coin Not in situ 12565
12 17 Coin NE 7,42 m SE 2,93 m C.L. 103,26 13038 13539
13 23 Coin NW 4,74 m SW 5,83 m C.L. 103,22
12995 13562
GO/10 Architectural Elements A # Locus Description Drawing # Photo #
A8485 4 Doorjamb -‐ 13637-‐13639
A8486 4 Doorjamb -‐ 13640-‐13642
A8487 4 Unknown element with worked semi-‐circle on one side
-‐ 13643-‐13645
A8488 4 Basin 2012-‐GO/10-‐1015
12422-‐12425
[55]
A8489 4 Doorjamb -‐ 13646-‐13648
A8490 4 Doorjamb -‐ 13649-‐13651
A8491 4 Doorjamb -‐ 13652-‐13654
A8558 6 Other. Worked hole on one side and worked cut, possibly to enable fit, on another
-‐ 12419-‐12421
A8559 6 Doorjamb -‐ 12426-‐12428
A8560 6 Doorjamb -‐ 12429-‐12431
A8561 6 Doorjamb -‐ 12432-‐12434
A8562 6 Doorjamb -‐ 12435-‐12437
A8565 6 Doorjamb -‐ 12438-‐12440
GO/10 Wall List Wall # Locus Description Drawing # Photo #
1 5 Double row wall with wall packing and smaller stones running throughout the square in a NE to SW direction.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1024 13866-‐13869, 13891-‐13892, 13896-‐13901
2 7 Outline wall for the mosaic floor (FE # 1). Single-‐row wall north of wall # 1 and east of wall # 3. Running parallel with wall # 1 from the far NE corner app. halfway through the square.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1037 13866-‐13869, 13891-‐13892, 13896-‐13899
3 12 Double-‐row wall north of wall # 1 and west of wall # 2. Running parallel with wall # 1 from about the middle of the square to the west baulk.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1049 13866-‐13869, 13891-‐13892, 13900-‐13901
[56]
4 15 Double-‐row wall with wall packing and smaller stones running south app. from the middle of wall # 1 to the south baulk.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1048 12446-‐12451, 12459-‐12460
5 18 Single-‐row wall running between walls # 1 and # 3, west of loc. 9 (pebble surface) and east of FE # 3 (basin).
2012-‐GO/10-‐1049 13866-‐13869
6 19 Single-‐row wall running between walls # 1 and # 3, west of FE # 3 (basin) and east of loc. 11.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1049 13862-‐13869
7 20 Row of three worked stones separating loc. 13 and loc. 14. Not connected to any other walls but more stones discovered at a lower level (see drawing). Function unknown.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1060 13870-‐13879
8 21 Single-‐row wall running east from wall # 4. Situated in the far SE corner of the square.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1062 12461-‐12464
GO/10 Feature List FE # Locus Description Drawing # Photo #
1 3 Mosaic floor situated in-‐between walls # 1 and # 2, bordered by wall # 5 to the west.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1037, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1027, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1028, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1050
13266-‐13273, 13358-‐13365, 13431-‐13435, 13438, 13522-‐13523, 13534-‐13538, 13561, 13866-‐13869, 13916-‐13931, 12443-‐12445
2 8 Arch in the SW part of the square. Running south of wall # 1, connecting to an arch situated in GO/09.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1024
13879, 13882-‐13890
[57]
3 24 Basin bordered by wall # 2 to the north, wall # 5 to the east, wall # 1 to the south and wall # 6 to the west.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1049, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1056, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1057, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1058, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1059, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1064
13394-‐13395, 13515-‐13519, 13522-‐13523, 13557-‐13561, 13565-‐13566, 13838-‐13850, 13853-‐13861, 13866-‐13869, 12443-‐12445
4 25 Arch in the SE part of the square. Running east of wall # 4.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1048
12465-‐12470
5 26 Drainage hole in the bottom of the westernmost wall of FE # 3 (basin).
2012-‐GO/10-‐1049, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1059
13849-‐13852
6 27 Doorway in wall # 4. Situated in the SE corner of the square.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1048
12452-‐12458
7 28 Blocking of doorway in wall # 4. Situated in the SE corner of the square.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1048
12452-‐12458
8 29 Inlet/overflow drain in wall # 6, associated with the basin (FE # 3).
2012-‐GO/10-‐1049, 2012-‐GO/10-‐1059
13838-‐13848, 13849-‐13850, 13862-‐13869, 13866-‐13869, 12443-‐12445
9 31 Drain in wall # 1, slightly east of where wall # 4 is connected to wall # 1.
2012-‐GO/10-‐1024
13902-‐13907
GO/10 Drawings Drawing # Locus # Wall # FE # Description
2012-‐GO/10-‐965 4 -‐ -‐ Top plan of tumble, eastern half
2012-‐GO/10-‐966 4 -‐ -‐ Top plan of tumble, western half
2012-‐GO/10-‐984 6 -‐ -‐ Top plan of tumble, western half
2012-‐GO/10-‐994 6 -‐ -‐ Top plan of tumble, eastern half
2012-‐GO/10-‐995 4 -‐ -‐ Top plan of tumble, second tumble layer
2012-‐GO/10-‐1013 6 -‐ -‐ Top plan of tumble, second tumble layer
[58]
2012-‐GO/10-‐1015 4 -‐ -‐ Architectural element A8488
2012-‐GO/10/12/13-‐1024
5, 8, 31
1 2,9 Top plan of wall # 1 including connected arch and drain (Including part of wall # 1 visible on the surface in GO/13 (loc. 1, Wall # 1)
2012-‐GO/10-‐1027 3 -‐ 1 Mosaic floor (1:1)
2012-‐GO/10-‐1028 3 -‐ 1 Mosaic floor (1:1)
2012-‐GO/10-‐1037 3, 7, 9 2 1 Top plan of mosaic floor, the pebbly sub-‐surface construction surface and wall # 2
2012-‐GO/10-‐1048 15, 25, 27, 28
4 4, 6, 7
Top plan of Wall # 4 including connected arch, doorway and blocking of doorway
2012-‐GO/10-‐1049 12, 18, 19, 24, 26, 29
3, 5, 6 3, 5, 8
Top plan of basin including overflow/inlet drain, drainage hole and walls # 3, 5 and 6
2012-‐GO/10-‐1050 3 -‐ 1 Mosaic floor (1:1)
2012-‐GO/10-‐1056 24 -‐ 3 Profile of basin, south face
2012-‐GO/10-‐1057 24 -‐ 3 Profile of basin, west face
2012-‐GO/10-‐1058 24 -‐ 3 Profile of basin, north face
2012-‐GO/10-‐1059 24, 26, 29
-‐ 3, 5, 8
Profile of basin, east face, including drainage hole and overflow/inlet drain
2012-‐GO/10-‐1060 20, 30 7 -‐ Top plan of wall #7 and fill-‐layer (loc. 30)
2012-‐GO/10-‐1062 21 8 -‐ Top plan of wall # 8
2012-‐GO/10-‐1064 24 -‐ 3 Plan of basin floor
GO/12: Continuation of Urban Structures to the West (R. Rattenborg) GO/12 forms a continuation of the excavation grid westward from GO/9, and was laid out towards the end of the season in order to properly incorporate wall lines visible in the modern surface into the IJP recording system. The square was not subjected to excavation, and the two field objects found, namely a coin (FO#1) and a copper ring (FO#2) were both surface finds associated with the
[59]
recording of loc. 1 merely for practical purposes. Loc. 1 denotes a double-‐row wall running roughly NNW-‐SSE in the western half of the square, and protruding an app. 30-‐40 cm above the modern surface. The same stretch of wall was recorded already in 2004 (see drawing IJP-‐2004-‐GO/0-‐133). The wall line appears readily associable with the large housing unit exposed in GO/9 & GO/10, forming the western back wall of a series of interconnected rooms.
