| Collection: | Corinth | |
| Type: | Basket | |
| Name: | Nezi Field, context 5552 | |
| Area: | Nezi Field | |
| Context Type: | Wall | |
| Title: | E-W running rubble foundation wall | |
| Category: | Cut | |
| Notebook: | 1101 | |
| Context: | 5552 | |
| Page: | 0 | |
| Date: | 2008/05/20 | |
| Stratum: | Firm, poorly sorted, sandy silt with 40% inclusions (pebbles of all sizes, cobbles, boulders, ceramics, bone, glass) | |
| Description: | The soil color is dark yellowish brown. The soil compaction is firm. The soil is poorly sorted. It is sandy silt. Structure materials: Limestone, marble, rooftiles, conglomerate. Material size: see notes. Material finish: foundation: unworked, superstructure: squared. Material construction: regular coursed. Material bonding: mud. Features: possible threshold, marble spolia. | |
| Notes: | We are phasing this wall to determine how it fits in with the buildings in this area. This wall appears to be 13th century or later based on construction and visible pottery in the wall (Guy Sanders). This wall, which we believe is exposed to the bottom or near to bottom, consists of regular coursed foundation 1.17m high and one course of superstructure 0.22m high. The foundation is made up of mostly unworked limestone rubble alternating with courses of roof-tile. Not enough tile is exposed to take more than two dimensions. Mixed in with the limestone are occasional unworked conglomerate stones (0.27m x 0.14m) and at least one marble stone (0.16m x 0.20m). If it is spolia, it has no visible distinguishing shape. Only one course of superstructure is preserved (limestone), with a possible threshold starting 1.40m from west end of wall and spanning 1.40m. This threshold is made up of three stones, and the middle stone is a marble spolia (0.58m x 0.36m x 0.16m) (see context sheet for sketch) which is an impost column. This wall bonds with 5553. Sanders hypothesizes that this wall is exterior because of wall placement and because the threshold is higher than the threshold of wall 5553 (by 0.09m) so that it could block street water. This wall (5552) abuts and does not bond with 5483, which Sanders hypothesizes is 12th century based on construction and pottery from floor and roof destruction level of room west of wall 5483. Sanders hypothesizes that some walls of a large 12th century house were still in use when this 13th century wall was incorporated and redivided the space. Sanders suspects that no foundation trench will be found for this wall because the rubble foundation is too unstable to stand in a wide trench. The trench was most likely only as wide as the wall. Once the bottom is securely located, the wall should be taken down because it cuts through a 12th century room which we are down to or almost down to the level of. Limestone foundation: 0.24m x 0.18m x 0.11m; tile foundation: 0.09m x 0.03m; limestone superstructure: 0.43m x 0.37m x 0.12m Revised 9.6.08 ACF: Bottom elevation is the lowest exposed. [Amendment to record from 2008] Revised 31.3.09 DWL: This wall has been approved for remobal and will be removed today. Original recording in 2008 covers both the foundation and lowest course of wall superstructure with the same context number. Since foundations and superstructures are separate structures, a new context number has been created for the superstructure (5922). Henceforth, 5552 will refer only to the foundations. Ok, so it wasn't removed today after all. Revised 1.4.09 DWL: The foundation will be removed today. As of now it is impossible to tell whether it bonds with structure 5965. It was necessary to stop the demolition of the wal halfway through to accommodate the stratigraphic excavation of deposits 5954 and 5964 since there was a possibility that they may have collapsed if the foundation had been removed completely Marble spolia recovered include chunks and chips of broken marble and parts of worked architectural blocks. Large chunks of what maybe serpentenite or andocite were also recovered. The soil in the lower courses was a light yellowish grey. Chunks of greenish "schisty marble" (Sanders) were also used in the foundation. Sanders thinks it is Carystian marble and part of a column due to the curved face of the largest chunk. One of the marble pieces is a volute from a column cap. Revised 2.4.9 BS: Ash uncovered as well. Rechead new soil level, different in kind from fill in wall, soil harder, contains ash. Dark, reddish brown. End of wall. Panos the pickman speculates that this structure may be related to wall 5648, i.e. it may continue under unexcavated baulk