ÇATALHÖYÜK 2000 ARCHIVE REPORT
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Microstratigrapic and Micromorphological Analysis
Mikrostratigrafik ve Mikromorfolojik Analizler
Wendy Matthews
Abstrac
The main focus of micromorphological research in 2000 was on laboratory analysis of depositional sequences in large resin-impregnated thin section samples collected in 1995-1999 from the North and South Areas on the East Mound, as well as paleoenvironmental sequences from KOPAL trenches.
Thin section analysis is enabling characterisation and delineation of activity areas within many buildings, most notably Buildings 1 and 5. The nature and location of these areas suggest the occupants of both the earlier and later buildings shared generally similar concepts of space. Indications of storage, food preparation and cooking have been identified in the west and south of the buildings; well-plastered platforms in the north and east, and organic rich deposits in the NE corners. Micromorphology is also contributing to studies of burial taphonomy and grave fills.
Micromorphological evidence that dung was extensively used as fuel from the earliest periods of occupation at the site, has implications for study of human-animal inter-relationships, and relates to the identification of animal pens in levels XI-XII.
During this years excavation 10 samples for thin section analysis were collected from platforms in Building 3 in the BACH Area and 2 from possible floors/surfaces in Chalcolithic buildings on the West Mound.
Özeti
2000 senesinin mikromorfolojik araştırmalarının ana odaği, 1994 1999 yılları arasında Doğu Höyük Kuzey ve Güney alanlarından atıkların zamansal dizimini, ve KOPAL açmalarındaki paleoçevresel zamansal dizimlerini gösteren, resin ile doygun olan ince profil örneklerinin analizleri üzerine yoğunlaşmıştır.
İnce profil analizleri, özellikle Bina 1 ve 5, yaşam alanlarının tanımlanması ve karakterize edilmesini sağlamaktadır. Bu iki binadaki alanların doğası ve yeri, her iki binada yaşayanların benzer bir alan kullanım kavramına sahip olduklarını göstermektedir. Depolama, yemek hazırlanışı ve yemek pişirme bulguları binaların güney ve batı alanlarında tespit edilmiştir. Kuzeyde ve doğuda özenle sıvanmış sekiler Kuzeydoğu köşesinde organik içeriği zengin olan atıklar tespit edilmiştir. Mikromorfoloji, aynı zamanda gömü tafonimisi ve gömü dolguları araştırmalarında da yardımcı olmaktadır.
Mikromorfolijik kalıntılar, alanın en erken evrelerinden itibaren yakıt olarak hayvan dışkısının yoğun bir şekilde kullanıldığını göstermiştir. Aynı zamanda mikromorfoloji, insan hayvan ilişkileri ve Tabaka XI XIIde bulunan ahırların tanımlanmasında ve bunların araştırılmasında yardımcı bir kaynaktır.
Bu seneki kazılarda BACH alanındaki Bina 3ün sekilerinden 10 örnek, Batı Höyüğün Kalokolitik binalarının olası tabanlarından ise iki ince profil örneği çıkarılmıştır.
Introduction
The main focus of micromorphological research in 2000 was on laboratory analysis of the depositional sequences in large resin-impregnated thin sections, prepared from samples collected in 1995-1999 seasons of excavation. These samples are principally from the North and South Areas of the Neolithic settlement on the East Mound, and from buried Neolithic and Chalcolithic land surfaces and sequences uncovered in the large trenches opened up by the Konya Basin Paleoenvironmental research team (KOPAL).
During excavations this year, Anne-Marie Vandendriessche collected 10 additional samples of deposits from microstratigraphic sequences in Space 86 Building 3 in the BACH Area, for thin section preparation and analysis. These samples were collected in order to examine spatial and temporal variation in the uses and significance of the platforms, for comparison to microstratigraphic sequences in other areas of the Building sampled in 1998 and 1999. Anne-Marie also collected 2 samples Chalcolithic buildings from the West Mound, from two possible floors/surfaces.
I joined the excavation and study seasons at the beginning of August to discuss current results with other members of the team, and to examine depositional sequences in the BACH Area and the West Mound during excavation. I was able to conduct most of my research in the laboratory in the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, using the library facilities there, and a microscope kindly leant by Dr Charly French and the Geoarchaeology Laboratory, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, which was returned to Cambridge at the end of the Study Season.
In this Archive Report I discuss progress to date in thin section analysis and some of the emerging results.