GO/12 Lists
GO/12 Locus List
Locus Description W# FE# Drawing# 1 Wall running NNW -‐ SSE in centre of square 1 -‐ 2012-‐GO/12-‐1061
GO/12 Field Object List FO# Locus Object description
1 1 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 2 1 Ring (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ
Discussion: Abbasid Housings The structures unearthed in north GO since 2007 by now exhibit a complex set of subunits, indicating a prolonged and dynamic series of structural and spatial alterations spanning the latter half of the 8th century and all of the 9th century. Overall, surfaces currently exposed following the conclusion of excavations most likely belong to GO Phase 3 (see Blanke et al. 2010 p. 320-‐321), dating to the beginning of the 9th century judging from preliminary examination of ceramic evidence. It is beyond the scope of this report to go into a precise description of all units comprised within the structures currently exposed, but some general notions should be made. The current section is concerned with the overall relation of the findings in squares GO/6, GO/7, GO/9, and GO/10, along with the further incorporation of visible structural outlines recorded in GO/12. Though not subjected to excavation this season, components to the overall understanding of the structures exposed found in GO/4 and GO/5 in earlier seasons will also be reviewed in relation to the findings of the 2012 excavations. The building exposed in squares GO/6, GO/7, GO/9, and GO/10, which we will term House B, by now comprises five rooms arranged on the western and northern side of an inner courtyard, as illustrated above. The number of rooms currently visible is merely a result of a series of changes to the original ground plan. For example, the row of rooms bordering the courtyard to the north seems to have been interconnected by two archways in an earlier phase, of which one was later blocked (GO/9.46). The levels presently exposed seem in fact to constitute only the latest phase of general occupation, very reminiscent of earlier findings in GO/4 (Building A). We may here compare the development of the two smaller rooms opening directly onto the inner courtyard in Building B with the two rooms of Building A (GO Phase 3/I, cf. Blanke et al. 2010 p. 320-‐327). In the former case, the two rooms were originally arranged en suite, connected by a very wide arch, which was later blocked with a well-‐made limestone wall. We can observe the same change in Building A. Furthermore, it should be noted that the stratigraphical sequence of these units vary subsequent to the blocking of the archways, which may be indicative of a functional and inter-‐relational change. The cistern (GO/6.20) -‐ and hence probably also the associated water distribution system -‐ seems to have fallen into disrepair at around the same time or not long after these structural alterations took place. Implicitly suggesting a development corresponding with that of GO/4, the
[60]
area which has, till now, formed the basic reference for phasings in all of GO, the courtyard level exposed in GO/9 would belong to GO Phase 3/I, characterised by a subdivision of larger compartments of GO Phase 3/II.
Briefly summarised, this suggestion is derived from the door and archway blockings in GO/9, and the likely related abandonment of the cistern and its associated water system (GO/6.20 & GO/10.24), which appear to have formed an integrated part of the original Building B structure. The subsequent development is characterised by a gradual buildup of production waste (ash), though we have only few hints as to the precise nature of this production. It is here interesting to note that the compartments in Building B went out of use gradually; the paved room in the southwest corner of GO/9 being abandoned first. The ceramic sample retrieved from the surface of this floor in 2010 matches GO/4.38 (above the eastern paved floor of Building A), i.e. GO Phase 3/II quite well, and is followed only by the collapse of the surrounding walls. The northwest room in GO/9, primarily in GO/12, was second, indicated by a clay surface partly associable with the adjoining room on the other side of the doorway in GO/9.6 W1 below the wall collapse. By contrast, the northeast wing of the original Building B structure remained in use for a considerably longer timespan. The smaller compartment created by the blocking of the east archway (the west archway straddles the baulk between GO/9 and GO/12) is characterised by a sequence of ashy layers extending into the west corner of the inner courtyard and overlying the remains of the tabuns (GO/9.60, .61, and .62) belonging to GO Phase 3/I. These sizeable ashy strata are likely relatable to the similar buildup in the east half of Building A (GO/4.20) of GO Phase 2, which was also characterised by compartmentalisation and partial abandonment of earlier, larger structures. The room east of the
Figure 21: Post-‐excavation view of north GO, facing northwest. Large building (House B) with rooms opening onto inner courtyard in upper half of picture. The inner courtyard in turn
is connected to outer open areas between this building and the smaller house (House A) on the laneway junction (lower half of picture). (modified from IJP_D13775)
[61]
blocked archway, also opening onto the inner courtyard of Building B was only partially excavated this season, as most of it is situated within GO/10 to the north, but does not seem to contain a similar ashy deposit. However, the structural collapse that filled this compartment seems not associable with the two rooms in the west wing of the structure, rather it appears to be comprised by limestone blocks from the walls and naturally deposited greyish brown silt, indicating that it may have been in use in GO Phase 2 also. A tentative dating of this overall development, based primarily on the distribution of early turquoise glazed ceramic pieces, would suggest the west wing, at least the southwest room, but probably also the west part of the west room, to have been abandoned following a structural collapse towards the end of the 8th century. Subsequently, the eastern compartments were taken into use again (several limestone blocks were located at the lower level of the subsequent buildups), and remaining in use well into the 9th century. The inner courtyard was partly filled in at this stage also, namely the lower level passage in west GO/6 along the east outline wall of the cistern shaft (GO/6.20). If turning to the use of the outer courtyards, forming the structural link between Buildings B and A (the latter in GO/4), this same development can be partly followed, although the shallowness of the overlying buildup and modern bulldozing has severely disturbed these areas. The inner courtyard may still have been accessed by way of the large doorway located in southwest GO/7 (the only doorway so far exposed in GO utilising a winged door). The stone lining on the outside of this doorway is more likely to be interpreted as a raised step in order to prevent buildup on the exterior surface from slipping into the doorway, than an indication of an intentional blocking. Similar arrangements in front of the two doors in Building A were found in 2008, and can be ascribed to GO Phase 2. The purpose of the eastward wall in GO/7 (GO/.4 W2), extending from the east wall of Building B, and the doorway set in this wall to the right of the entrance to the inner courtyard of Building B, remains elusive. This is mainly due to the disturbed nature of upper surfaces in the area, but also our inability to trace presumed wall lines along the edge of the decumanus to the north, which have been erased by the clearings undertaken in the 20th century. Given the poor location of this eastward wall and the wall line extending from the north corner of Building B towards the decumanus (see the report on GO/8 below) in terms of supporting a roofed superstructure, this area straddling north GO/7 and all of GO/8 and GO/5, is for the time being considered an exterior surface, perhaps for the keeping of animals. Finally, no exterior occupational surface associable with the mosaic floor and related basins in GO/10 were reached this season, and so we are not able to offer any further elaboration on the functional context of these features. It should again be stipulated that the care with which this installation was constructed, along with its alignment and structural relationships, point to the it being a part of the original Building B structure, thus GO Phase 3/II. If reviewing the basin alongside the cistern shaft in the inner courtyard, both features most likely channelled water into the same system. This indicates that the Phase 3/II structure would have had access to substantial water resources, which, supported by future excavations, may help to elucidate the exact use of the structure. If considering Building B and A and adjoining exterior spaces as constituting one functional unit, the scale certainly points to more that just a common urban dwelling.
[62]
GO/11: Urban Spaces Towards the Roman decumanus (S. Jerichau & R. Rattenborg) Square Supervisor: Sara Jerichau (May 23 -‐ June 19), Rune Rattenborg (June 20 -‐ July 19) Students: Patrick Nørskov Pedersen, Trine Brok-‐Jørgensen, Makia Jørgensen, Emil Van Ree, Henriette Kamman, Sofie Schiødt, Claus Roed, and Heidi Rasmussen (May 23 -‐ June 19). Dyveke Bredsdorf, Rasmus Johan Aarslev, Bente Mark, Julie Friis Sørensen, Johnny Westh, Nikoline Tyler, Elyse Meaker, Dilan Cengiz, Anne-‐Christine Schnoor (June 23 -‐ July 19)
Introduction GO/11 is situated in the northwest corner of the areas of GO presently subjected to excavation, on the southern side of the South decumanus. The square borders GO/10 to its south and GO/8 to its east. The northern half of the square is situated on a slope running down to the decumanus, which replaces the northern baulk and defines the border of the square. Two columns are situated in the northern part of the square, on the edge of the decumanus paving. Both of them are more eroded and darker on the upper part, and lighter in colour at the bottom. This indicates that the historical layer of soil once went up to the dark part of the column, but has now been removed, probably due to bulldozing.
Figure 22: Overview of GO/11 (June 18)
[63]
Aim The aim for GO/11 this season was to find a connection between the southern decumanus and the rest of the GO area, but also to get a more adequate view of the whole GO area.
