Thin section sample no,Unit no,Vertical context,Location,Context type,Flotation object no,RJM deposit type no,Micro deposit type no,Boundary: interpretation,Origin,Deposition,Activity,Natural events,Comments,Comparisons,Fine fabric interpretation,Plant use and taphonomy
20095.356,1,III,HS4.1,B,6036:4,5c,5a,,"heteterogeneous materials, mixed with fine pseudomorphic voids",unoriented massive deposition,?packing/trample,,,,,"poor, locally 10%"
20095.356,2,III,HS4.1,B,6030:5,5b,5b,"accumulation of charred remains on top of aggregate hard-cor packing, some deposits may have been depressed into gaps in underlying packing, or aggregates were depressed into this deposits right through (see sketch)","extensive burning of dung as fuel; burnt aggregates, trampled with unburnt sediments.","discard and some trampling, less at top",discard of ash from burning dung as fuel,unusual crystalline calcareous ?secondary formations,,,,extensive use of dung as fuel
20095.356,2,III,HS4.1,B,6030:5,5b,5b,refuse rich deposits accumulting rapidely on top of sediment rich depoist/packing,,,,,,,,
20095.357,4,III,HS4.1,B,=6018:1,5c,5b,rapid accumulation of charred remains on top of plaster. Faint sub-horizontal cracks o.5mm below surface of plaster from minor trampling,"dung burnt as fuel, charred and siliceous Gramineae burnt as fuel with burnt aggregates; unburnt plaster fragments occasionally large; some charred cereal grains; large fragment of burnt bone with various degrees of burning;",periodic in lenses 2-17 mm thick,food related burning; clearance of floors/plaster from walls,"reprecipitation of celestite; rhomboidal calcareous particles; calcite/sparite coatings inside bone, sparse bioturbation due to high concentrations of ash derived from dung",,,,"dung derived ash, charred and siliceous Gramineae, from different firings both occur in somewhat disrete lenses, although both firings must have used both, there is simply a preponderence for one occasionally in lenses"
20096.404,2,I,HS6,B,790:1,6c,5b,,Unit 2.1 includes burnt aggregates and thin lens of FI rake-out. Unit 2.2formed in a moist environment with charred flecks 10%; Unit 2.3 thick layer of unorineted trample/packing with dense pseudomorphic voids 10-20%. Burnt aggregates ornage and brown 2-5,,,some bioturbation,,,,
20096.404,2.2,I,HS6,B,790:5,6c,5b,occupation deposits on top of a compacted surface,1) fine sub-rounded anthropogenic aggregates of well-prepared orange plaster 2) ?water-laid greyish brown aggregates 3) pseudomorphic voids of ?Gramineae 4) fine charred flecks and burnt aggregates,"1) burnt debris is perhaps too sparse to represent accumulations of kiln rake-out 2) the pseudomorphic vegetal voids may have eroded from surrounding wall faces, and are common in unroofed contexts 3) the embedded related distribution and sub-rounded form",little to suggest pottery production in this deposits. Evidence for heavy trampling in an unroofed space ( ?water-laid aggregates from surface crusts),"1) ?water-laid aggregates from surface crusts 2) erosion of wall faces: pseudomorphic voids 3) moderately extensive bioturbation, which includes a range of soil faunal pellet sizes",,most closely resembles street deposits at Abu Salabikh. There are few/no similarities with deposits which accumulated in pottery production area at Abu Salabikh.,,the poor preservation of plant remains may correspond with depositional evidence to suggest exposure to heavy trampling
20096.404,2.3,I,HS6,B,790:5,6c,5b,aggregates dispersed into underlying softer deposits,"heterogeneous aggregates: burnt orange brown (40%), yellowish brown (20%), midden-like 2-5% and ? Ashes, ?highly fired pot, sparse charred plant remains",anthropogenic discard/hard core packing,FI: structural rake-out and alterations. Is the underlying surface burnt?,channels and chambers from bioturbation,ashes need ID at higher magnification,AbS pottery production area has more diverse and more highly fired aggregates than these deposits,,
20096.405,2,I,HS6,B,790:5,6c,5b,trampled occupation deposits on top of trampled floor surface,"1) ?dung, it is possible deposits derive from dung burnt to temperatures at which spherulites fragment, although this remains part of a deduction based on a series of static observations which have not be studied as experimental process, charred flecks ma",anthropogenic rake-out from kiln and a series of compacted and trampled surfaces some of which may be asociated with water-laid crusts,"kiln rake-out, and trampling of succesive surfaces","Some linear banded bedding of well sorted wind/water laid deposits in fine aggregates 50-125microns in size, in lenses 0.5mm thick. More than 30% of deposits have been disturbed by bioturbation",,"contrats with sequences of deposits in pottery production area at Abu Salabikh: Area 4I: fewer aggregates, no slag, and not purple in colour",,perhaps dung derived (see above 1). Little wood.
20096.403,2,I,HS6,B,789:1,6c,6c,,"burnt aggregates above and below fuel, probabaly structural, with infill deposits in Unit 6",,,,,,,"poorly rpeserved, fragmented"
20096.403,4,I,HS6,B,789:1,6c,6c,fuel on top of burnt aggregates,Fine material derived from ashes and rubified dung. At least 70% of deposit derived from dung.,anthropogenic: deliberately added dung fuel,"burning: probably low temperature/moist/reducing conditions, incompletely burnt remains at the base of the kiln. The overlying more oxidised fuel appears to have been cleaned out.",fairly extensive bioturbation in large channels,,"1) 20096.403 Units 3 and 5, in same thin section: dung and charred seeds interspersed throughout dense burnt aggregates from base and superstructure of kiln. 2) 20095.404 and 20095.405: rake-out in courtyard adjacent to this kiln. 3) 20094.203 Hearth HS2 ",,"Charred seeds appear to be embedded in the dung, but also occur as more isolated deposits in Units 3 and 5, mixed with burnt aggregates, perhaps because, in some instances the seeds are more durable than the finer charred matrix of dung pellets."