Progress to date
Of the 355 excavation units selected for priority analysis in the 2000-2001 study seasons and for publication in final reports, I have analysed all of the corresponding samples of deposit in thin sections from Buildings 1 and 5 in the North Area, and the deep sounding in Space 181 in the South Area. Some units from Buildings 2, 4, 17 have also been examined.
Remaining samples are currently being analysed at the Department of Archaeology, University of Reading. A new School of Environmental and Human Sciences is being founded at the University of Reading, which will include the Departments of Archaeology, Geography, Postgraduate Research Institute for Sedimentology and Soil Science. This School will provide exciting opportunities for inter-disciplinary research in collaboration with the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and other institutions.
Methodology
The large thin sections of depositional sequences that I am studying are 13.5 x 6.5 cm in size, and of standard geological thickness at 30μm (0.03mm). The thin sections have been cut, ground and polished from blocks of deposit that have been hardened by impregnation with a resin under vacuum. The resin takes 4-6 weeks to cure and requires ventilated fume extraction facilities (Murphy 1986).
Deposit components and features in thin section are examined first in the hand macroscopically in order to correlate them with field observations, then at increasingly higher magnifications under the microscope from 2.5x-400x. They are examined in a range of different lighting conditions including plane and cross-polarised transmitted light, incident light, and fluorescent light in order to study different material properties.
Components and features are identified and interpreted by comparative reference to atlases and research in archaeology and related disciplines, including mineralogy, plant anatomy, and materials science, as well as by contextual analysis. Components and features are described using internationally standardised guidelines that have been adapted for analysis of archaeological deposits and materials (Bullock et al 1985; Courty et al 1989).
The attributes that I am recording during micromorphological analysis and interpretation, following these guidelines, are listed in full detail in Table 1. These attributes and interpretations are recorded in a multivariate database, which was created with the help of Tim Ritchie using Microsoft Access. The relevance of field and micromorphological attributes of deposits to interpretations of micro-environment and uses and concepts of space are discussed in Matthews 1995, In Press and Forthcoming. Procedures in thin section description and interpretation are being critically reviewed during this current research. In particular, it will be very informative to see how micromorphological observations and interpretations correlate with those from the wide range of other analyses that are being conducted at Çatalhöyük, when results are integrated during Spring and Summer of 2001.
Observations and interpretations
A selection of the observations and interpretations from micromorphological analysis of the samples studied to date are briefly discussed below in order to gain some initial feedback and to convey the nature of results.
Building 1, North Area
Deposits in front of crawl-hole, Space 70
Unit 1437: These deposits are characterised by sub-rounded heterogeneous aggregates, which have been rolled by agencies such as sweeping, and probably derive from trampled floors plasters, which are truncated in this area. Other components in this unit include organic salts and staining, burnt bone, an obsidian fragment and poorly preserved and fragmented charred and siliceous plant remains, all probably associated with food preparation and cooking.
Deposits next to plaster basin, Space 70
Unit 1436: includes trampled aggregates of water-laid crusts, perhaps related to use of the basin. Other components in this deposit include charred and ?mashed plant remains from ?food processing, as well as uncharred plant remains and organic staining (Similar to Figure 30).
Deposits in a small hearth (last phase of use), Space 70 (Figure 26)
Unit 1416: These deposits have been uniformly burnt in-situ in reducing conditions and are dark in colour. They comprise 30-40% charred herbivore dung, and a surprisingly high proportion of building material aggregates (30%), which are also uniformly burnt. A fragment of charred coniferous wood is clearly present as a secondary inclusion within a building material aggregate rather than as a primary source of fuel. These deposits also include finely fragmented bone, perhaps from residues from crushing bone for marrow and grease extraction.
Deposits adjacent to hearth (early phase of use), Space 70 (Figure 27)
Unit 1416: In contrast to the last remaining fuel in this hearth (see above and Figure 26), accumulated deposits adjacent to an earlier phase of the hearth, do not comprise dung, but 40% charred wood, most of which is Oak/Quercus, together with some grasses and burnt aggregates. 20-30% of this deposit comprises reworked and dislodged aggregates and sediments from the underlying floor plaster, probably by trampling.
Burnt deposits on top of last floor in Space 71 (old Phase 2)
Deposits on top of the last floor of Phase 2 (old phasing) in both the north and south of Space 71, include clusters and spreads rich in charred plant remains (c. 40-50%). The nature of these charred plant remains appears to vary spatially and will be investigated further in analyses in Spring 2001.