Work progress (May 23 -‐ June 19) (S. Jerichau) GO/11 is a new square that has been opened this season; therefore, there has been a lot of topsoil to remove. The first week we only excavated contaminated layers and found large amounts modern trash, mole holes and large roots. Furthermore there seems to be bulldozing marks in the soil of locus 8, which also indicates contamination. In the far western part of the square on top of locus 3 was situated a modern light installation (locus 5/Feature 1) with a wire connected. We traced the cut of the wire and found that it contained two more wires. Those two are running all the way through the square in an east-‐west direction. We have exposed the wires and removed the light installation and it’s base of topsoil. Three architectural fragments were found in that locus. The wire that was found lowest in the square was surrounded by swaleh sand and had a nice clean cut. It looks like this cut is at the same level as locus 8 –the locus with the bulldozer marks. At the end of the season it was possible to see in the stratigraphy a similarity between the dark layer of soil starting approximately a meter down and the change in colour of the two columns (Feature 2 and 3) in the northern part of the square towards the southern decumanus. This indicates that the contamination started at this level as the columns must have been covered with soil up until the change in colour. A bulldozer must have then removed the soil to make space for the cables. We kept excavating app. 15 cm deep on the edge of the horizontal part of the square, which is the wash layer of the slope (locus 4). We will continue excavating locus 4 in this way throughout the season, to keep separating the contaminated soil on the slope from the other layers on the horizontal part of the square. During the second week we had excavated approximately 50cm further down and were no longer finding signs of contamination in the layers. Contamination stopped after excavating locus 8 and 9, which are both fill layers at approximately same level. We no longer found modern trash, mole holes or large roots with the exception of Locus 4, which we expected to be contaminated all the way down to the southern decumanus. When excavating locus 8 we found an inscribed piece of ceramic (FO#3) and some oil lamp fragments in the same area. We also began finding a large amount of larger bones in the western part of the locus. Some metal slag was found in locus 8 as well, which indicates a connection between this locus and the one in GO/8 (just east of GO/11) where a larger amount of metal slag was found. In comparison the metal from both squares at this level seem to have the same key shape. We also found a weight stone (FO#5) indicating some kind of industry or trade. Though this is quite uncertain, as we have only found that single piece. Locus 13 and 14 were both in good context. Both were approximately at the same level. Locus 13 had a bit more reddish colour than locus 14, but both loci contained more pebbles and larger stones. In locus 13 we continued finding larger amounts of bone and a coin in situ (FO# 6). Locus 14 is situated just next to the eastern baulk at approximately same level as the plateau in GO/8, indicating a possible connection.
[64]
During the last two weeks we exposed more tumble. Among the tumble we exposed a wall (Wall 1/ locus 17), which is running in an EW direction parallel with the southern baulk and the southern decumanus, and seems like it might continue underneath locus 16. It seems like the wall is separating the southern decumanus from the rest of the GO area. It is worth noting that Wall1 and the surrounding tumble (which is the architecture found in GO/11 so far) are situated at a level much lower than the other architecture in the GO area. Perhaps it is more likely to have a connection with the decumanus, as it is much closer to that level.
Just next to Wall 1 we found an intact oil lamp in situ, which will be good to determine the time period of this layer. We don’t believe to have found the surface or floor yet, as there is still much wall packing and tumble surrounding the wall. The tumble layer with wall packing (locus 15) almost covers the entire horizontal part of the square with the exception of locus 14 and 16. Locus 16 is a greyish layer with no stone inclusion, situated just next to the eastern baulk. We have not excavated this locus yet as we did not have much time left and locus 15 was our first priority. The same principal applies for locus 16 as well, even though this locus should be excavated soon to determine the boundaries of Wall 1.
Figure 23: GO/11 loc. 17 (Wall 1)
Figure 24: Complete oil lamp in situ (GO/11, FO#12)
[65]
Work Progress (June 20 -‐ July 19) (R. Rattenborg) Continued work in GO/11 from June 20 -‐ July 19 was aimed at reaching occupational surfaces related to the Roman decumanus, and further clarify the linkage between this main infrastructural node and the areas further south. Following up on the conclusion of the first month of excavation in the square, directed by Sara Jerichau, work was commenced by excavating the remainder of loc. 15, a reddish brown collapse layer with numerous limestone blocks. These stones seem readily relatable to loc. 17 (W1), in particular since a number of stones on the northern side of this wall could be seen to have been partly dislocated. It should be noted, however, that parts of the tumble exposed in the northern part of loc. 15 proximal to the wash layer (loc. 4) and underlying fill in the cutback (loc. 19; see Discussion: Modern intrusions below) could stem from the clearing of the decumanus, since the cut was not always easy to trace, particular in the north centre part of the square. Loc. 16 denoted a platform along the east baulk, left untouched for practical purposes during the end of the first month of excavations. Following excavation of a ten-‐centimetre spit, an underlying reddish brown clayey layer was encountered, corresponding with loc. 15 to the west of it. Having exposed this layer northwards, the layer was excavated as loc. 18. Loc. 15 and 18 can thus be regarded a stratum of collapse from the wall line to its south (loc. 17), further accentuated by their gradual sloping down towards the north away from the wall line. Loc. 14, constituting a greyish brown layer of loose sandy soil with a heavy degree of root activity was closed and excavated as part of loc. 19, a band of a similar matrix spanning the north edge of the square along the decumanus from east to west. Comprising a very loose matrix with extensive plant activity and numerous stone fragments, this locus continued down to the surface of the Roman decumanus lining.
Figure 25: Occupational surface between loc. 17 (W1) and Roman decumanus. Note the threshold in the upper right corner, providing access to the area further south (loc. 20).
[66]
Having removed loc. 15 and 18, along with associated limestone collapse, a rough light greyish yellow clay surface with smaller limestone inclusions was exposed, with a marked convex sloping down towards the decumanus lining. A threshold stone in west loc. 17 (W1) at a level corresponding with the adjacent level of this occupational surface appeared to establish this surface to have provided access to the presumed indoor area south of loc. 17. This area was only sparsely investigated due to the proximity of loc. 17 to the south baulk. An arbitrarily defined locus (loc. 20) was established in order to differentiate findings from those of loc. 15, which denoted the collapse layer north of loc. 17, though loc. 20 and 15 were fully similar in composition. In other words, loc. 20 constituted a small strip spanning the area south of loc. 17, and reaching its maximum width of just over a metre in the west end. The western half of the locus exhibited a gradually increasing amount of ash at lower levels, although no occupational surface was reached in the course of this season. The outdoor surface below loc. 15 continued east below loc. 18, although this latter area also comprised a more reddish brown silty clay matrix (loc. 23) overlying the greyish yellow clay surface (loc. 24). The occupational surface was recorded as loc. 21, being the central two quarters of the area, along with loc. 24 comprising a slightly looser and stonier surface to the east. Due to time constraints, only the western quarter bordering the west baulk was subjected to further excavation by the digging of a small section, reaching from the wall (loc. 17) and associated threshold in the south to the decumanus lining in the north. Initially, this section was excavated as loc. 25 (the hard packed clay surface). A mere 5-‐10 cm below this surface was exposed a line of smaller stones apparently set to terrace the slope. Only the lower step of this terracing, i.e. the part closest to the decumanus lining, was excavated further, encountering another hard packed walking surface of greyish yellow clay, with a good deal of organic discolouration and charcoal flecks. A shallow pit some 30 cm in diameter was traced and the fill excavated (loc. 27), though little was unearthed from this locus, apart from a few bone remains. Bordering this surface to its northwest was a stone channel, extending an app. 50 cm from the west baulk. Though the fill of the channel was clearly part of the fill in the modern cut (loc. 19), the adjacent walking surface abutted the south edge of the channel stone, identifying it as a feature contemporary or older than this surface.
Discussion: Modern intrusions
The Cable Trenches in GO/5, GO/8, and GO/11
Figure 26: Earlier occupational surface (loc. 26) with stone lining. Note the one edge of the channel stone (loc. 31 FE#6) at the far right.
[67]
It should be noted that although the cable trench fill was excavated as a single locus (loc. 6), the trench in fact constitutes two separate phases of activity (see also GO/8 below). An original trench was dug into a stratum of naturally accumulated silt (loc. 8, 9, and 10), seemingly while this layer still constituted an exposed surface, and filled in with Sweilih sand covered by a line of pavers made from concrete and gravel. The naturally deposited silt was subsequently superseded by loc. 3, which are then necessarily of a later 20th century date. As a part of the Jarash Festival activities, beginning in 1981, the light boxes along the crest of the slope towards the South decumanus were installed, necessitating separate cabling. This cable was set in a second trench, generally following the easily traceable pavers capping the earlier trench, upon which the new cable was laid. Dug into loc. 3, this second trench then followed the same line as the earlier trench, but the trench cut deviates slightly from the earlier one, and is filled in with medium size stones and brown silt very similar to that of surrounding loc. 3.
The Clearing of the South Decumanus Lining in GO/5, GO/8, and GO/11 A second important point is the cutback from the decumanus, also clearly visible in the west baulk. Suggestions by H. Barnes would dissociate this intrusion with reconstruction work undertaken by army engineers in the 1970ies, since re-‐erection of the Roman stylobate on the south side of the decumanus seems to have extended no further than the northeast corner of GO/5. An association with the general clearing of the decumanus down to the Roman paving appears more likely, thus of a mid-‐20th century date. This dating is further accentuated by the nature of the cut fill seen in the west baulk, which, though difficult to precisely delineate, can be seen to comprise a considerable wash from the naturally accumulated stratum of greyish brown silt (GO/11 loc. 8, 9, and 10) over the collapse layers, which would imply this layer to have formed the surface contemporary with the making of the cut. The cut created in the course of this clearing is extensive, reaching from the edge of the decumanus lining and more than a meter back behind the line of the south stylobate. Although this cannot be safely established, it furthermore seems warranted to consider the architrave pieces placed on the decumanus sidewalk (GO/11 loc. 29 and 30) as stemming from this clearing, along with the construction of the low retaining walls reaching from the northeast corner of GO/11 and into GO/5.