20096.42,3,II,HS1,B,4167:5 and 7,9,8,,heterogeneous indeterminate deposits,?massive deposit,?infill,,,,,flecks and charred remains associated with burnt aggregates and burnt bone. Pseudomorphic vegetal voids largely in aggregates
20094.215,2,IV,HP,C,1995:1,2,2,,"heterogeneous aggregates and artefacts inclduing exotic stone (clacareosu large grain), pottery, etc. Moderate concentration of bone",,,,,far fewer plants than in Unit 1,,scattered flecks in ?swept deposits
20095.359,5,V,HN,C,193:1,5b,2,"accumulation of deposits rich in plant remains and bone on top of sediment rich salt impregnated deposits: whether in a pit or on a unroofed surface, perhaps exposed to evapoarion given salts is uncertain","diverse plant remains, charred and siliceous dung; charred bone. Fine material largely dust and ashes",anthropogenic discard: at least c. 5 depositional episodes c. 5-20 mm thick,"discard of diverse remains Including burnt debris: woods, dung; charred bone and sediments; unburnt floor plaster fragments; grindstine fragment.",some bioturbation,,,,diverse range of dicot woods: charred and partially charred/desiccated. Some wood fragments and fine twigs still include bark. Dung: burnt
20095.36,1,V,HN,C,181:1,2,2,,"Burnt: assorted plant remains; aggregates; bone. Unburnt: building materials, pottery",anthropogenic discard: possibly periodic given orientation and distribution patterns,appears to be general domestic refuse,extensive bioturbation,,"similar in some respects to 20095.359: burnt and unburnt materials, but less well preserved plant remains, and more extensive bioturbation. Very similar to 20095.360 Unit 3",,diverse plants and dung burnt at a variety of temperatures
20095.36,3,V,HN,C,135:1,5b*,5b,extensively bioturbated and disturbed boundary,Fine material: brown sediments with fine charred flecks: ?sweepings,little remaining evidence due to extensive bioturbation,"components suggest some input from activities relating to burnt bone, perhaps grinding, but also includes residual pottery sherds and stone bowl sherd: all of these are sub-rounded",extensive bioturbation with large and small channels and chambers,,"very different to 20096.359: less plant remains: not as well preserved nor as diverse, and not well preserved.",,"charred plant remains include almost 'soot-like' remains, and finely fragmented charred remains including epidermal frags, seed and wood."
20096.409,1,I,HS6,C,802:5,5c,5b,occupation deposits on top of compacted surface,1) moderately well preserved charred and siliceous plant remains which have not been compacted or heavily trampled 2) burnt bone and aggregates,,fire-installation rake-out,bioturbation,check at higher magnification for additional spherulites,"20096.408, 20096.409 Unit 3 which includes unusual dark brown remains?",,"1) moderately well preserved charred and siliceous plant remains which have not been compacted or heavily trampled , sparse dung spherulites scattered throughout deposit. Charred and siliceous plant remains include Gramineae"
20094.209,17,IV,HS3,D,1202:1,4b,5b,,"pale grey sediments, rather than orange brown sediments. Whether this colour represents different material sources of post-depositional redox differences is not clear to me.",,,extensive reprecipitation of celestite/anhydrite,,,,"charred plant remains: mode internal structure, poor size"
20095.302,1,IV,HS3,D,1200:1,4b,5b,,charred and pseudomorphic,,,extensive reprecipitation of celestite and anhydrite,bone: subrounded,,,"charred: burning; Pseudomorphic different source probabaly associated with grindstone frags, and possibly wall plaster"
20095.302,2,IV,HS3,D,1199:1,4c,5b,,charred plant remains and psuedomorphic vegetal voids: different origin. Some burnt aggregates and flecks of burnt bone.,anrhopogenic discard and trample. Periodic deposition with strong parallel orientation and distribution,,reprecipitation of celestite/anhydrite,,,,"charred plant remains and psuedomorphic vegetal voids: different origin. Some charred plant fragments, although small, have moderately well preserved internal structures. Includes grey discrete dump (described in 20096.308 Unit 2) with mod-well preserved "
20095.302,3,IV,HS3,D,1198:1,4b,5b,,includes burnt aggregates. No bone.,antrhropogenic discard and trampled.,,One ?plaster/reworked water laid deposits. Reprecipitation of celestite/anhydrite.,,,,very finely fragmented charred remains. Moderate-poorly preserved psuedomorphiv voids which come from a different source/activity to charred remains.