Collapse/infill, Space 71
Unit 1290: 40% of this deposit in thin section comprises aggregates that are similar to mud bricks used in the construction of Building 1 walls, and may derive from collapse/demolition of the surrounding walls. 10% of this deposit comprises white plaster fragments. Up to 40% of the rest of this deposit comprises charred plant remains, including grass/reed stems, perhaps from burnt roofing materials.
Unit 1223: includes abundant remains of charred cereal grains scattered in amongst burnt building material aggregates, in the NW corner of the room.
Burial platforms, Space 71(Figure 28)
Unit 1454: Deposits related to this unit include:
a) multiple layers of well-prepared white plaster, some of which have been truncated, probably during digging of grave pits;
b) long articulated and well preserved reed fragments, perhaps from a mat charred in-situ by the later fire,
c) layers of unoriented compacted aggregates perhaps from deposits dug-out during digging of a grave pit.
Grave fill, Space 71
Unit 1364: principally comprises heterogeneous building material aggregates (>70%). The overlying unit, by contrast, is made up almost solely of aggregates of broken up thick white plaster (90%), some of which had traces of a thin white finishing coat of plaster. This last layer is c. 2.5-3cm thick and was used to seal the grave, before it was covered with single continuous layer of white plaster. Its discrete depositional location and unusual and homogeneous composition suggest these aggregates were deliberately selected, perhaps for purification (associated with high carbonate content) and/or symbolic reasons associated with nature and possible meaning of white plasters or their previous location/application.
Unit 1380: the deposits sampled in thin section were collected in a small block from immediately below the skull. Thin lenses of organic staining and remains are clearly visible in thin section and require further specialist investigation.
'Storage bin/lentil bin', Space 71
Unit 1431: the base of the bin walls are coated in multiple lenses of herbivore dung, a practice which has not yet been observed elsewhere at Çatalhöyük, and requires further examination and explanation.
Infill in adjacent area/building, Space153
Unit 3021: 60% of this unit comprises unoriented heterogeneous building material aggregates (ranging from silty clay to sandy silt loam). 10% comprises charred plant remains including dicotyledonous wood and grasses. These plant remains were quite large in size when deposited, but have been fragmented by post-depositional disturbance associated with effects of heat during subsequent burning of deposit, and bioturbation. The lens underlying this unit includes dense concentrations of bone fragments (50%), organic staining and traces of micro-organisms which have been partially charred by the burning of this area. This lens may relate to the traces of owl pellets detected by Peter Andrews and zooarchaeologists during analysis of faunal remains in the field lab, and needs further specialist analysis in thin section.
Building 5, North Area
In front of storage bins, Space 157
Unit 3858: comprises thin compacted accumulations of different deposits. Some lenses include impressions of plant remains which have since decayed (5%, <0.9mm in size). These fine plant impressions are not common in accumulated occupation deposits at Çatalhöyük, and have been associated with grindstone fragments and food-processing areas at other sites (Matthews et al 1994). Deposits also include some siliceous plant remains, mostly Gramineae, including reed. These plant remains will be identified during specialist research and collaboration with Arlene Rosen in Spring 2001. Other deposits are rich in heterogeneous aggregates perhaps dislodged from bin walls.
?Storage area, Space 156
Unit 3253: deposits here principally comprise unoriented and comparatively loose aggregates and resemble deposits in a small store-room at Abu Salabikh (5G65 House R5), where surfaces were disturbed and not well nor frequently maintained, perhaps due to the shape, weight and quantity of materials stored (Matthews et al 1994).
Oven rake-out, Space 154 SE corner
Unit 3875: the lenses in this area are very thin, as observed, recorded and drawn in the field (Cessford 1998). They principally comprise multiple lenses of predominantly dung fuel rake-out (40%), with 10-20% charred plant remains (including dicotyledonous wood fragments), 10% siliceous plant remains (including reed) often associated with dung remains; and lightly burnt bone. Some lenses comprise poorly prepared mud plaster floors and trampled aggregates.
SW platform, Space 154
As in Building 1, the SW platform in Building 5 was less well maintained than the northern and eastern platforms. SW platforms were frequently plastered with a range of mud and white plasters, and had thicker and more frequent accumulations of overlying deposits, with higher concentrations of plant remains. NW and E platforms were generally only plastered with white plasters.