Figure 27: GO/11 west baulk, facing west. Note in particular the two trench cuts associated with the modern cables (left) and the traces of the cutback from the
decumanus (right).
[68]
Discussion: Alterations of the Urban Layout The absence of structural remains in the upper levels of GO/5, GO/8, and GO/11 offers several interesting points as to our interpretation of the overall urban grid of Late Byzantine and Early Islamic Jarash, in particular the possible abandonment of the Roman orthogonal grid, embodied by the cardo and the two decumani otherwise regarded the primary infrastructural nodes of movement throughout most of the city’s known history. Offering a general overview, we can discern four distinct phases, the first being the very recently deposited stratum of bulldozed material (GO/11.3), superseding a layer of naturally accumulated brown silt (GO/11.8 & .9). Given the presence of the earliest cable trench, which was dug into the surface of the latter layer, this must have formed an exposed surface earlier in the 20th century. Traces of extensive trash deposits, comprising a greyish silty sand matrix with numerous stone inclusions and cultural remains, particularly ceramic fragments and bones (GO/11.13) were found below this layer all along the decumanus, and could offer a speculative parallel to trash deposits encountered in GO/5 in 2007 and 2009. Accumulated silt and underlying trash deposits are here regarded as the second phase. Preliminary inspection of finds associated with the walking surface below the structural collapse (GO/11.15) would suggest this surface to be Late Byzantine (late 7th century) in date, which would place aforementioned trash deposits in the Ummayad period (early 8th century), roughly matching the dating of similar deposits in GO/5. GO/11.15 constituting a third phase, and the underlying occupational surface a fourth, the most interesting point to make here is that the Late Byzantine phase (below loc. 15) is the only one to maintain the urban grid defined by the decumanus. The line of GO/11.17 (W1) continuing into GO/8 and GO/5 is not reemployed in later phases, and in general, the area opening onto the decumanus from the northern border of GO/10, GO/7, and GO/5 seems to have been void of structures from the early 8th century onwards until possibly the 9th century. We should here of course note the walls (GO/8.13 (W1) and .19 (FE#1) running north towards the decumanus, from the northeast corner of the large structure found in GO/6, GO/7, GO/9, and GO/10, but it should be stressed that this wall most likely belongs to the later Abbasid phase (late 8th -‐ early 9th century), and does not seem indicative of a use of the decumanus similar to that found in the Late Byzantine level (GO/11.21 & 26). Though it is evident that the decumanus was still used as a thoroughfare, also at the time of the first excavations in the 20th century, the general reorientation sketched above may point to the appearance of another very substantial infrastructural axis, running west-‐southwest from the South tetrakonia.
GO/11: Lists
GO/11: Locus List Locus Description W# FE# Drawing#
1 Cleaning locus on plateau, south half of square -‐ -‐ -‐ 2 Cleaning locus on slope, north half of square -‐ -‐ -‐ 3 Greyish brown sandy silt (topsoil), south half of square -‐ -‐ -‐
4 Greyish brown sandy silt, comprising wash layer on slope (topsoil) -‐ -‐ -‐
5 Lighting box from the 1980ies on modern surface, west part of square -‐ 1 -‐
6 Brown silty sand fill in cable trench traversing south part of square from west to east -‐ -‐ -‐
7 Greyish brown sandy silt (topsoil) below loc. 5 (same as loc. -‐
[69]
3) 8 Dark brown silt below loc. 3, south half of square -‐
9 Light brown silt below loc. 3 and 5, southwest part of square -‐
10 Brown silt below loc. 3 along south edge of square -‐ 11 Standing column on decumanus lining 2 2012-‐GO/11-‐924 12 Standing column on decumanus lining 3 2012-‐GO/11-‐924
13 Light brown clayey silt below loc. 8, 9, and 10, south part of square -‐
14 Greyish brown layer in northeast corner of square below loc. 13, towards slope -‐
15 Reddish brown stony silt in south part of square, below loc. 13 -‐
16 Reddish brown stony silt in southeast part of square, below loc. 13 -‐
17 Double-‐row wall running east -‐ west in south part of square 1 2012-‐GO/11-‐914
18 Light reddish brown silty clay (same as loc. 15) in southeast part of square -‐
19 Greyish brown sandy silt, wash layer along decumanus edge -‐
20 Slight reddish brown silty clay between loc. 17 and south baulk -‐
21 Occupational surface between loc. 17 (W1) and decumanus (not excavated) -‐
22 Band of greyish brown sandy silt overlying loc. 21 towards decumanus -‐
23 Reddish brown silty clay w/ stones between loc. 17 (W1) and decumanus, east part of square -‐
24 Light greyish yellow clay (presumed occupational surface) below loc. 23 (not excavated) -‐
25
Occupational surface of light greyish yellow clay in section cut, west part of square between loc. 17 (W1) and decumanus -‐
26
Occupational surface of light greyish yellow clay with reddish brown and ashy grey patches in section cut, below loc. 25 north of stone lining, west part of square between loc. 17 (W1) and decumanus -‐
27 Whitish grey clayey fill in shallow pit in loc. 26 -‐
28 Limestone bedrock forming part of decumanus sidewalk lining, northwest edge of square -‐
29 Architrave fragment on decumanus sidewalk lining, between loc. 11 and loc. 12 4 2012-‐GO/11-‐924
30 Architrave fragment on decumanus sidewalk lining, east of loc. 12 5 2012-‐GO/11-‐924
31 Stone channel lining extending from west baulk on decumanus sidewalk lining, south of loc. 11 6
[70]
GO/11: Field Object List FO# Locus Object description Cat#
1 1 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 10961 2 3 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 6.72 m SE 5.69 C.L. 103.48 10992 3 8 Inscribed ceramic sherd -‐ not in situ 11135 4 8 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 11133 5 8 Weight stone -‐ 6 13 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 6.02 m SE 7.41 C.L. 102.99 11220 7 13 Worked stone -‐ 8 13 Metal nail 11492 9 15 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 8.05 m SE 2.20 C.L. 102.58 11767 10 15 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 4.22 m SE: 7.72 C.L. 102.44 11806 11 15 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 4.05 m SE: 7.59 C.L. 102.58 11807 12 15 Oil lamp SW: 4.14 SE: 5.81 C.L. 102.53 -‐ 13 15 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 4.90 SE: 8.49 m C.L. 102.23 12255 14 15 Bead? -‐ not in situ -‐ 15 20 Oil lamp -‐ not in situ -‐ 16 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 12688 17 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 12921 18 19 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 5.19 SE: 10.12 m C.L. 101.80 12917 19 20 Coin (copper alloy) SW: 3.45 m SE: 6.83 m C.L. 102.04 13195 20 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13196 21 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13197 22 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13198 23 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13199 24 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13200 25 20 Metal band (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13191 26 26 Bone bracelet fragment -‐ not in situ 13192 27 20 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13201 28 26 Coin (copper alloy) -‐ not in situ 13202
GO/11: Feature List FE# Description Locus Drawing
1 Lighting box from 1980ies 5 -‐ 2 Standing column on decumanus stylobate 11 2012-‐GO/6-‐924 3 Standing column on decumanus stylobate 12 2012-‐GO/6-‐924
4 Architrave on decumanus sidewalk lining, between loc. 11 and loc. 12 29 2012-‐GO/6-‐924
5 Architrave fragment on decumanus sidewalk lining, east of loc. 12 30 2012-‐GO/6-‐924
6 Stone channel lining extending from west baulk on decumanus sidewalk lining, south of loc. 11 31 -‐
[71]
GO/11: Wall List Wall# Description Locus Drawing
1 Double-‐row wall running east -‐ west in south part of square. Made from cut limestone with terra rossa packing
17 2012-‐GO/914
GO/11: Architectural Elements
A# Description Locus Drawing A7556 Ornamented stone 0 2012-‐GO/11-‐908 A7566 Doorjamb 15 -‐ A7654 Doorjamb 15 -‐ A7655 Doorjamb 15 -‐ A7656 Doorjamb 15 -‐ A7657 Unknown 15 -‐ A7658 Window archstone 15 -‐ A7659 Cornice 15 -‐ A7660 Doorjamb 15 -‐ A8225 Corinthian capital 19 -‐ A8523 Unknown 15 -‐ A8524 Doorjamb 19 -‐ A8525 Drain stone 19 -‐
GO/11: Drawings
Drawing # Loci Wall # Feature # Description
2012-‐GO/11-‐908 -‐ -‐ -‐ A7556 2012-‐GO/11-‐914 17 1 -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Wall#1 2012-‐GO/11-‐915 15 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Tumble 2012-‐GO/11-‐924 29, 30, 31 -‐ 4, 5, 6 1:20 Section -‐ Features on decumanus 2012-‐GO/11-‐932 15 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Tumble 2012-‐GO/11-‐941 -‐ -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section -‐ W baulk E face 2012-‐GO/11-‐961 18 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section -‐ E baulk W face 2012-‐GO/11-‐969 4, 15 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Tumble 2012-‐GO/11-‐993 15. 19 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Tumble 2012-‐GO/11-‐1029 17 1 -‐ 1:20 Plan -‐ Wall#1 2012-‐GO/11-‐1051 -‐ -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section -‐ W baulk E face 2012-‐GO/11-‐1093 -‐ -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section -‐ S baulk N face
[72]
GO/8 (D. Kannegaard Kvist & A. Ravn Weinrich) Supervisor: Ditte Kannegaard Kvist (May 23 -‐ June 19), Rune Rattenborg (June 20 -‐ June 30), Amalie Ravn Weinrich (July 1 -‐ July 19) Students: Martin Krejsager Bjørnskov, Pia Holme Thomassen, Sofie Schiødt, Sofie Andersson, Johannes Kristoffersen, Nanette Askholm Bülow, Morten Bjerregaard, Makia Jørgensen (May 23 -‐ June 19). Elyse Nightingale Meaker, Mark Sjöberg, Sofie Kilde, Salwa Amzourou, Ziff Jonker, Martin T. Jensen, Amalia Grajeda, Dyveke Bredsdorff, Bodil Lundin (June 21 -‐ July 19)
Introduction GO/8 is a previously unexcavated square. The GO area is located to the west of the mosque (area MO), and GO/8 is flanked directly to the west by GO/5, to the east by GO/11 and to the south by GO/7. The square is cut to the north by the southern decumanus. Because of this, the actual size of the GO/8 square is slightly less than the usual 10x10 metres, measuring 10 metres east-‐west and c. 6,5 metres north-‐south. Likewise, there is no northern baulk. The square consists of a flat surface to the south, and a sloped surface to the north, leading down to the southern decumanus.