20095.307,1,IV,HS3,D,1197:1,5c,5b,orangebbrown deposits accumulating and trampled on top of grey deposits. The presence of an aggregate of more oxidised orange brown deposits depressed into underlying grey deposits suggests that this is not a post-depositional redox boundary,,,,,,,,
20095.307,2,IV,HS3,D,1196:1,4b,5b,"trampled in moist conditions, with flames or tongues of underlying sediment pulled up , and even into Unit 2 as a lens, by adhesion to the sole of a foot","burnt: dung, diverse charred plant remains, burnt aggregates 2) unburnt building materials 3) abraded pot frags, grindstone frag","anthropogenic periodic, in layers c. 1 cm thick",discard,salts: celestite/anhydrite 1%; some bioturbation,,typical of many street deposits,,"many dung derived + charred cereal graoin, and well preserved stem/roots, moderately well preserved ?woody tissue. Well preserved and abundant pseudomorphic voids. Slightly greeinsh ash"
20095.308,2,IV,HS3,D,1199:1,4c,5b,,,dumped. Some discrete lenses of denser charred plant remains.,burning episodes and grinding,some bioturbation and reprecipitation of salts,,20095.302 Unit 2: contemporary but in centre of lane,,charred plant remains associated with burnt aggregates. Psedomorphc vegetal voids associated basalt grindstone fragments. Trampled
20096.421,1,II,HS1,D,4083:5,8,5b,minor changes in micro-climate/deposition?,"diverse, but notably includes many psuedomorphic voids, and some charred plant remains. Calcareous rock fragments and sand size grains c. 0.6 mm are fairly abundant. Some sizeable fragmnets of pottery and bone","anthropogenic trampled, pale ?slightly reduced deposits","discard of pot, bone, some charred remains in lane","erosion of ?chaff from walls, reprecipitation of salts in chambers",,"other street and lane deposist from TB, Abu Salabikh",,"abundance of pseudomorphic vgeegatl voids in streets and lanes remains a little puzzling, but is nerverthelss a pattern. Probably derived from eroding plaster on walls, as observed at TB after rain (see record photos of this process)"
20096.406,3,II,HS1,F,4130:7,5a,5b,,FI rake-out: burnt plantsand aggregates 2) sweepings: unburnt aggregates and bone,periodic: each lens is 0.5-3 mm thick. ?3 couplets/episodes of rake-out and sweepings,Porbably domestic food related ie: kitchen or recpetion room,10% bioturbation,,,,
20095.348,4,III,HF1,H,8006:7,5b,4a,collpase and dust on top of floor,dust and collapsed plaster/mudbrick,"finer grained to coarser grained. Not very compacted, suggesting accumulation of dust and collpased particles during abandonment",,"some reprecipitation of gypsum salts, but less than in floors",,overlying collapse/levelling is very similar with large aggregates 5-10 mm in size; white aggregate with lenticular gypsum; occasional burnt aggregates; rock fragment 5mm,,very sparse poorly preserved charred flecks: 'dust'
20095.347,4,III,HF1,H,?8006:7,5b,4c,,?structural materials made from anthropogenic debris,moderately large aggregates,,,,,,flecks in stuctural/trampled deposits which have been redeposited: secodnary location
20095.348,5,III,HF1,H,?8006:7,5b,4c,,heterogeneosu aggregates and loose deposits,,,,,,,flecks in debris
20095.347,2,III,HF1,H,8012:5,5a,5a,accumulation of dusty deposits/poor plaster,"1) heterogeneous subrounded aggregates: burnt, building materials and natural sediments 2) finely fragmented charred plant remains and pseudomorphic vegetal voids",,plastered floor on top of thick packing which ahs been subject to heavy trampling due to presence of sub-horizontal cracks. Possibly accumulated dusty sediments,reprecipitation of salt crystals,,,,finely fragmented charred plant remains and pseudomorphic vegetal voids
20095.348,3.3,III,HF1,H,8012:5,5a,5a,laid floors,silt loam with ?burnt aggregates/iron affected aggregates. Some thin lenses of white discontinuous ?plaster have up to 20-30% lenticular gypsum crystals c 0.125 mm: uncertain whether present in original source material or post-depositional.,"probably as a series of laid plaster floors with discontinuous lens of white plaster finishing coat. The linear distribution is unusual for a plster floor suggesting eitherit is a series of thin floors, or of trampled deposits","It may be either 1) a fairly well maintained series of plaster floors, as suggested by the embedded related distribution and presence of 5-10% vegetal voids, perhaps from stabilisers or 2) compacted trampled dusty deposits with 2% charred remains and 5-10",extensive reprecipitation of salts as infill and 'hypocaotings' to channels and chambers,,contrast with layer of dust aggregates in Unit 4 which does not have any pseudomorphic vegetal voids and has a different microstructure and no linear orientation.,,for interpretation of voids see below.
20095.347,3,III,HF1,H,8006:7,5b,5b,accumulation of deposits on top of floor/surface,"heterogeneous aggregates inclduing ?oven plaster, wall plaster, and ?organic aggregates",temporary discard and destruction,1) remains from food preparation/storage/cooking/consumption; 2) temporary discard and 3) destruction debris,extensive bioturbation including a large channel 5mm thick and chamber 15 mm thick,"nb. No bone in thin section, although quite abundant in field",,,"plant remains from food preparation/storage/cooking/consumption including seeds and cereals, exposed to moderate temperatures"
20096.4,2,IV,HS5,H,538:1,5a,5b,,"1) lens of unusual plant remains, which include linear cells and slightly mashed cells. 2) heterogeneous aggregates and woody fragments",1) ?anthropogenic laid. 2) trampled,grinding and trampling,bioturbation,,1) similar lenses of linear plant remains in underlying deposit which may reperesent a laid floor 2) aggregates and charred plant remains are a little like deposits at the base of HS6 FI,,"associated with grindstone 1) ?floor covering/ mashed plants 2) trampled wood. Wood is slightly unusual in this context, could it be woody elements of perhaps lentils?"