In Building 1 the northern and eastern platforms and areas were the principal areas for burial. Building 5 has only been partially excavated, and no burials below the platforms have (?yet) been encountered.
Unit 3873: in thin section accumulated deposits on top of the SW platform in Building 5 include: a) 20% charred plant remains and 2% burnt aggregates, from FI rake-out; b) 5% siliceous plant remains, possibly burnt; c) an unusual range of uncharred plant remains and 10% organic staining associated with ?neo-formed ?phosphate or related minerals; d) calcareous fine material, possibly ash; e) 2% unburnt bone.
NW platform, Space 154
Unit 3844: the NW platform was coated in multiple lenses of white plaster. Sparse thin lenses of accumulated deposits (<0.55mm thick) comprise unoriented a) rounded ?swept/windblown brown silty clay aggregates, b) white plaster fragments, and c) aggregates of heterogeneous silty clay loam.
Reddish brown plaster in Space 155
Unit 3898: this unusual thick reddish brown plaster was made from an oxidised silt loam to slightly sandy silt loam of alluvial origin. Within unworked aggregates clearly visible are the original lenses of water-laid deposits. The plaster mix includes sparse fragments of charred plant remains and poorly preserved burnt bone, which may represent inclusions during preparation, or washed into source area, probably the former. This plaster may have been selected for its comparatively bright reddish colour (Matthews 1998).
This plaster also includes well preserved siliceous plant remains and impressions of plants that would have served as stabilisers and given the plaster added tensile strength and flexibility. Their good preservation and articulation illustrate that these plant remains were relatively fresh and not burnt when the plaster was mixed. The question arises whether these plant remains were present in the sediment sources or were deliberately added during the manufacturing process? I am working closely with Arlene Rosen to characterise associations of siliceous plant remains with different types of sediments, and to determine whether these associations may be of socio-cultural and/or micro-environmental significance.
Accumulated deposits in NE corner, Space 155-154
As in Building 1, deposits in the NE corner of Building 5 are exceptionally rich in organic remains throughout the history of the use of these areas. In Building 5, these deposits are also present in the eastern room with basins, for which the only equivalent in Building 1 may be the later wall around Space 111. Deposits in both of these areas require further specialist analysis of the phytoliths, and of the organic residues using GC/MS, in order to determine the origin of these highly organic remains. It is possible that analysis of any micro-organisms visible in thin section within these deposits may help to determine the origin of the organic remains and their depositional micro-environment.
Unit 3845: in the NE corner of Building 5 comprises a) 50% organic staining/material with dense concentrations of articulated phytoliths; b) trampled midden-like deposits with 10% charred plant remains including dicotyledonous wood fragments and seeds; c) 5-10% swept/wind-blown aggregates of dark brown silt loam, d) 2-5% trampled fragments of white plaster, e) 2% poorly preserved bone.
Collapse, Space 154
Unit 3272: the last lens of occupation in the SE corner of Building 5 comprises charred and ashy remains of dung fuel rake-out. Overlying deposits include white plaster fragments from dismantling of the building and aggregates of probable roofing. These aggregates comprise thin layers of mud plaster with intervening lenses of charred plant remains and organic staining, probably from domestic activities such as food cooking on the roof, as observed in Building 3 (Matthews 1998).
Building 17, Level X, South Area
Latest accumulated deposits and collapse/infill SE corner, Space 170
Deposits here are banded. The latest traces of occupation include ash and omnivore coprolites mixed with heterogeneous aggregates in a lens 2.5mm thick. These are overlain by deposits with fragments of wall plaster from dismantling of posts and building in a layer 11mm thick, then heterogeneous aggregates of infill (>5 cm thick).
Deposits adjacent to hearths in SE corner, Space 170
In this area discrete deposits from a variety of episodes accumulated. These deposits vary according to concentrations of herbivore and omnivore dung, charred plant remains, salts, organic staining, finely fragmented burnt and unburnt bone, and obsidian and flint flakes. Similar variations were observed in larger flotation units and will be correlated in statistical analyses in Spring-Summer 2001.
Deep Sounding in Space 181, South Area
A selection of units throughout the sequence in the Deep Sounding are discussed briefly here. What is particularly remarkable is the extensive use of dung as fuel from the earliest periods of occupation at the site. Dung ash and calcitic spherulites are present in virtually all depositional units. This has implications for study of human-animal inter-relationships during this period of early agricultural development.