Work progress (May 23 -‐ June 19) (D. Kannegaard Kvist) Prior to excavation, two cleaning loci were opened -‐ locus 1 on the flat surface, locus 2 on the sloped surface -‐ in order to clear the surface of the square for contamination, loose soil, debris and weeds. Whilst the flat surface was a firm walking surface, the sloped surface consisted of loose soil having been pushed over the edge by modern bulldozing activity and slope wash caused by natural erosion. During the cleaning of locus 2, a copper pin (field object 1) with a flattened, rounded head possibly used for kohl was found in the western baulk. After cleaning, the line between the firm, flat surface and the loose soil of the slope was clearly visible. The flat surface was assigned locus number 3, the sloped surface locus 4. Different strategies for undertaking the removal of the loose soil from the slope were considered, however, it was chosen to remove locus 4 in horizontal layers alongside excavation on the flat surface. For this reason, locus 4 was kept open for the entire season. Layers of locus 4 were removed alongside locus 3, 5, 8, 11, 18, 21 and 24. Locus 3 was a light greyish brown layer of soil containing some modern contamination, specifically sweileh sand, a fine, red sand made of grounded sandstone. A coin (field object 2) was found in situ in the eastern end of the locus. After taking off approximately 15 cm. of soil, two walls (locus 13, wall 1 and locus 14, wall 2) also started to appear in the western end. The soil had changed from light and dry to a darker and moister texture. Therefore, locus 3 was closed and locus 5 was opened beneath it. 30 cm. of soil was stripped from locus 5. As in locus 3, small patches of sweileh sand were found, mainly in the south-‐western corner of the square. Beneath the sand, a row of boulders were found, running east-‐west into the western baulk. These lined up with a similar row of boulders found in GO/11. Excavation in GO/11 had already progressed to a lower level, and as the boulders had been used to cover up a modern cable grave, it was assumed that the same cable grave would extend into GO/8. Between locus 13, wall 1 (a wall partially encased in the western baulk running north-‐south) and locus 14, wall 2 (a wall butting wall 1 and running east-‐west) the soil had changed from a dark greyish brown sandy silt to a light yellowish grey silty clay. This soil composition is similar to walking surfaces found in other rooms, however, this would mean that the walking surface would have been on the same level as the top of the two walls, and not at the bottom of the walls. A similar
[73]
structure was found on the same level in the adjoining square, GO/5, in 2007. The feature was termed 'platform' (Damgaard 2008, p. 72), though its exact purpose is unknown. As locus 5 was closed, the boulders of the suspected cable grave were given locus number 6, the yellowish grey fill between wall 1 and 2 became locus 7 and the rest of the flat surface of the square became locus 8. A third wall also appeared -‐ locus 15, wall 3 -‐ butting wall 1 at its northern end, and running east-‐west like wall 2. Wall 3 was lower set than walls 1 and 2, and was composed of different stones than the other two walls. This could have been an earlier stone feature of which the rest has been destroyed. As the boulders of locus 6 were removed, the first cable emerged, lying on top of modern paving stones. The paving stones became locus 9. Underneath locus 9 was a thick layer of sweileh sand containing the second cable, known as locus 12. Because of the deposited sweileh sand, the cuts for the upper and lower cable grave were easily distinguishable, and these were assigned locus number 22 and 23. The cables themselves extended from the eastern baulk of GO/11 into the western baulk of GO/8 and again into the southern baulk. Locus 7 further confirmed that the walking surface of the fill in between wall 1 and 2 may have been at the top of the walls, as this locus was a massive fill with very few finds; a few bones and ceramic sherds as well as a small bead. A stone that had probably tumbled from wall 2 was also found in locus 7. After c. 10 cm. of fill had been removed, a wall started to appear just beneath wall 1. Therefore, locus 7 was closed and redefined as locus 10. Locus 10 consisted of the same yellowish gray silty clay fill as locus 7. One coin (field object 3) was found. After excavating c. 25 cm., the bottom of walls 1 and 2 had been reached, and the soil had changed into the same greyish brown as the rest of the square. No walking surface was found. The soil of locus 8 had changed to a darker greyish brown than previous layers, and finds were very abundant, especially pottery sherds and animal bones. As roughly half a metre of soil had been stripped off, this locus was arbitrarily closed due to the large amounts of finds extracted and earth removed. Beneath it, locus 11 was opened. Like locus 8, locus 11 was a dark greyish brown homogeneous fill containing large quantities of bones and ceramics. Two coins were uncovered, one (field object 4) close to the eastern end of wall 2, and one (field object 5) in the eastern end of the locus. Both coins still had bits of metal attached to them from the minting process, suggesting that perhaps these were discarded coins. Small iron and copper fragments and large lumps of industrial byproduct were also found. As c. 50 centimetres of soil had been removed, locus 11 was arbitrarily closed. Before opening a new locus, walls 1 and 2 were torn down in order to fully expose the wall below wall 1, upon which it was directly built. The lower wall was thicker than the previous three, having been built as a rectangle made of large cut stones encasing smaller stones and terra rossa, a dark red clay packing. Because this structure was different to the other three, it was decided that it would be given a feature number instead of a wall number, thus becoming locus 19, feature 1. After exposing feature 1, locus 18 was undertaken. Again, like locus 8 and 11, this massive, homogeneous fill was littered with bones and ceramics. Iron and copper objects and associated industrial byproducts were, however, not as plentiful as in previous layers. After removing c. 15 centeimetres, a layer of tumble stones was exposed in the southern end of the square. Locus 18 was closed, and the tumble was given locus 20, and a minor levelling of the rest of the flat surface was carried out under locus 21. A coin and a worked bone -‐ possibly a needle or clothespin -‐ was found. At the end of the season, locus 4, 19, 20 and 24 were still open for excavation. The large unstratified layer of pottery sherds, animal bones and metals that comprised locus 8, 11
[74]
and 18 bears a resemblance to a similar fill excavated in neighbouring square GO/5 in 2007 (Damgaard 2008) and 2010 (Rattenborg 2010).