between 5552 and 5648, a threshhold. NB: New top plan created. Revised 6.4.9 DWL: We removed the top few courses of foundation 5552 (East end, all that remains at this point). We are removing this foundation a few courses at a time because it is surrounded by balks which might collapse if foundation 5552 were removed completely, and we want to excavate those balks stratigraphically. As the balks are excavated further, we will remove a few courses at a time from foundation 5552 in accordance with the principle of excavating the latest material first. Foundation 5552 seems to bond with wall 5965, but also cuts the foundation trench of wall 5965, which is unexpected if they truly bond, and suggests that foundation 5552 may actually be later than wall 5965. The top two courses of foundation 5552 seem to be laid on wall 5965 rather than properly bonding with it. The situation will become clear as excavation procedes. Revised 10.4.9 DWL: We are removing a few more courses of the wall today. The soil does not seem to be of a different composition in these courses. Revised 14.4.9 DWL: We are removing a small portion of the wall to clarify the boundaries of floor 6088. The soil omposition did not show substantial differences from that in other parts of the wall. Re-opening this context for the second time today. Two more courses to be removed. A small marble capital was found during the course of the removal of wall 5552, attatched to and of one piece with its column shaft. The capital of the column wasw hollowed out from top to bottom. The depression formed by this hollowing contained mixed in with this soil a number of seeds, well preserved [T. Webb supposes those to have been brought in by ants], G. Sanders supposes hat the column-and-shaft is part of a table. Re-opening this context for the third time today. The baulks to the N and S of the foundation have been taken down low enough that we think we can remove the rest of the foundation without disturbing them. Revised 15.4.9 DWL: Demolition of the wall continues. When we reached the lowset course, we noticed a darker, redder soil in the matrix of the wall, similar to the soil of deposits 5949 and 5952 to the W, which were overlaied by the western extremity of the foundation 5552. We have elected to treat this lowest course as the same context as foundation 5552 since it is obviously the same structure and the nature of our excavation process (see above) has given us a preview of what to expect beneat the lowest course. Removal of the lowest course of the foundation revelaed a structure composed of well-cut rectangular limestone blocks of uneven size. We can also now see clearly that foundation 5552 does not bond with wall 5965. | |
| Context Pottery: | Fineware. ww polychrome (1050-1120), plate. 1 rim. (saved to lot) .; Fineware. premedieval26 bodysherds. ; Fineware. plain glazed, unslipped (800-1100), chafing dish. 2 rims. 1 bodysherd. ; Fineware. glaze painted I, slipped (1110-1130), bowl. 1 rim. 1 bodysherd. ; Coarseware. pedestal, bowl. 2 rims. ; Fineware. ww plain (700-1120), plate. 1 rim. 5 bodysherds. ; Fineware. slipped plain glazed (1100-1300), bowl. 2 bodysherds. ; Cooking ware. collar rim stew pot (1000-1100)4 rims. ; Fineware. unidentified slip painted, bowl. 1 rim. (saved to lot) .; Fineware. ww polychrome (1050-1120), cup. 1 rim. (saved to lot) .; Coarseware. amphora. 1 rim. 2 handles. 22 bodysherds. ; Fineware. plain glazed, unslipped (800-1100), pitcher. 1 bodysherd. ; Coarseware. matt painted, stamnos. 1 bodysherd. ; Cooking ware. inwardly sloping rim stewpot (950-150)1 rim. ; Fineware. ww plain (700-1120), mug. ; Coarseware. ; Fineware. maghreb, bowl. 1 rim. (saved to lot) .; Fineware. ww stamped, cup. 1 bodysherd. ; Cooking ware. triangular rim stew pot (1100-1270)5 rims. ; Fineware. plain glazed, unslipped (800-1100), bowl. 1 bodysherd. | |
| Pottery Summary: | 75 frag(s) 0.79 kg. (100% saved) fineware. | |
| 779 frag(s) 16.61 kg. (100% saved) coarseware. | ||
| 299 frag(s) 4.1 kg. (100% saved) cooking ware. | ||
