Descriptive Attribute	Value(s)
Phase	IV
Phase Description	Phase IV: Nabataean Grand Design: 1st c. BCE to CE 1st c. The full Lower Temenos is constructed, complete...
Stage	Stage 2
Stage Description	Building and leveling of the fill of the Lower Temenos and the installation of the Hexagonal Pavement.
Architectural or Soil Locus?	Soil
Definition	Stylobate underbedding.
Description	Locus 5 is a thin layer that was placed as an underbedding between Loci 3 and 1. At that time Wall 3 was expanded, and the stylobate (Locus 1) was built. The bedding is a thin layer of decomposing sandstone of an orangish brown color, Munsell 7.5YR 5/4. The hypothesis that it was placed purposely as an underbedding for the stylobate is supported by many factors. The layer is only present in significant amounts on top of Locus 3. Although there is some of this soil found to the east in SP 38, the layer tops out and is very thin and difficult to distinguish, even where it is present, from the adjacent layers. This suggests that Locus 5 was not deposited in the area of SP 38; all that was found there can be accounted for by wash from Wall 3. Locus 5 is only present in significant quantities directly on top of the wall, indicating that it was placed there purposely rather than deposited accidentally. Further support for the hypothesis that Locus 5 is bedding comes from the small number of finds in the layer. No architectural fragments were recovered, and a relatively small amount of pottery, largely Nabataean, was found. That the pottery was not from later periods suggests that the layer in which it was found was deposited prior to later times. Even more evidence is present in that Locus 5 was found under some of the stylobate pavers where structural damage occurred. Locus 5 is discussed in Daily Field Form Sequence Number 25013.