Work Progress (June 20 -‐ July 19) (A. Ravn Weinrich) When the first month of the 2012 excavation season came to an end, a great amount of soil had been removed but only few stones and structures had been located within GO/8. Among the structures was a platform partly hidden by the baulk dividing GO/8 and GO/11. Locus 20, located in the southern part of the square, east of the platform, contained several stone tumble and wall packing. The soil was of a reddish colour and among finds found in the locus were 14 coins (F.O. #16-‐20, 34-‐37, 39-‐40, 42, 44-‐45). Furthermore, three pearls were found, not in situ (F.O. #38, 41, 43) along with 4 architectural elements (A8320, A8321, A8327 and A8328). Locus 21, 22 and 23 were all closed during the first month of excavations, however, locus 24 remained open. It was located in the eastern part of the square, running from the decumanus to the southern baulk and from locus 20 to the eastern baulk. The fill soil contained a cobber object (F.O. #8) and a great amount of large animal bones. After the excavation of the locus, a more yellowish clayey layer was reached and locus 24 was closed while locus 25 was opened. The hard packed clay surface ran from west to east in the square and was slightly contaminated by mole rats. A coin was found within the locus (F.O. #21). Locus 26 was a relatively small sized locus and was located in the southwest corner of the square. The main reason for opening and excavating the locus was to excavate the cable occupying the corner and to define the relationship between the cable and the layers of soil. The small greyish brown locus was quickly excavated and no finds were found within. Loci 27 and 28 were very similar in type. They were both opened with the purpose to taking down the baulk between GO/8 and GO/11 by stratigraphy. Locus 27 was located in the southern part of the baulk and locus 28 was located in the northern part. Both were excavated until a change in soil and compactness appeared. Furthermore, locus 28 contained three coins, not in situ (F.O. #10, 11, 12). After the excavation of the modern trash deposit and the bulldozing activity (locus 4) in the first season, a change of soil and compactness appeared underneath. The locus was opened as locus 29, situated on the northern slope. The light brown clayey silt was still highly contaminated and finds of modern trash, bottles and batteries dominated the soil. However, the locus did too contain two coins (F.O. # 14, 15) and an architectural element (A8522). It seemed like the contaminated soil would have continued down reaching the decumanus, however, due to the end of the season the locus was not fully excavated. Loci 30 to 35 were all located on the western baulk. Locus 30 and 31 were two very small sized loci, located next to each other in the extreme southern part of the baulk. The only difference between the two loci was the colour of the soil. After excavating the loci, locus 32 appeared. The locus was three stones of modern time, placed in the ground due to protect the modern cable. The stones where removed and the locus was closed. Locus 33 was opened because of the Sweiley sand placed underneath the three stones. The sand contained no artifacts and was fully excavated and thereafter closed. After excavating loci 30, 31, 32 and 33 all occupying the southern part of the baulk, two new loci appeared. Located in the southern area of the baulk, locus 34 was located. In the northern part of the baulk locus 35 was to be found. After excavating both of the loci, a new stone layer belonging to the platform was reached throughout the entire eastern area of the baulk. The paving soil around the stones were excavated and all the stones belonging to the platform where removed after fully recording. Loci 24 and 35 where thereafter closed.
[75]
When locus 25 was excavated a new locus was reached. This locus was locus 36, located under locus 25, running from the western baulk towards the eastern baulk and all the way down to locus 29. Locus 36 was a hard packed greyish surface and many field objects were located within. 7 coins (F.O. # 13, 22-‐24, 29, 31-‐32), 4 metal rings, some decorated (F.O. # 25-‐28) and 2 metal pins (F.O. # 30, 33) were all found in the locus. During the excavation of GO/8, not many stones and structures have been found. Only few architectural elements were recovered in locus 20 and 29. The platform found in some of the uppermost layers have a yet unknown purpose and as the excavation season came to an end, no walls or floors have been located. However, the few architectural elements recorded in the square have been of huge sizes and some of the largest architectural elements ever found within the GO area. The reddish soil dominating the southern part of the square indicates that some structures have been present but may have collapsed later on. Furthermore, the large architectural elements have all been found in the same area as the reddish soil. The excavation work in GO/8 had two focus points. The main purpose of excavating the square was to gain knowledge and a better idea of the connection between the decumanus and the rest of the GO area. Therefore, excavation of the large locus 36 was of high priority. However, to be able to establish continuity between GO/8 and GO/11 the baulk dividing the two squares needed to be excavated as well. After removing the platform occupying the eastern part of the baulk, loci 37 and 38 were opened. Locus 37 was situated in the southern part of the baulk and locus 38 in the northern part. Locus 37 was a compacted light clayey soil and contained a metal hook (F.O. #46). The locus was excavated until several tumble stones appeared and the soil colour and compactness changed. Locus 38, occupying the northern area of the baulk, contained no field objects but a great amount of ceramic and animal bones. The dark brown soil was excavated until a change in the soil colour appeared. During the excavation of locus 37 and 38, the slope occupying the northern area of the baulk was given the locus number 39. It was a small sized, highly contaminated wash layer similar to locus 4. No finds was located in the locus and it was quickly excavated down to the clayey surface layer as found in locus 36. After the stone tumble was found under locus 37 a new locus (locus 41) was opened and the soil between the stones was excavated. The small sized locus contained a great amount of field objects. One metal nail (F.O. # 54) and 21 coins (F.O. # 48-‐53, 55-‐69) was found in the soil and most of the coins were placed next to each other or above each other. After excavating the reddish soil between the stones a light clayey surface layer similar to the one found in locus 36 was reached and the locus was closed. Locus 40 was located underneath locus 38 and was opened due to a change in the compactness of the soil. The locus contained no field objects and was excavated until the same clayey surface layer found underneath locus 41 was reached. Further excavation in GO/8 In the beginning of the first excavation season in 2012 GO/8 was a newly opened square. Half of the square was situated on a slope containing wash layers northwards to the decumanus. The other southern half of the square was located horizontally. The aim of the excavation of GO/8 was to establish continuity between the decumanus and the GO area and too excavate possible structures located next to the decumanus. The two months of excavation work in the square have revealed only one structure, a platform located in some of the most upper layers. Furthermore, large architectural elements and doorways have been found in the southern part of GO/8. The artifacts dominating the square are large animal bones, which have been worked, a huge amount of ceramic pieces but also a great amount of garbage and modern trash in the loci located next to the
[76]
decumanus. Bulldozer activity has been great in this part of the square and no preserved structures have so far been recovered. However, the goal was originally to reach the same level as the decumanus. This has not been fully possible and further excavation of the soil may in fact reveal early buildings or structures. Therefore, further excavation of GO/8 would be of interest and in fact necessarily to draw a final conclusion of the slope area south of the decumanus and the connection between the street and the rest of the GO area.
GO/8 Lists
GO/8: Locus List Locus Description W# FE# Drawing#
1 Cleaning locus, south half of square 2 Cleaning locus, slope in north of square 3 Light greyish brown topsoil 4 Wash on slope 5 Brown topsoil below lco. 3 6 Fill w/ boulders in upper cable trench 7 Yellow clayey silt between loc. 13 and 14 8 Dark greyish brown in E 2/3 of square 9 Concrete pavers in cable trench
10 Yellow clayey silt between loc. 13 & 14 (same as 7) 11 Dark greyish brown fill (same as 8) 12 Red sand (Sweileh) in lower cable trench 13 Wall running N-‐S along the W baulk 1 2012-‐GO/8-‐947 14 Wall running E-‐W, butting south end of W1 2 2012-‐GO/8-‐949 15 Wall running E-‐W butting north end of W2 3 2012-‐GO/8-‐950 16 Fill below W2 17 Fill between W1 and FE1 18 Fill on south surface
19 Rectangular stone lining w/ reddish clay packing (terra rossa) 1
2012-‐GO/8-‐912, 2012-‐GO/8-‐913, 2012-‐GO/8-‐1004
20 Reddish brown clayey silt and limestone blocks (collapse) 21 Fill on north side of flat surface (slope) 22 Cut of second cable trench 23 Cut of first cable trench 24 Light brown clayey silt with stone inclusions below loc. 21 25 Hard packed light greyish yellow clayey silt below loc. 24 26 Greyish brown silt above loc. 27 27 Greyish brown silt below loc. 26 28 Light greyish brown sandy silt below loc. 26 29 Dark brown loose silt with stone inclusions (modern trash) 30 Dark brown silt w/ stone inclusions above loc. 32 & 33 31 Yellowish brown silt below loc. 28 32 Concrete pavers in cable trench below loc. 30
[77]
33 Red sand (Sweileh) below loc. 32 34 Light brown clayey sand below loc. 32 35 Dark brown clayey silt below loc. 19 36 Hard packed surface of light clayey silt below loc. 20 and 25 37 Light brown greyish silt below loc. 34 38 Dark brown yellowish silt below loc. 35 39 Dark brown silt on slope (modern trash deposit) 40 Light brown clayey silt below loc. 38 41 Reddish light brown clayey silt below loc. 37
GO/8: Field Object List FO# Locus Object description Cat#