20096.4,4,IV,HS5,H,538:1,5a,5b,,,,,"Bioturbation 10%, except in lenses of pure ash, where it is more limited. This pattern of reduced bioturbation in lenses of calcareous ash is common at Brak in very localised and highly significant circumstances, supporting the hypothesis that ash is a go",,,,
20096.401,1,IV,HS5,H,540:1,5a,5b,,"1.1: trample/packing, 1.2 microaggregated structural materials 1.3 lens of organic remains",,unusual,,,,,"1.1 trampled/reworked flecks, 1.2 tiny flecks in microaggregated deposits 1.3 fibrous lens of ?desiccated plant remains/dung"
20096.401,2.1,IV,HS5,H,540:1,5a,5b,,"1) heterogeneous birnt and unburnt aggregates, some rounded, from ?floor sweepings 2) charred grain and plant frags 3) unburnt plant remains",?periodic in trampled moist deposits,*,some gypsum salts,check interpretation with slide,,,
20096.401,2.2,IV,HS5,H,540:1,5a,5b,increase deposition of  charred remains and ashes,"Principally derived from dung, with sparse charred remains including a ?stem/root fragment.","The presence of distinct lenses of burnt aggregates, each with slightly different colours suggesting different burning temperatures, suggests periodic accumulation of sweepings from a fire-installation and perhaps a floor. At least 8 single depositional e","periodic accumulation of deposits from fire-installation rake-out.  The presence of these burnt  deposits around the base of a grindstone, may correspond with similar observations made by Dr R. Miller, in Egypt, where ashes appear to have been used as an ","some reprecipitation of salts, and bioturbation. One channel has disrupted 25% of deposit in this slide, perhaps sugegsting that the use of ash as an insecticide in  this case was not very effective, in comparison to localised control of bioturbation evid",,contrast with other ashy deposits with restricted bioturbation,,"The 30-40% ashes may include/ comprise broken down calcareous spherules. The siliceous plant remains are modaerate-porrly preserved and appear to have been digested suggesting that they too may derive from dung burnt as fuel, with carbon driven off."
20096.401,3,IV,HS5,H,540:1,5a,5b,,heterogeneous aggregates,moderate parallel orinetation and distribution from periodic accumulation and trample,,extensive bioturbation and salt aggregates,,,,?dung and processed plant remains
20096.402,6,IV,HS5,H,540:1,5a,5b,,"1) building materials, ?from eroding walls. 2) pseudomorphic voids may derive from straw from walls and are common both in street and in rooms with grinstones. 3) grindstone sweepings. 4) sparse burnt remains","anthropogenic: swept and trampled. Some deposits may be derived from eroding/eroded deposits, which have been subsequently trampled",trampled entrance way,"sparse salts, some channles and chambers. Some components ( aggregates and ?straw) may derive from eroding walls.",,similar to many other street and lane deposits at Tell Brak and Abu Salabikh,,
20096.436,5,IV,HS5,H,553:1,5d,5b,accumulation of occupation deposits on top of water-laid crust and trampled deposits,"1) moderately well sorted calcareous silt loam, some of which may be derived from calcitic ashes 2) dense pseudomorphic vegetal voids, perhaps from grinding residues",homogenised: suggesting heavily trampled,"?grinding, due to presence of pseudomorphic vegetal voids, few obvious grindstone fragments however have been identified. The presence of highly calcareous deposits, some of which may be derived from ash, may indicate distribution of these deposits around","less bioturbation than observed in some deposits, perhaps due to highly calcareous nature of deposits, and their use as an insecticide.",,"Unit 6, is very similar to Unit 5, with denser fabric, finer and possibly fewer pseudomorphic voids, and discontinuous lenses of calcareous spherules",,
20096.436,6,IV,HS5,H,553:1,5d,5b,,silt loam sediments (orange brown) with psuedo voids,"strognparallel orientation and distribution , suggesting perhaps periodic accumulation",?residues from grinding,,,,,pseudo voids from ?grinding. NB associated with lenses of calcareous spherules
20096.4,1,IV,HS5,H,538:1,5a,8,,diverse,,?domestic,some bioturbation and salts,,,,"pseudo, charred and organic lens"
20096.4,5,IV,HS5,H,538:1,5a,8,,het,"indet fill, some lenses",,,extensive bioturbation and salts,,,
20096.436,4,IV,HS5,H,553:1,5d,8,deposition of aggregates,1) heterogeneous aggregates 2) uncharred plant remains 3) flecks of refuse,reworked by mixing/trampling: evidenced by distribution of white calcareous deposits,packing/trampled deposits,some bioturbation,,,,
20096.439,5,IV,HS5,I,543:1,5b,4a,,collapse/levelling infill with heterogeneous aggregates: building and midden,massive,collapse/levelling infill,50% bioturbation,,,,pseudomorphic voids within building material aggregates
20096.439,1.2,IV,HS5,I,543:1,5b,5b,"different depositional episode, but similar material remains",1) 10-20% unburnt plant remains and 2% basalt grindstone fragments; 2) heterogeneosu aggregates and calcareosu rock fragments 3) organic lenses,"periodic, trampled",1) ?grinding 2) heterogeneous trampled depsoits ?perhaps brought in from the street on the soles of feet,bioturbation,,"1) similar to Unit 1.1, which has more finely fragmented vegetal voids and is more bioturbated 2) similar to Unit 3 which is less compacted and more bioturbated with extensive soil faunla pelllets, and includes  elements of Unit 2, and aggregates up to 11",,Remains from grinding?