| Context Artifacts: | bone comb 1 (saved to lot); glass clear blue handle 1; Bone- Not in Table - 1 example(s).; iron slag 1; iron strip 2; bone needle point missing eye missing rectangular shaft; glass clear green 1 goblet stem; iron 1 flat strip; iron nail square shank 1; glass clear green 1 bracelet; glass clear thumb indented cup 3 rims 2 bases 2 bs; glass clear green 2 miniature handles; bronze strip 1; glass clear bluish bs 1 goblet stem 1; tesserae 1 white 1 blue; iron 4 flat strips, 2 lumps, 1 arrowhead, 5 iron nails; glass slag 3; glass clear green 29 bs 3 bases 1goblet base 4 goblet stems 7 thickened rims; metal slag from sieve 7; bronze 1 flat strip; bone worked fibula pig 1; glass clear 3 bs 2 bases; Bone- cranial of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 2 example(s).; Bone- cranial of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 4 example(s).; Bone- cranial of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 14 example(s).; Bone- cranial of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 1 example(s).; Bone- femur of B. taurus (Cattle) - 1 example(s).; Bone- femur of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 3 example(s).; Bone- femur of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- femur of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 1 example(s).; Bone- humerus of B. taurus (Cattle) - 1 example(s).; Bone- humerus of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 3 example(s).; Bone- humerus of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- humerus of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 1 example(s).; Bone- innominate of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- innominate of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 2 example(s).; Bone- innominate of Mammalia, md (Mammal - Medium) - 2 example(s).; Bone- limb bone, undiff. of Mammalia, md (Mammal - Medium) - 6 example(s).; Bone- limb bone, undiff. of Mammalia, md (Mammal - Medium) - 2 example(s).; Bone- limb bone, undiff. of Mammalia, md (Mammal - Medium) - 9 example(s).; Bone- mandible of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 3 example(s).; Bone- mandible of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 6 example(s).; Bone- mandible of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- metapodial of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 5 example(s).; Bone- metapodial of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 3 example(s).; Bone- metapodial of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 1 example(s).; Bone- phalanx of B. taurus (Cattle) - 1 example(s).; Bone- phalanx of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- phalanx of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 2 example(s).; Bone- phalanx of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 2 example(s).; Bone- radioulna of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- radioulna of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- radius of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- radius of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 3 example(s).; Bone- rib of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 2 example(s).; Bone- rib of Mammalia, lg (Mammal - Large) - 4 example(s).; Bone- rib of Mammalia, md (Mammal - Medium) - 3 example(s).; Bone- rib of Mammalia, md (Mammal - Medium) - 12 example(s).; Bone- scapula of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- scapula of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- scapula of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 5 example(s).; Bone- tarsal of B. taurus (Cattle) - 1 example(s).; Bone- tarsal, astragalus of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 1 example(s).; Bone- tarsal, calcaneus of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- tibia of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- tibia of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 2 example(s).; Bone- tibia of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 4 example(s).; Bone- tooth of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 1 example(s).; Bone- ulna of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s).; Bone- ulna of Sus scrofa (Wild Boar or Domestic Pig) - 1 example(s).; Bone- vertebrae of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 2 example(s).; Bone- vertebrae of Capra aegagrus hircus (Sheep/Goat) - 1 example(s). | |
| Period: | Frankish (1210-1458 AD) | |
| Chronology: | 2nd half 13th | |
| Grid: | 277.6-271.15E, 1025.7-1026.52N | |
| XMin: | 271.15 | |
| XMax: | 277.6 | |
| YMin: | 1025.7 | |
| YMax: | 1026.52 | |
| Site: | Corinth | |
| City: | Ancient Corinth | |
| Country: | Greece | |
| Masl: | 83.7-86.19m. | |
| References: | Report: Nezi Field 2008 by Anne C. Feltovich, Catherine W. Person and Emily M. Rush (2008-05-05 to 2008-06-14) Report: Nezi Field 2009 by Dan Leon, Ben Sullivan (2009-04-23 to 2009-04-24) Report: Nezi Field 2009 by spongberg hammond lima (2009-05-20 to 2009-05-21) Images (4) Coin: 2009 41 |
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