THE SOUTH AREA EXCAVATIONS

Simon McCann and Roddy Regan

Figure 18. Aerial view of Building 56, Level V.

This season’s work in Building 44, attributed to Level IV, focused on the completion of the primary phase of the building and its construction phase which was found to be intricately linked with the closure activities of the underlying Building 56. As was defined in 2004 the internal layout of Building 44 consisted a series of platforms and benches laid out along the eastern wall, a platform in a northern bay area and a platform in the southwestern corner. An oven cut into the southern wall of the structure. Up to eight burials were found cut through the central east platform, along with disarticulated infant bones.

The underlying earlier Building 56 (attributed to Level V) mirrored the layout to Building 44 only diverging in the northwest corner where a blocking in the wall leads into a ‘room’ and a wall niche close by (Figure 18). On the floor in front of the niche was a concentration of shell, possibly a necklace and possibly a ‘closure’ deposit (Figure 19).

Figure 19. Concentration of shell, possibly a necklace and possibly a ‘closure’ deposit from Building 56.

A number of interesting closure / construction events and deposits illustrate the continuity and possible ‘ritual’ nature of moving from one house and into another. One such item, which may mark a transitional event, is the clay stamp seal (see Figure 1) that was found in room-fill between Buildings 56 and 44.

This season saw the completed excavation of Building 42, the building which yielded two of last season’s exciting finds, the marble figurine and the painted plastered skull. Within the eastern foundation trench that cut through underlying midden, was surprisingly the silicified remains of a timber plank. The underlying midden area Space 260, extended over both an earlier building, Building 53, to the west and another area of extensive midden Space 261. The repeated cycle of occupation and middening appears to be a theme connected with this area. Midden in Space 261 yielded interesting deposits, which have been suggested to relate to feasting activity and celebratory events, possibly related to the construction or abandonment of a house.