20096.439,2,IV,HS5,I,543:1,5b,5b,"accumulation of organic remains, and change in deposition",yellowish orange organic lens with articulted thin siliceous plant remains,well preserved remains with string parallel orientation and distribution,"2 ?grindstone fragments amy suggest food processing, thin epidermises ?digested, but perhaps unlikely given presence of pseudomorphic voids from plants which have since decayed are perhas unlikely to have withstood digestion",bioturbation,,,,?'dusty'/trampled
20096.439,4,IV,HS5,I,543:1,5b,5b,increased deposition of charred remains and microaggregates,1) burnt aggregates and charred remains with 2) heterogeneous aggregates,some graded bedding,?sweepings/callpase/dust,extent of bioturbation is unclear,,,,includes seed
20096.411,2,III,HS4.2,K,6569: cf.3,5a,4a,,structural aggregate: mudbrick,,,,,20096.413: Unit 14 = same; 20096.416 Unit 4 with charred plant remains (?exploded seed frag) 1.5 mm in length 1-2% charred remains in large structural frag/mudbrick; 20096.417 Unit 9,,Pseudomorphic vegetal voids: stabilisers
20096.415,14,III,HS4.2,K,6569: cf 7,5a,4a,,"structural aggregates same as 20096.411, with slightly more anthropogenic debris including lime plaster frag, pottery frag and sparse bone in loose bioturbated deposits above floor",,,,,,,
20096.45,3,III,HS4.2,K,6608:1,4a,4a,i) following contours of underlying aggregates: ii) disturbed by extensive bioturbation. Deposition of packing on top of lense of burnt aggregates,"silty clay loam=sandy silt loam with calcareous rock fragments. Includes some anthropogenic debris including burnt aggregates, basalt grain, and sparse bone frags",anthropogenic packing: unoriented. Poorly puged at least 30% of fabric comprises unreworked natural aggregates,"packing. The unsusual sub-angular ped structure is probably a product of rapid drying out of packing during heating of sediments during burning episodes infront of altar, in depression","some bioturbation, particularly along the basal boundary. Includes calcareous spherules, present in unlatered aggregates, from natural sediments, as well as general matrix",,,,"Sparse charred flecks, almost absent. Sparse pseudomorphic vegetal voids: ?stabilisers"
20095.327,1,III,HS4.1,K,6540:4,5b,4c,,collapsed structural aggregates: including ?mudbrick with partially reworked water-laid deposits; white ?wall plaster,"?anthropogenic sudden, few water laid deposits etc.",,,,,,"sparse charred flecks in structrual materials, 2% pseudo v. of stabilisers"
20096.417,7,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 12,5b,5a,probably unfinished surface of underlying plaster for application of pale plaster: compare surfaces of preparatory and finishing coats of wall plaster at Catalhoyuk,"silt loam from a more reducing environment than underlying orange plaster floor. Includes a shell fragment, rounded bone frag, and flecks of charred and partially charred/desiccated/water logged plant remains","anthropogenic, deliberately laid","laid plaster floor, some vertical cracks, either from drying or from compression?","some bioturbation,",,"20096.413 and 415 Units 13.01 and 12: these two units probabaly represent trampled remains of this plaster floor, which is better preserved in the corner of the room.",,"flecks of charred and partially charred/desiccated/water logged plant remains, and pseudomorphic voids probably from deliberately added plant stabilisers"
20095.323,7,III,HS4,K,6514:4,5b,5b,burnt debris accumulated on top of plaster floor,heterogeneous structural aggregates: not burnt: white plaster and orange brown 2) charred and siliceous plant remains including Gramineae; burnt aggregates,"linear/banded: some periodicity, ie accumulation overtime, further supported by the linear orientation and distribution of finds","an episode of burning, followed/subsequently mixed with unburnt structural materials including white wall plaster and orange brown mudbrick/plaster.",some bioturbation,,compare to accumulation of burnt debris in the corner of FS temple cella,,"burning: charred remains, some of the better preserved silicoeus remains of reeds may be derived from decomposing roof"
20095.327,2,III,HS4.2,K,6540:4,5b,5b,accumulation of microaggregates and fine charred remains on top of partially truncated orange plaster floor sequence with white plaster finishing coats,1) white plaster probably from wall plaster and fixtures and fittings 2) pale brown and orange plaster from trampled floor plasters 3) charred 'soot-like' plant remains from burning somewhere,?abandoned/trampled,abandoned/final burning and clearing out of temple,"bioturbation, and salts in underlying deposits ( the whole section face had salted over by the end of the season)",,"other samples within temple; ritual building HS4.1, fine floor area in HF1",,'soot-like' charred plant remains
20096.411,3,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 3,5b,5b,"accumulation of charred remains on top of microaggregates,",?Gramineae and dust with some collapsed structural aggregates,"'soot-like', not compacted, possibly adhering to collapsed building aggregate in upper lens",burning and general accumulation of dust and 'soot': ?abandoned/prior to infilling/collapse,,,"compare to 20096.411 Unit 6.3 which accumulated during lifetime of building; and other similar lenses in slides 20096.413 and 95.327 etc. (417 includes siliceous plant remains, 413 unusual green rock fragment, 327 20-30% aggregates of collapsed white wall",,
20096.411,6.3,III,HS4.2,K,N,N,5b,accumulation of depositsfrom use of building on top of white plaster finishing coat,1) trampled aggregates: structural ?floor 2) burnt aggregates 3) 'soot-like' plant remains,anthropogenic: ?trampled,"trampling in ritual building. NB The underlying white plaster finishing coats are rare at Tell Brak, and resemble those at Catalhoyuk in clean and ?ritual contexts",some ?root disturbance,,20096.411 Unit 3: Unit 6.3 has more trampled building materials and is more compacted with an embedded related distribution. Compare to 20096.427 and 428 which are also from a ritual building and represent thin charred lensesh,,'soot-like'
20096.413,13.01,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 5,5b,5b,between active zone of underlying floor plaster and accumulation and compaction of sediment rich deposits,silt/dust,gradual accumulation?give strong orientation of pseudomorphic vegetal voids. Vertical cracks from ?compaction,"clean, no bones, pot, etc. origin of finely fragmented plants represented by pseudomorphic vegetal voids uncerain",sparse channels and chambers,,"Compare to earlier accumulations between floors, and accumulation of organic rich deposits in overlying lens",,"linear voids of decayed plant remains, asscoaietd with oranic staining, as in overlying organic rich lens"
