Conclusion

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T-70 Conclusion

T-70 was opened with the objective of helping clarify the parameters and function of the structure which seemed to appear onsite during the 2014 season of excavation within T-57 and T-59. The discovery of a linear formation of rocks with uniform stones running from the southwest corner of the trench to the northeastrern corner assisted in achieving these goals as it is thought that this marks the western border of the structure onsite.

Initially, a medium stone and small stump to its west were visible on the surface. It appeared that this rock could be a continuation of a large piece of bedrock in the northern section of T-69. Further excavation of Locus 1 revealed that this rock was indeed part of the T-69 bedrock stone. In Locus 2 , several medium sized rocks began appearing, running from this rock in the south to the northeastern corner of the trench. These stones were revealed and could be seen to run in a linear arrangement with similarly sized stones arranged in such a way that the flat faces of the stones faced outward, thus forming a straight line.

These stones could then be seen to run from the large stone in T-69, through T-70 and then continue through Locus 5 and into T-57 Locus 15 . It is feasible to state, due to the rectangular shape of the rock in the south, that this piece of bedrock was incorporated into the linear formation within T-70 in order to provide a stable corner for the feature.

T-70 rendered relatively few finds, and none which provide a solid date for the structure. However, east of the border of stones in the south, a pithos fragment, some terracotta and a piece of bone were found on top of an area of compacted soil. Due to the arrangement of these artefacts (lying horizontally on top of this soil) as well as the distinct difference between the compacted earth and that of the soil in the rest of the trench, it was interpreted that this area represented a floor surface.

So the T-70 extension was opened, extending 2m to the east from the northeastern corner ( Locus 4 ). Within this extension there was, again, relatively few finds until Locus 6 was reached. Within this locus significantly more material was present (though still relatively few). Of this material, a collection of pottery, piece of terracotta and a tusk were discovered lying on top of an area of compacted soil in the center of the trench, similar to the soil east of the linear arrangement in Locus 2 . This soil was also located at a similar elevation, only 5cm higher than the floor surface to the south and this height difference could be accounted for by the natural slope of the hill which inclines to the north.

Through clearing Locus 6 as well as excavation which occurred in T-58, it became possible to view two stones running horizontally through the western baulk wall of T-58, approximately 10cm below the stones of a similar size and arrangement in Locus 2 . Excavation did not continue to a depth below the linear construction and thus could not determine whether coursing was present, but these stones in the T-58 baulk wall seem to highlight that there is at least one other layer of stones below those currently visible in Locus 2 .

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