THE PHYTOLITHS

Emma Jenkins

Samples for analysis were recovered from deposits that promised to be rich in phytoliths as well as from middens and pit fills and from a variety of artefacts. The analysis of the phytoliths from these units will be done at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London over the coming months.

Two bins sampled from Building 52, 4040 Area (F. 2002 and 2004) appeared to have been used for food storage.

Two ‘building infill’ units were sampled and six midden samples, which were selected to gain an overview of the plants that were exploited at the site and of the plants that were present in the area surrounding the site to gain an understanding of the local environment.

Finally, a number of artefacts were sampled. The first of these was a basket (11970) that was excavated from the 4040 area. This was sampled to try and determine what it was made from. A similar feature was found which was a roughly constructed basket which appeared to be made from some kind of ‘woody’ material and unworked metapodials were found within this structure. In the TP area two samples were taken from pottery vessels (11544) and 12259) to try and determine what they were used for.