20096.413,13.02,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 5,5b,5b,,"charred and partially charred/desiccated plant remains. Some aggregates of collapsed mudbrick and plaster, same as aggregates in overlying deposit","? Natural, moderately well sorted with moderate parallel undulating orientation and distribution",?abandoned,,,1) contrast to earlier sediment rich accumulations during ocupation 2) compare to other accumulations of ?soot on last floor in other grid squares,,?wind blown soot
20096.415,12,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 7,5b,5b,probably on top of trampled surface of plaster floor,"pale brown aggregates and silt loam, uncharred plant remains preserved as finely fragmented pseudomorphic voids","anthropogenic: compacted, possibly gradual as plant remains are strongly oriented","moderately clean, no bone, burnt aggregates etc., uncharred plant remains and ? Charred 'soot'","bioturbation, possinly extensive in left hand side of slide",,very similar and contemporary with 20096.413 Unit 13.01. Compare to earlier accumulations on top of plaster floors in this building,,"finely fragmented pseudomorphic voids, sparse organic staining"
20096.415,13,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 7,5b,5b,accumualtion of plant remains on top of sediment rich deposits,"charred and partially charred plant remains, associated with some silt loam sediments",? As 'soot' and dust which has settleed on top of underlying sediments. Also peresent as sparse aggregates and discontinuous lenses in overlying collapse/infill,"?accumulation of 'soot' immediately post-abandonment. Deposits are loose and not compacted suggesting they may have accumualted post-abandonment, or during last activities within the temple. There do not appear to be acccumulations of such soot in earlier",bioturbation and organic staining,What do Sumerian texts etc. say of the nature of rituals within temples?,How do these deposits compare to other deposits in ritual buildings such as Dilmun temple at Saar In and around altar? And in late third millennium building with possible altar in Area HP. These deposits are very similar and contemporary with thin charred,,plant remains are very finely fragmented and appear to represent 'soot'. They are associated with up to 10% organic staining
20096.416,3,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 4,5b,5b,accumulation of charred remains on top of burnt and partially truncated surface,"principally fine charred plant remains, generally <0.125mm, with fine sediment. The 10% aggregates are only present in truncated area in right hand side of slide and resemble aggregates in Unit 2.","?'soot': given strong orientation and complex packing voids: ie not reworked, preservation of underlying knife edge boundary","see discussions for other samples: probably soot, although source of burning is a lttile uncertain, but top of Unit 2 is burnt, where it hasn't been truncated. May be last fire in depression area, followed by truncation and trampling of some surfaces, fol",,,other charred lenses in Temple on top of last floor.,,?'soot'
20096.417,8,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 12,5b,5b,"charred remains which have settled, perhaps as 'soot' on top of underlying plaster floor","see discussion of 20094:413 and 415 Units 13.02 and 13. Includes more aggregates from probable building collapse, probably due to closer proximity to walls",? As soot and dust and collapse,?abandoned,"bioturbation, some organic staining in fine fabric",,20094:413 and 415 Units 13.02 and 13.,,?'soot'
20096.424,3,III,HS4.2,K,6600:1,5b,5b,follows ocntours of uderlying subangular brick fragment,"Diverse orgins: prediminantly building material aggregates: 50 % from three different orange -orange brown sources, aggregates with multiple lenses of orange and white plaster, unusual pale silt loam aggregates, burnt aggregates. Fine material includes al","massive, dumped, probably as one episode, rather than as a series of episodes."," May represent debris from clearing out stores of seals, dismantling of statues/boxes set into niches etc.It clearly differs from deposits which infilled the rest of the building by virtue of the high concentrations of sealings?",extent of bioturbation uncertain due to unodirented and loose character of deposit,,infill of rest of building (1994/5 sample),,"Diverse charred plant remains, moderate-poorly preserved, sparse siliceous remains also moderately preserved. Sparse spherulites and one ?aggregate, suggest dung may have been burnt somwhere"
20096.416,2,III,HS4.2,K,6596.cf 4,5b,8,"accumulation of aggregates on top of plaster floor surface which had been burnt in-situ in left hand side of sample, and truncated on left. Although entire underlying plaster floor has been rubified, extant burnt surface only survives on left","abundant burnt and building material aggregates, some slag and calcareous rock fragments, and ?natural aggregates which have not been reowrked and are very similar to the surrounding fine material","uncertain deposition: ? Rough plaster/trampled deposits/ collapsed deposits. The unorineted and random depositiona of components, their comparatively fresh condition, might argue for collapse,  but the embedded related distribution is more difficult to un",unusual deposit with high concentrations of diverse aggregates: see dicussion in deposition. The uppper surface of this layer was rubified and burnt in-situ in the left hand side of the slide. The top of this deposit in the right hand side has been trunca,some bioturbation,,white plaster floor and trampled pale deposits in other samples from the Temple. This unit represents perhaps a thrid deposit type in this contemporary series of horizons.,,"the sparse charred plant remaisn may have been charred in-situ in some instances, near surfaces of floor, otherwise, they are indeterminate"
20096.423,2,II,HS1,L,4108:12,2,1*,,"?wind and water laid deposits, partially trampled",?natural,"?abandoned/little used corner of the courtyard. NB the presence of the intact dry pellets in the overlying layer 4162, Unit 3, suggests low intensity disturbance in this area of the courtyard and rapid sedimentation",bioturbation,,,,
