Final Trench Summary

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Final Trench Summary: 6/7/2001 - 7/12/2001 CD9, Loci 1-19

As stated in the introduction, the primary goal of CD9 was to excavate a wide area in the vicinity of CD4 (JMIII) to identify the source of the tile spread uncovered in CD4 in 1979.  This goal was accomplished in the sense that a large area of CD9 was excavated, including the 15 square meters covered in this book.  For the other meters of CD9, see KLHIII and KTI.  Meters 272-276S/269-275E actually seemed to raise more questions than answers however.

A linear spread of large rocks (greater than 30cm) was uncovered at a depth of approximately 25-40cm below soil.  This spread runs SE to NE for approximately 5m.  This spread does not appear to be a wall, unless it is severely eroded.  It seems that

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the collection is man-made and further excavation to the est and south is recommended to investigate the purpose of this collection.

Compared to the large tile spread found in CD4 (JMIII), not much tile was recovered from CD9.  Thus the tile spread does not continue south of CD4.  It may be that the tile spread and the linear rock spread are not directly associated, and in this sense the work in CD9 this season has not identified the source of the CD4 tile spread.

A significant density of pottery was found at the same depth as the base of the linear rock spread, suggesting that there is an ancient surface at this level, approximately 40cm b.s.  No complete profiles were recovered, though the fragments in general were not severely eroded and maintained sharp ancient break edges.  This suggests that the pottery is not washed out from far away, and may have been recovered in or near the primary context.

The vast majority of the pottery recovered was small fragments of simple impasto, and the

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largest concentration was near the linear rock spread resting on the proposed ancient surface.  The relative lack of fine pottery (e.g. bucchero) and the lack of large utilitarian vessels (e.g. pithos fragments, forno fragments) suggests that the site was not affiliated directly with either elite residences or a workshop/storage area.  It is possible that non-elite residences were present nearby, and the excavated meters of CD9 represent a shallow depression into which pottery fragments collected.  Alternatively, the area may be an intentional dumping site, but there is no direct evidence at this time to support this hypothesis.

A second goal of the project was to place CD4 and the Civitate D area in general on the master grid system.  Although the proposed global positioning system method does not at this time have the resolution necessary to accurately place CD4 on the master grid, this goal was accomplished by surveying by transit.  For the CD4 master grid coordinates, see pg. 15 .

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