CA-39 Summaries

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Stratigraphic Summary

As with CA38, Civitate A 39 held very minimal soil above sterile soil and bedrock.  Here again, we are on a bench of exfoliating bedrock where significant erosion is likely, and has likely taken place.  In meters N27-28, E45-46, hummus and subsurface soil gave way to bedrock and sterile soil in the range of 15-40 cm. below surface.  The exception to this general picture of quickly fading culture bearing soil was in the norhtern section of N28, E45, and the full meter of N29, E45.  Before this area could be excavated much below 20-25 cm. below surface.  Still, indications were that this area not only had a deeper level of non-sterile soil, but also was prodcuing more cultural material.

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Pottery Summary

About 2 dozen pieces of pottery were recovered in CA39, of which .5 came from N29, E45.  The pottery was in no way unique, represented were vessels of all kinds and all fabrics with the exception of grey ware.  98% of the pottery was either coarse impasto or orange ware.  One fine orange ware fragment from a chalice, and two body fragments of fine bucchero were recovered.  With the exception of N29, E45, all of the pottery was recovered in the first 20 cm. below surface.  In N29, E45, we cannot say as it was not excavated to sterile soil.

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Other Materials

Bone:  About 3-4 dozen pieces of unworked bone were reocvered, most of which came from N29, E45.  The appearnace of the bone would suggest a large mammal of some part.

Metal:  One iron D-ring was recovered in the topsoil cut in N29, E46.  No other metal material recovered.

Conclusions

Excavation in CA39 showed some promise based upon the unfinished work in N29, E45-46.  It is clear that cultural mateial is held in these meters.  Beyond that, however, the nature of the deposition cannot be evaluated due to its incomplete state.  It can be noted that the two meters directly south of N29 were almost completely sterile in E45-46.

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N29 may have preserved its soil due to a large tree in N30, and hence retained evidence of either primary deposition or wash from farther up the slope.  Further excavation in this area may answer this question.