1 2 Copper pin 2 3 Coin 3 10 Coin 4 11 Coin 5 11 Coin 6 21 Coin 7 21 Worked bone, possibly a needle 8 4 Coin. Not in situ 9 4 Coin. Not in situ 10 28 Coin. Not in situ 11 28 Coin. Not in situ 12 28 Coin. Not in situ 13 36 Coin. Not in situ 14 29 Coin. In situ 15 29 Coin. In situ 16 20 Coin. In situ 17 20 Coin. In situ 18 20 Coin. In situ 19 20 Coin. In situ 20 20 Coin. In situ 21 25 Coin. Not in situ 22 36 Coin. Not in situ 23 36 Coin. Not in situ 24 36 Coin. Not in situ 25 36 Metal ring with decoration. Not in situ. 26 36 Metal ring with decoration. Not in situ. 27 36 Metal ring. Not in situ. 28 36 Half piece of a metal ring. Not in situ. 29 36 Coin. Not in situ 30 36 Metal pin. Not in situ. 31 36 Coin. In situ
[78]
32 36 Coin. Not in situ 33 36 Metal pin. Not in situ. 34 20 Coin. Not in situ 35 20 Coin. Not in situ 36 20 Coin. Not in situ 37 20 Coin. Not in situ 38 20 Pearl. Not in situ. 39 20 Coin. In situ 40 20 Coin. Not in situ 41 20 Pearl. Not in situ. 42 20 Coin. Not in situ 43 20 Bead. Not in situ. 44 20 Coin. In situ 45 20 Coin. In situ 46 37 Metal hook. Not in situ. 47 41 Stamp seal. Not in situ. 48 41 Coin. Not in situ 49 41 Coin. In situ 50 41 Coin. In situ 51 41 Coin. In situ 52 41 Coin. In situ 53 41 Coin. In situ 54 41 Metal nail. Not in situ. 55 41 Coin. Not in situ 56 41 Coin. Not in situ 57 41 Coin. Not in situ 58 41 Coin. Not in situ 59 41 Coin. Not in situ 60 41 Coin. Not in situ 61 41 Coin. Not in situ 62 41 Coin. Not in situ 63 41 Coin. Not in situ 64 41 Coin. Not in situ 65 41 Coin. Not in situ 66 41 Coin. Not in situ 67 41 Coin. Not in situ 68 41 Coin. Not in situ 69 41 Coin. Not in situ
GO/8: Feature List FE# Description Locus Drawing
1 Rectangular platform-‐like structure made of a stone lining with reddish clay packing (terra rossa) 19
2012-‐GO/8-‐912, 2012-‐GO/8-‐913, 2012-‐GO/8-‐1004
[79]
GO/8: Wall List Wall# Description Locus Drawing
1 Wall running N-‐S along the W baulk being butted by W2 and W3 13 2012-‐GO/8-‐947
2 Wall running E-‐W, butting the visible south end of W1 14 2012-‐GO/8-‐949 3 Wall running E-‐W, butting the north end of W1 15 2012-‐GO/8-‐950
GO/8: Architectural Elements A# Description Locus Drawing
A7557 Rectangular cut stone with depression, possibly tumbled from loc. 14 (W2) 7 -‐
A7558 Half of square stone with depression, used in W2 14 -‐ A7559 Half of square stone with depression, used in W2 14 -‐ A8320 Doorjamb 20 -‐ A8321 Stone w/ hole on one side 20 -‐ A8522 Stone w/ hole on one side 29 -‐ A8526 Unknown 20 -‐ A8527 Doorjamb 20 -‐ A8528 Doorjamb 20 -‐ A8529 Unknown 20 -‐ A8530 Unknown 20 -‐ A8531 Unknown 20 -‐ A8532 Unknown 20 -‐
GO/8: Drawings List
Drawing # Loci Wall # Feature # Description 2012-‐GO/8-‐912 19 -‐ 1 1:20 Section of feature S face 2012-‐GO/8-‐913 19 -‐ 1 1:20 Plan of feature 2012-‐GO/8-‐937 20 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan of tumble 2012-‐GO/8-‐946 14 2 -‐ 1:20 Plan drawing -‐ Wall 2 2012-‐GO/8-‐947 13 1 -‐ 1:20 Plan drawing -‐ Wall 1 2012-‐GO/8-‐949 15 3 -‐ 1:20 Plan drawing -‐ Wall 3 2012-‐GO/8-‐950 15 3 -‐ 1:20 Section of Wall 3 N face 2012-‐GO/8-‐990 20 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan of tumble 2012-‐GO/8-‐991 20 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan of tumble 2012-‐GO/8-‐999 29 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan of tumble 2012-‐GO/8-‐1004 19 -‐ 1 1:20 Plan of feature 2012-‐GO/8-‐1016 -‐ -‐ A7559 2012-‐GO/8-‐1017 -‐ -‐ A7557 2012-‐GO/8-‐1018 -‐ -‐ A7558 2012-‐GO/8-‐1026 20 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan of tumble 2012-‐GO/8-‐1032 37 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan of tumble 2012-‐GO/8-‐1033 41 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Plan of tumble 2012-‐GO/8-‐1035 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section of decumanus lining N face
[80]
2012-‐GO/8-‐1092 -‐ -‐ 1:20 Section of S baulk N face
GO/5 Ext. (M. Brøndgaard Jensen) Supervisor: Marie Brøndgaard Jensen Students: Peter Benjamin Halkier, Teresa Stenvig Jensen, Johnny Westh, Amalia Grajeda, Dilan Cengiz, Mark Emil Sjöberg, Rasmus Johan Aarslev, Sofie Schiødt, Julie Wikke Andreasen.
Aim The GO/5 Extension was opened in 2010, and designates a northward extension of GO/5. Though referred to as GO/5 Extension, it should be noted that the area, for all purposes of recording, is a part of the GO/5. It is North of GO/5 proper and East of GO/8 and finally South of the South decumanus. GO/5 had left the GO area with little clarification of its use and the extension was intended as a means to investigate that. Another aim was to investigate the relationship between the GO area and the decumanus to examine its use in the Early Islamic settlement in Jerash. This season GO/8 and GO/11 West of the GO/5 extension, also facing the South decumanus were excavated, too. GO/8 and GO/11 have been excavated this season, yet had not been in the plan back in 2010.
Work Progress (June 23 -‐ July 19) The corner peck in SE corner is no longer in place and a regular nail is put to borderline the baulk, the point of which was plotted into the excavation grid. This point has been used for triangulations of field objects. Therefore, the “SW” referred to in the field object list is the actual South-‐Western corner peck whereas the “SE” referred to in the same list is a regular nail in the South-‐Eastern corner of the GO/5 Extension. No architectural element or feature lists are provided for this report as neither was found this season. Two column bases were revealed beneath locus 59 by the South decumanus, yet remain unexcavated and will get feature numbers when and if GO/5 Extension is reopened. Locus 53 was opened in order to clean GO/5 and the GO/5 Extension. Field object 93, which was a coin, was found on the edge of the stylobate, although not in situ. Field object 109, which was also a coin, was found in GO/5 proper by the Western baulk, also not in situ. The locus revealed the same mixture of pottery wares and fabrics on the surface as has been a continuous component of the yet unexplainable ceramics mixture of GO/5. Due to a handover of locus sheets this season the Eastern wall, which is the Eastern-‐most border of the GO/5 Extension has received two different locus numbers. It is wall 2 yet has been assigned both locus 54 and locus 61. The wall was a later addition to wall 1, locus 2 in GO/5 proper. This wall is interesting as it evidences an extended use of this area where the GO/5 Extension has needed a wall. The wall is in rather bad condition as it is placed on the slope running towards the column in the far Eastern end of the square. Time and weather has fought against the preservation of this wall that has proved to be too exposed for any natural preservation to occur. The buildings stones are in good condition yet are loose and may not all be there for the following season. Wall Locus 55 is an earlier wall that is under wall 1 (locus 2) in GO/5, only visible from its east face. By the South Decumanus a retaining wall was visible pre-‐excavation. This is called wall 3, locus 62. It is a fairly modern wall that could have been built in the 1970s when the Roman streets of Jerash were restored with columns and architraves. The Western end of the wall is an architrave, which
[81]
continues into the baulk and further into GO/8. The rest of the wall is made up of stones varying in size from 30x30 cm to reused building stones. The Western end is the best reserved part whereas the Eastern and centre parts are mostly collapsed. Even cleaning the wall for drawing and photo compromised the preservation. Locus 56 and locus 57 were the first two loci opened in GO/5 Extension since 2010. Locus 56 was assigned to the slope of wash still running from the excavated surface in the Southern end of the Extension to the retaining wall (wall 3) by the South decumanus by the Northern most border of the square. Locus 56 is above locus 60 and cuts locus 57. It was highly contaminated due to exposure since 2010 and due to its composition of modern wash layers and soil pushed down the slope during the bulldozing. A lot of large animal bones, especially possible pig jaws and possible camel bones were found in this locus. Field object number 99 was found. It was a coin, but was not found in situ. A metal object received Field Object number 98, and was also not found in situ. The soil was greyish brown and contained a lot of fist sized stones. Some red and quite large white tesserae were excavated here, too. Locus 57 was quickly excavated. It is above locus 58 and is cut by locus 60. It consisted of brown soil yet the South-‐Western corner contained remains of wall packing. The soil in the northernmost part of the locus resembled gravel in its loose composition and more greyish colour than the rest of the locus. The locus was closed when tumble appeared and locus 58 was opened. This locus is below locus 57 and cut by locus 60. It came to reveal two layers of tumble. Nothing in the stones positions seem to be an actual wall collapse and could be stones merely dumped on the slope of the GO area at a time when it was unused. However, a wall could be hidden in the baulk further down and could paint a different picture if more of GO/5 proper as well as the Extension were to be excavated. The South-‐Western corner continued to reveal wall packing, which extended out further to the East end North than in locus 57. The North-‐Western corner was grey, loose gravel. The Eastern part of the locus, which was the biggest part appeared to be made up of a hard, clay stamped surface. It was quite levelled yet as the tumble stones had gone through it, it did not appear to be an actual occupational surface. Field Object number 96 and 97 were both coins and none of them found in situ. Field Object number 107 was a metal object that was not found in situ. Locus 59 was the locus below locus 56. It was located by the decumanus and was opened to ascertain if this was an occupational surface as it included the two column bases, mentioned above. They are yet to receive feature numbers. Further it was to investigate a possible relationship with GO/8 to its Western side. This locus is the northernmost locus after locus 62 (wall 3). Field Object number 101 and 114 were both coins and number 104 was a metal object. Locus 60 is the slope under locus 56. It is above locus 59. It was opened due to a change in soil however; it was still a wash layer. It became much looser than the previous locus and included both a few tumble stones as well as fist sized stones. Field Objects number 102, 103, 106, 111 and 112 were coins and number 108 was a coin with a small attached ceramic sherd possible something which had occurred when the coin corroded. Field object number 105 was one glass tesserae with possible gold on one surface and number 110 was a sea shell.
