Description:
Space 336, the large (4.40m x 4.40m) living space to the east of B77. The fills, despite containing interesting structural evidence were relatively sterile of material culture, but contained many large bones from both cattle and equid, including several horn cores and carbonised structural elements affording the collection of several good dendrochronological and C14 samples.
The building revealed a number of exciting features preserved by the fire. In Space 336 these included; a ladder scar on the southern wall (SE corner); two engaged plastered decorated pillars on the eastern wall, and what appears to be a burnt off plastered post which would have projected out horizontally over the NE platform. On the northern wall towards the NE corner is a small plastered rams head, which originally held protruding horns, below this is a small niche. Also, roughly central on the northern wall is a large alcove, and a second niche mirroring the first on the western side of the alcove. To the west of this was a large plaster covered feature built around three large structural timbers most likely with a wattle frame. It incorporates a crawl hole to allow access from the north central platform and was most likely for storage although its true purpose is uncertain. The exterior was thickly plastered like the walls of the space and had some form of decorative molding, perhaps a plastered niche.
In space 336 six platforms and a bench were located against the four walls forming a central sunken floor area. The northeast platform F.6051 is particularly noteworthy for its two low pedestals with protruding cattle horn cores creating an enclosure around the platform.
Figure 22: Plan of Building 77
The floors were covered in cultural debris possibly representing and discussed as abandonment deposits with in the abandonment phase, the objects either left in or abandoned during the fire. These included; a large quantity of burnt animal bone, horn and red deer antler, several clusters of grind stone, a number of small polished stone axe heads, several tools and worked bone objects, and a several phytolith impressions either from spiral matting or basketry. In the SE corner around the ladder was a deposit containing burnt seed grain and peas, which were most likely held within a container. From the scatter pattern it seems probable that many of the objects had either hung from the rafters of the roof or fell in from the roof during the early collapse by burning, possibly from a second story. |
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