Unit 5329: represents periodic deposition of: a) oven rake-out with 10-20% charred plant remains, 2-5% burnt aggregates and burnt bone, b) organic remains/human/omnivore coprolites possibly from scavenging pigs or dogs, c) sediment rich deposits with calcareous aggregates. The diffuseness of bands argues for deposition and possible reworking in a moist environment. Post-depositional events include possible trampling in moist conditions associated with locally oriented 'wave/flame-like' features in overall fabric and orientation and distribution of inclusions.
Unit 5323: more layering is evident in this unit. Much of this unit comprises heterogeneous burnt and unburnt aggregates including 20-30%aggregates of thick white plaster, 10% burnt aggregates and up to 10% aggregates of backswamp clay. Charred and siliceous plant remains are of diverse origin, and are mixed with herbivore and omnivore dung fragments.
Unit 5310: represents comparatively thick layer (3cm) of burnt dung and aggregates. Some herbivore pellet fragments are still discernible. Other fragments appear to be more diffuse, and either derive from dug up animal pen deposits or from larger herbivore dung droppings, such as cattle or equid for example. The dung was burnt in a range of temperatures/burning conditions. Some dung is only partially charred, other dung fragments have been melted and ashed. A range of silt loam-sandy silt loam aggregates appear to have been burnt at the same time, and are brown and yellowish brown in colour. Much of the dung is herbivore with abundant spherulites.
Unit 5299: comprises alternating bands c. 1cm thick of deposits with higher proportions of a) mineral rich calcareous sediments, b) organo-mineral fine material with charred remains and ash, c) coarse sand
Unit 5290: comprises discard of disaggregated dung ash (50%), burnt aggregates (2-5%) and some charred plant remains including wood and reeds (5%), on top of omnivore coprolites. Some organic remains/coprolite fragments are present throughout the ashy deposit (25%).
Animal pen, probably roofed
Unit 4710: principally comprises compacted lenses of animal dung (70-80%) and digested phytoliths some of unusual form; organic staining and organic pseudomorphs; sparse charred plant remains and 5% sub-rounded aggregates of backswamp clay, either brought in on animal hooves of from abraded wall face as the animals rubbed themselves against it. Smears of dung were detectable in the field along the lower foot of the western wall.
Overlying lenses in this pen comprise alternating concentrations of compacted dung and sediments, perhaps from periodic penning. Many lenses include highly organic coprolitic aggregates which are bright orange and include ?water-logged/pseudomorphic organic remains, which are being investigated further.
There is a marked boundary between:
a) lower grey-coloured dung rich deposits, which may have been more acidic and do not contain calcareous spherulites which generally dissolve in a pH of less than 6 (Canti 1999, Figure 8), and,
b) upper orange-coloured dung rich deposits which have very dense concentrations of calcareous spherulites and are likely to have been deposited and buried in a less acidic and reducing environment. The abundant presence of strips of phytoliths almost 10 cm in length in these upper deposits, is indicative of abundant straw and suggest these deposits were well drained, and may have been less saturated in uric acid than the underlying deposits.
Further ethnoarchaeological and experimental research is needed to investigate the nature of the build up of these deposits and their possible links with animal and human cycles and natural and cultural events. A range of additional techniques may help with analysis and interpretation of these deposits, including GC/MS analysis of any traces of coprostanols and bile acids which are specific to animal species; phosphate; SEM with EDAX; and analysis of any traces of micro-organisms, which are material and micro-environment specific.
Further research
The brief and selective summaries discussed above are drawn from detailed records in an Access database. The remaining thin sections that correlate with the 355 excavation units selected for priority analysis for the 2000-2001 study seasons and publication reports are currently being studied at the Department of Archaeology, University of Reading.
In Spring 2001, identification of charred plant remains and phytoliths will be further refined in collaboration with the palaeoethnobotanists, including Arlene Rosen, who have selected 60 units for detailed analysis. Quantitative analysis of plant remains type (charred, siliceous, ash, dung etc.) and size is currently possible (Figure 25).
There is still some work to do on correlating depositional units in thin section with excavation records, for both the North and South Areas.