[82]
Further excavation of the extension would help a better understanding of both this squares as well as the entire stretch from GO/5 Extension to GO/11 to the West. A Byzantine occupation, contemporary with those found in GO/8 and GO/11 this season, is assumed to be preserved under soil yet to be excavated. This season has failed to shed any light on GO/5 proper yet has helped introduce another component of the GO area, namely the occupation by the decumanus.
GO/5 Lists
GO/5 Locus List Locus # Description Drawing #
53 Cleaning locus of GO/5 proper and in GO/5 extension 54 Exactly the same as locus 61. Wall 2. (Error occurred this
season during supervisor shift.)
55 Wall in Eastern end of GO/5 proper. Below wall 1, loc. 2. Only visible from Eastern view.
56 The slope from loc. 57 to loc. 59. Above 58. Below loc. 60.
57 First layer of soil on the surface excavated in 2010. Above loc. 58.
58 Two layers of tumble. Below loc. 57. 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1003 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1025
Figure 28: End season view of GO/5 Ext., facing south. Note the two oddly placed column bases just behind the low retaining wall bordering the decumanus.
[83]
59 Strip of soil South of retaining wall on the decumanus. North of the slope (loc. 56 and loc. 60). Below loc. 60.
60 Vertical excavation of the slope. Below loc. 56.
61 Wall 2. Later addition to Wall 1 in GO/5. Easternmost border of square. Ends at column.
2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1075
62 Wall 3. Retaining wall. Northernmost border of square. Build on the border of the South decumanus. W-‐E direction. N-‐S facings.
2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1036
GO/5 Field Object List Field Obj. #
Loc. Description Date Found Measured Position Photo # CAT#
93 53 Coin 30.05.2012 Not in situ. 10963 94 57 Metal ring 05.07.2012 Not in situ. 12768 95 57 Coin 05.07.2012 Not in situ. 12755 96 58 Coin 07.07.2012 SW: 2.50 m. SE: 7. 25m.
Level: BS 2.31, TBM 102.9, FS 3.13, Cal. 102.08.
IJP_D 13438 IJP_D 13439
12757
97 58 Coin 08.07.2012 SW: 4.84 m. SE: 3.47m. Level: BS 2.31, TMB 102.9, FS 3.31, Cal. 101.91.
IJP_D 13453 IJP_D 13452
12759
98 56 Metal object 10.07.2012 Not in situ. -‐
99 56 Coin 10.07.2012 Not in situ. 12933 100 0 Coin 11.07.2012 Not in situ. Found in
baulk. 13134
101 59 Coin 11.07.2012 Not in situ. 13137 102 60 Coin 11.07.2012 Not in situ. 13042 103 60 Coin 11.07.2012 SW: 3.67 m. SE: 7.74 m.
Level: BS 2.07, TMB 102.9, FS 4.11, Cal. 100.86.
IJP_D 13563 IJP_D 13564
12996
104 59 Metal object 12.07.2012 Not in situ. 13166
105 60 Glass tessera with gold.
12.07.2012 Not in situ. 13099
106 60 Coin 14.07.2012 Not in situ. 13135 107 58 Metal object 14.07.2012 Not in situ. 13141
[84]
108 60 Coin w. Ceramic sherd
14.07.2012 SW: 5.20 m. SE: 4.50 m. Level: BS 2.42, TBM 102.9, FS 3.91, Cal. 101.41.
? 13131
109 53 Coin 14.07.2012 Not in situ. 13194 110 60 Worked sea
shell 14.07.2012 Not in situ. 13133
111 60 Coin 14.07.2012 Not in situ. 13146 112 60 Coin 14.07.2012 Not in situ. 13147 113 0 Coin 15.07.2012 Not in situ. Found in
baulk. -‐
114 59 Coin 15.07.2012 Not in situ. -‐
GO/5 Wall List Wall # Description Locus # Drawing # 2 N-‐S direction. E-‐W facings. Double row
wall. Between one and four courses preserved. Eastern most border of square.
61, 54
2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1075
3 Retaining wall. W-‐E direction. N-‐S facings. One row. Architrave used as building stone in W end continuing into baulk and GO/8.
62 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1036
4 Wall under wall 1, loc. 2 in GO/5 proper 55 -‐
GO/5 Drawing List Drawing # Locus #/ FE#/ Wall# Description 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1003 Loc. 58. Tumble. First layers. Plan. 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1025 Loc. 58. Tumble. Second layer. Plan. 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1034 West baulk West baulk. West face. Profile. 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1036 Wall 3, loc. 62. Wall. Profile drawing. 2012-‐GO/5 EXT-‐1075 Wall 2, loc. 61. Wall. Plan drawing.
[85]
Discard procedures Discard procedures for the removal of excavated soil, stone and building material, along with discarding of particular groups of finds were standard for all excavation areas (MO, SO, MA, & GO), and are described below.
Spoil removal Excavated soil along with deteriorated or broken stone were disposed of initially (May -‐ June) in a spoil heap located immediately west of squares GO/1 & GO/2, and subsequently taken off site by departmental trucks. In relation to the on-‐going restoration of the congregational mosque (MO), soil from this spoil heap was used for back-‐filling soundings along the mosque walls (MO, SO, & MA) from around the end of June. During excavations in late June and throughout July, excavated soil from squares in GO was dumped in the mosque courtyard in order to provide level subsurface packing for further restoration work, to be completed in 2013. Spoil from GO was also disposed of in the back-‐filling of soundings along the northern side of the qibla wall, and in soundings outside the northern perimeter wall of the mosque.
Stone removal Recovered building blocks and architectural elements not in a state of deterioration or extensively damaged were stored in designated areas west of the excavation area. The recording of architectural material discerned between building blocks (stones worked to rough cubic or rectangular shapes, but with no further trace of cutting) and architectural elements (stones worked to form part of discrete architectural features, such as lintels, jambs, thresholds, columns, vaults, etc., or with particular decoration or ornamentation). Whereas building blocks were divided and stored according to the general excavation area from which they derived (e.g. GO or MO/SO/MA), architectural elements were stored together, and each marked with individual catalogue numbers. As regular building blocks were kept primarily for purposes of restoration, deteriorated or extensively damaged stones were either disposed of in the spoil heap (see above) or, if warranted by the size of the stones, stored in a designated area next to the MO/SO/MA stones.
Disposal of tile and ceramic material Tile fragments were discarded on site, in a designated dumping area used since 2002. Discarded ceramic fragments were dumped in an area adjacent to the tile dump, both located due west of the excavation area close to the expedition tents. As a common part of ceramic sorting and initial analysis, ceramic fragments were also discarded at the expedition housing.
[86]
References Blanke, Louise; Lorien, Patrick & Rattenborg, Rune (2010) “Changing Cityscapes in Central Jarash -‐ Between Late Antiquity and the Abbasid Period” in Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan 54 p. 311-‐327 Damgaard, Kristoffer (2008): Square Summary for GO/5, 2007. In: A. Walmsley, ed. Islamic Jarash Project Season Report, 2007, pp. 72-‐79. Copenhagen: University of Copenhagen. Rattenborg, Rune (2010). Area GO. In: L. Blanke and A. Walmsley, eds. Islamic Jarash Project Season Report, 2010, pp. 33-‐48. Copenhagen: University of Copenhagen.