20096.422,1,II,HS1,L,4108:12,2,2,,refuse and overlying plaster which includes some anthropogenic debris,,,,"Unit 4 heavily burnt bone 4mm, not very well preserved plant remains",,,charred remains are denser and better preserved in Unit 1 than in plaster Unit 2
20096.431,2,V,HN,L,264:1,2,2,trampled and reworked boundary: occupation deposits on top of mudbrick packing,"Heterogeneous sources including: 1) unburnt plant remains: perhaps from wall faces, possibly from dissolved siliceous remains; 2) heterogeneous burnt plant remains ranging from charred remains to vesicular melted silica, these include more wood and twigs ",,?domestic hearth rake-out and sweepings from trampled areas,,,How doe these deposits compare to those from HN dump/pit/open area in the East of the trench in higher levels?,,
20095.355,6,III,HF1,L,8020:4,5b,4a,,heterogeneous aggregates: building materials and midden-like aggregates,probably dumped as infill,building infill,"extensive bioturbation, reprecipitation of salts",,,,
20096.427,10,III,HS4,L,6079:1,5b,4a,,"1) burnt aggregates, probably from walls and roof, and  2) unburnt building materials, some of which are dislidged from underlying floor plaster","gravity: collapse, possibly disturbed by trampling",,collapse,,,,
20096.406,6,II,HS1,L,4130:7,5a,4b,"deposition of packing on top of ashy layer, subsequently disturbed by insect burrow",diverse deposits: 1) structural materials 2) burnt aggregates 3) charred plant and dung remains 4) organo-mineral deposits often with finely fragmented charred remains and bone fragments.  The large size of the  psuedomorphic vegetal voids suggests that t,massive anthropogenic: packing,deliberately laid packing made from diverse anthropogenic deposits.,"some reprecipitation of salts. Bioturbation along basal bounday, perhaps suggesting deposit was fairly indurate, and or that insects were avoiding calcareous ash rich deposits in Unit 5",,compare and contrast with mudbrick samples,,finely fragmented charred remains may be derived from fragmented dung
20095.355,2,III,HF1,L,8025:4,5a,5a,,"natural aggregates, aggregates with charred flecks, either rworked into floor, or trampled",,,extansive reprecipitation of salts,,,,
20095.355,3,III,HF1,L,8025:4,5a,5a,,"silt loam with sparse anthropogenic inclusions, ?natural soil.",moderately well pugged plaster floor,moderately well prepared thick plaster floor,"20% bioturbation, 5% salts",,less rock fragments than underlying packing/levelling,,5-10% pseudomorphic vegetal voids from added vegetal stabilisers
20095.354,10,III,HF1,L,8025:4,5a,5b,trampling of plaster floor surface and accumulation of organic materials,"lenses of sediment with finely flecked chared remains, burnt aggregates and sparse bone, 2) lenses of oragnic remains including fibrous pseudomorphic voids and yellowish orange organic staining 3) lenses of ash","slightly compressed, linear and banded",burning ?cooking sweepings; 2) deposition of fine unburnt fibrous remains,"reprecipitation of slats, and some bioturbation",,?HS5,,"charred flecks and burnt aggregates from burning, thin lenses of ashes from higher temperature more oxidides combusition; pseudomorphic voids from unburnt plant reamins, finely interbedded"
20095.354,20.1,III,HF1,L,8020:4,5b,5b,"accumulation of deposits, perhaps trampled on top of orange plaster floor","1) poorly preserved charred and partially charred plant remains almost 'soot-like' 2) moderately well preserved siliceous and pseudomorphic void remains of Gramineae ?from roof, includes reed, 3) aggregates probabaly from collapse","?natural, during collapse",burning somewhere,"collapse, bioturbation and reprecipitation of salts (nb latter were forming on section faces in HF1)",,compare to HS4.2 Temple and thin lenses of charred remains on floor throughout temple,,charred flecks from a fire; Gramineae including reed from the roof?
20095.354,20.2,III,HF1,L,8020:4,5b,5b,,"heterogeneous aggregates: midden-like, structural clean and dirty",,infill,,,,,flecks etc. secondary
20095.355,4,III,HF1,L,8025:4,5a,5b,occupation on top of plaster floor,50% natural aggregates,,?trampled/reworked/poorly prpeared  floor surface and sediments,,,,,charred flecks and pseudomorphic vegetal voids
20095.355,5,III,HF1,L,8020:4,5b,5b,,?matting. Some organic aggregates ?coprolites,trampled with/below mat,organic rich related,extensive bioturbation,,,,midden-like dust
20096.408,4,II,HS1,L,765:3,5b,5b,occupation deposits on top of thick packing,"1) moderate-well-preserved Gramineae, charred and siliceous, linear and curvilinear (ie. Transverse and longitudinal sections 2) burnt aggregates 3) sparse dung","anthropogenic dumped, not very compacted, nor disturbed by trampling",Fire installation rake-out,"bioturbation 20% infilled channles, salts along boundary with underlying packing",,,,"1) moderate-well-preserved Gramineae, charred and siliceous, linear and curvilinear (ie. Transverse and longitudinal sections 2)  sparse dung"
20096.418,3,III,HS4.2,L,?6558:1,5b,5b,bioturbated,dung burnt at ?low temperatures/reducing conditions,"anthropogenic, dumped",dumping of residues from low temperature/reducing burning: primarily dung: ?smouldering fire/store,,,"Unit 4: burnt in more oxidising conditions with dung pellet ashes. Unit 6 more plant remains including charred well preserved plant remains including stem/root (20%), silicoeus remains c. 5%",,
20096.418,6,III,HS4.2,L,?6568:1/5,5b,5b,uncertain transition: ?heavy trampling before discard of ash,1) distinctive lenses of charred plant remains 2) trampled plaster floor aggregates 3) structural aggregates,periodic,,,,,,"moderately wel preserved grains and organs, less well preserved epidermal linear frags"
20096.422,3,II,HS1,L,4108:12,2,5b,,"heterogeneous 'domestic' inclusions: burnt aggregates, wood, ?obsidian chips, fresh bone",?trampled and compacted,domestic occupation,"bioturbation, salts, sparse brown and yellowish brown organic staining",,,,flecks and moderately well preserved wood
20096.423,3,II,HS1,L,4162:7,5b,5b,undertain: lens of salts and white ash on top of sediment rich deposits: suggesting a surface horizon,?trampled dung with thin discontinuous lens of calcareous ahses over the top,?herbivore,?stabling in courtyard,extensive reworking by soil fauna and salts,,Ch93.15 Level X/VIII ?stable,,?dung derived. Well preserved desiccated pellets were discovered in overlying lenses with phytoliths. No phytoliths are evident in this lens.