A wide range of components as well as depositional and post-depositional arrangements and features have been identified in the thin sections of microstratigraphic sequences within the settlement and landscape of Çatalhöyük. It still remains difficult to determine whether some of the yellowish orange traces of organic remains in thin section are from omnivore coprolites (Figure 29) or other possible food or organic residues (Figure 30). This research needs to be conducted in collaboration with organic residue analysis using GC/MS (Evershed et al 1992 and 1997; Simpson 1998).
References
Bullock, P., N. Fedoroff, A. Jongerius, G. Stoops & T. Tursina, 1985. Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description. Wolverhampton: Waine Research.
Canti, M., 1999. The production and preservation of faecal spherulites: animals, environment and taphonomy. Journal of Archaeological Science 26, 251-258.
Cessford, C. 1998. The Excavation of the North Area 1998. In Çatalhöyük 1998 Archive Report
Courty, M. A., P. Goldberg & R. I. Macphail, 1989. Soils and Micromorphology in Archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Evershed, R. P., P. H. Bethell, P. J. Reynolds & N. J. Walsh, 1997. 5B-stigmastanol and related 5B-stanols as biomarkers of manuring: analysis of modern experimental material and assessment of archaeological potential. Journal of Archaeological Science 24(6), 485-496.
Evershed, R. P., C. Heron, S. Charters & L. J. Goad, 1992. The survival of food residues: new methods of analysis, interpretation and application, in New Developments in Archaeological Science ed. A. M. Pollard. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 149-159.
Matthews, W., 1995. Micromorphological characterisation of occupation deposits and microstratigraphic sequences at Abu Salabikh, Southern Iraq, in Archaeological Sediments and Soils: Analysis, Interpretation and Management eds. A. J. Barham & R. I. Macphail. London: Institute of Archaeology, University College, 41-76.
Matthews, W. 1998. Report on Sampling Strategies, Microstratigraphy and Micromorphology of Depositional Sequences and Ethnoarchaeological Research. In Çatalhöyük 1998 Archive Report
Matthews, W. In Press. Methodological Approaches in Microstratigraphic Analysis of Uses and Concepts of Space at Tell Brak. In M. Fortin, Ed. Recherches Archéométriques. Cahiers Archéologiques. Quebec: Célat.
Matthews, W. Forthcoming. Archaeological sediments as material culture: perceptions and practice 'at the trowel's edge'. Geoarchaeology: an International Journal.
Matthews, W., and J. N. Postgate, with, S. Payne, M. P. Charles & K. Dobney, 1994. The imprint of living in a Mesopotamian city: questions and answers, in Whither Environmental Archaeology?, Vol. Oxbow Monograph 38, eds. R. Luff & P. Rowley Conwy. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 171-212.
Murphy, C. P., 1986. Thin Section Preparation of Soils and Sediments. Berkhampsted: A.B. Academic Publishers.
Simpson, I. A., S. J. Dockrill, I. D. Bull & R. P. Evershed, 1998. Early anthropogenic soil formation at Tofts Ness, Sanday, Orkney. Journal of Archaeological Science 25(8), 729-746.
Tables
Figures
Figure 25: Graph illustrating the concentrations of charred and uncharred plant remains and dung present in thin section samples of some of the fire-installations at Çatalhöyük, as a percentage of deposit by area in thin section.
Figure 26: Charred dung pellet burnt as fuel in hearth FI 33 in Space 70, Building 1. Charred dung comprises 30-40% of deposits burnt in this hearth. Plane polarised light. Frame width = 11 mm. Thin section 1416.24.
Figure 27: Accumulated deposits adjacent to hearth FI 33 in Space 70, Building 1. These include fragments of charred oak wood (centre right) mixed with trampled aggregates from underlying mud plaster floors. Plane polarised light. Frame height = 11 mm. Thin section 1416.13.
Figure 28: Multiple layers of thick and thin layers of white plaster on top of NW burial platform in Space 71, Building 1. Thin traces of accumulated deposits in upper sequence. Contrast to mud plaster floors and thicker occupation deposits in Figure 2. Plane polarised light. Frame height = 11 mm. Thin section 1363.07.
Figure 29: Omnivore coprolite fragment with amorphous yellowish fabric and bone fragments in room fill in Building 2. Plane polarised light. Frame height = 11 mm. Thin section 1873.06.
Figure 30: Amorphous organic staining visible in the middle lens in this photomicrograph has soaked into underlying mud plaster floor in the centre of Space 70, Building 1. Plane polarised light. Frame width = 11 mm. Thin section 1416.13.
