Descriptive Attribute	Value(s)
Definition	Hard pack stratum/floor (?) of soil, pebbles, and cobbles
Combined with	Loci 17, 17A.
Architectural or Soil Locus?	Soil
Phase Description	Phase II: First period of major Nabataean construction at the Great Temple complex in the 1st c. BCE. The Central Staircase leading up from the Lower Temenos to the Upper ...
Top (m)	Opening elevation: highest 892.121 m.
Location	Central sondage, between Loci 3 and 6.
Overlies	Locus 17.
Preserved Height	variable, see balk sketches.
Underlies	Locus 14.
Bottom (m)	Closing elevation: lowest 891.961 m.
Phase	II
Stage	Stage 8
Description	This stratum consists of mixed limestone and sandstone soils, pebbles and cobbles. The limestone component has a clay consistency with a Munsell Color range between 10 YR 6/6 (Brownish Yellow) and 5/6 (Yellowish Brown). The sandstone soil consistency ranged between fine silt and sand, both with a Munsell Color of 5 YR 4/4 (Reddish Brown). The soil elements were moist and very compacted around the stone elements, resulting in a hard pack surface. The stratum corresponds to the bottom edge of the lowest ashlar courses in both Wall Loci 3 and 6, and extends beneath the walls. It also overlies an uneven course of friable sandstone boulders. These associations, combined with the presence of the Locus 15 fire event and the nature of the hard pack, suggests the possiblity that this stratum functioned as a type of unfinished floor. At the very least, the elevation and compaction of the layer suggests this was the working surface for the construction of the flanking walls (Loci 3, 6). No small finds were recovered from the stratum, which might suggest a short period of use insufficient for the deposition of artifacts, in addition to the use of a clean fill source.
Size	1.30 m north south-by-3.20 m east west.
Stage Description	Preconstruction preparation.