20096.43,7,V,HN,L,240:1,5b*,5b,?covering on top of floor and subsequent accumulation of ?swept deposits,1) heterogeneous aggregates,"finely compacted, progressive accumulation of ?sweepings",?well maintained:swept room with thin orange floors laid sporadically,"some channels and chambers, but surprisingly well-preserved original structure",*check interpretation with slide,,,"pseudomorphic vegetal voids: straw from roof, loose covering on floor?"
20096.433,2.1,I,HS6,L,815:6,5a,5b,accumulation of occupation deposits on top of sediment rich deposits ?floor,"heterogeneous: 1) unburnt sediment, rounded aggregates, plaster frgamnets and some bone 2) burnt aggregates including ?oven plaster, microaggregates of structural materials, bone, and plant remains",1) single dump 2) dump mixed with overlying deposits richer in sediment,"1) floor sweepings, not burnt 2) mixed perhaps prior to dumping with fire-installtion rake-out","bioturbation, reprecipitation of salts, as well as salt aggregate as original depositional inclusions",,,,"lightly burnt grasses, diverse plant remains, dung and ashes from ?dung"
20096.43,11,V,HN,L,240:1,5b*,8,,heterogeneous aggregates,massive infill/collapse,some bone slivvers very abraded. ?fresh rodent tooth in disturbed deposits,"extensive bioturbation, soil fauna pellets, and salts",,Different from Units 5-9 which rare very similar to Unit 7 (Fully described). Unit 10.1 highyl burnt aggregates with low birefringence as a bsis of bright orange plaster Unit 10.2,,charred flecks associated with burnt aggregates
20096.433,3,I,HS6,L,815:1,5b,8,,heterogeneous unburnt and burnt aggregates,thickish layers,?domestic,salts and bioturbation,,,,moderate-poor
20096.427,9,III,HS4.1,L/K,6079:1,5b,5c,"burnt surface, replastered over, some burnt aggregates dislodged and included in base of overlying plaster","series of fine plaster floors from at least three different source types: 1) reducing 2) oxidising 3) silt sized partciles greyish white PPL, whitish XPL, calcareous: ?prepared lime (needs further reseearch)",anthropogenic laid,"some undulations in plasters perhaps from use. The building appear to have been burnt (Unit 8 floor surface), re-used during accumulation of plaset floor series in Unit 9 (see Boundary form) then abandonded: Unit 10 microaggregates, collapsed burnt wall p",some bioturbation and creation of fine sand size aggregate and inclusions in infilled channels,,"compare white plasters here, with others at TB and Ch",,very sparse charred/desiccated plant flecks; sparse pseudomorphic vgetal voids: probably stabilisers
20096.42,2,II,HS1,X,"4167:5, 7",9,5b,,"burnt Gramineae and dung, with burnt aggregates and sparse bone",anthoprogenic dumped and probabaly subsequently trampled,fire-installtion rake-out which includes some food preparation debris,"salt reprecipitated at base of deposit, some bioturbation",,more trampled and fragmented than 20096.408,,"burnt gramineae and dung,"
20096.432,10,V,HN,X,271:5,8,5b,,"1) micro-aggregates of plaster/structural aggregates, miden-like/FI rake-out 2) dung 3) basalt grindstone fragment and 4) pseudomorphic vegetal voids",1) compacted micro-aggregates 2) sub-horizontal cracks from trampling,"accumulation of probable sweepings: aggregates from floor plaster and other structural elements; finely fragmented charred plant remains, bone fragments and basalt grindtone fragment: probably domestic",bioturbation,,Abu Salabikh Area A Open area?,,Pseudomorphic vegetal voids: associated with grindstone fragment or exterior eroding wall faces?
20095.325,2,IV,HS4.2,X,1185:9,4b,6c,"trampled floor surface with aggregate depressed in to floor, prior to burning during destruction","dense layers of silica rich plant remains, predominantly Gramineae. Burnt aggregates from destruction",single layer,?storage of straw or tinder/bedding/collapsed roofing,bioturbation and reprecipitation of salts,broken pots with extensive deposits of charred grain also found in this room,compare to KT samples,,2-5 cm thick layer of grasses (which would have been much thicker in antiquity
20096.455,6,II,HS1,X,4168:1,6c,6c,,fuel rake-out with aggregates,"single depositional episode: not very compacted, not strongly oriented","burning of a variety of plant remains, with ?some sweepings",bioturbation: channels and chambers,,,,