Microstratigrapic and Micromorphological Analysis - Table
Table 1. Attributes examined and recorded during micromorphological analysis
General attributes analysed
General information on context, deposit, and sample number etc.
Boundary between deposits
Deposit thickness
Microstructure type (pattern of voids in deposit)
Particle size
Sorting
Coarse/fine material arrangement (depositional geometry)
Groundmass
Fine material
Pedofeatures (Post-depositional alterations)
Inclusions: Plant remains
Dung
Other inclusions
Interpretation: Origin
Deposition
Plant use and taphonomy
Activity
Natural events and post-depositional alterations
Comments
Comparisons
Information recorded on Access database Form 1 (Thin Section Information)
Global Index number
Site
Field section number
Thin section sample number
Microstratigraphic unit number
Vertical context
Location [Horizontal context]
Phase
Site Unit no.
Flotation object no.
Site deposit type no.
Micromorphological deposit type no.
Purity
Context type [code]
Context interpretation
Adjacent features
Field description and interpretation
Deposit type [micromorphological brief description of salient characteristics]
Data entry [date]
Boundary: sharpness: description: measurement: form
contrast
interpretation
Deposit thickness min: max:
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Microstructure type
total porosity
void: type
abundance: min: max:
size: min: max:
shape
regularity of walls
degree of accommodation
orientation: basic referred related
distribution: basic referred related
Ped: type
grade of pedality
abundance: min: max:
size: min: max:
surface roughness
degree of accommodation
distribution: basic referred
Particle size: min: max:
Sorting: fabric
specific inclusion types
[Thin Section Information main form]
Coarse/fine limit
Coarse/fine ratio
Coarse/fine abundance
Coarse/fine related distribution: type
abundance min: max:
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Groundmass b-fabric: type
abundance min: max:
size/thickness
continuity
orientation
distribution
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Fine material: type
abundance min: max:
colour PPL
colour XPL
colour RL
limpidity
primary fluorescence
Coarse material fabric
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Pedofeatures: type
group
sub-group
abundance %: min: max:
size mm: min: max:
morphology
boundary sharpness
boundary roughness
boundary contrast
degree of accommodation
colour: PPL XPL RL
birefringence
orientation: basic, referred and related
distribution: basic, referred and related
occurrence
variability
Interpretation
Origin
Deposition
Plant use and taphonomy
Activity
Natural events and post-depositional alterations
Comments
Comparisons
Access database Form 2 (Inclusions)
Global Index number:
Thin section no:
Unit no.:
Inclusions
All inclusions:
Orientation: basic
referred
related
Distribution: basic
referred
related
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Specific types of inclusions which may differ in orientation or distribution from the rest of the inclusions:
type of inclusion:
Orientation: basic
referred
related
Distribution: basic
referred
related
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Plant remains: type [charred, siliceous, melted silica, calcareous ashes, pseudomorphic voids, desiccated, other]
abundance: min: max:
size: min: max:
shape
internal structure
plant part
plant identification
colour: PPL XPL RL
opacity
birefringence
primary fluorescence
preservation/alteration [description in text] [code: 1-3]
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Dung/coprolite remains:
type number
type description
abundance %: min: max:
size mm: min: max:
shape
internal characteristics
colour: PPL XPL RL
birefringence
primary fluorescence
[Sub-table with multiple entries if needed]
Inclusions: type
abundance %: min: max:
size mm: min: max:
shape
internal characteristics
orientation: basic, referred, related
distribution: basic, referred, related
colour: PPL XPL RL
opacity
internal structure
birefringence
primary fluorescence
preservation/alteration [description in text] [code]
identification
[Other inclusions include the following categories and types and are recorded in one sub-table which can have multiple entries:]
Inclusions category Inclusions type
Other organic remains: organic aggregates, spores, bacteria, hyphae
Inorganic remains: bone, shell, diatoms
Artefacts: flint, obsidian, grindstone fragments, pottery
Anthopogenic aggregates: building materials, burnt aggregates
Mineral aggregates: water-laid aggregates or crusts; soil
Rock fragments: calcareous, volcanic glass
Minerals: quartz, feldspars, biotite, muscovite, olivines etc.
Other inclusions:
abundance %: min: max:
size mm: min: max:
shape
colour: PPL XPL RL
opacity
internal structure
birefringence
primary fluorescence
preservation/alteration
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© Çatalhöyük Research Project and individual authors, 2000