Embankments

23Embankments were related to the levelling and flattening of the surface in order to install each new phase of occupation, especially in the Communal building (chap. 5). They were composed of material of various sizes (millimetres to centimetres) and origins (human-made or natural) lightly mixed with some water (fig. 9-4, B). The variety of material showed the exploitation of different resources identified at Klimonas or around the site. The heterogeneous distribution of materials and the absence of coalescence was the result of the no preparation. The dry material was set up in massive layers 2-5 cm thick.

Fig. 9-4 – Substructures. A, microphotography of a stony floor containing constructed aggregates (TC) and flints (S) and bones (O) from occupation layers (PPL). B, microphotography of an embankment constituting aggregates of different origins (PPL).

Stony floor

24Stony floors were identified in the transition from one occupation episode to another within the same occupation phase of the Communal building. Stony floors were made of coarser elements than the embankment, mixed with sediments from occupation layers (fig. 9-4, A). Among the debris, we recognised some constructed aggregates, burnt aggregates, flakes of bones and micro-charcoals. Coarse elements like stones and flints are added to the mix. Some coatings around the inclusions showed that sediments were mixed while wet in order to achieve cohesion of the material. Stony floors had various thicknesses, from 3 to 9cm.

Formal floor

26Formal floors were made of fine sediments very poor in coarse inclusions, which could be the result of the careful selection of material. Massive to crumbly microstructures were related to the mixing of sediments with a high quantity of water in order to obtain mud. During the preparation, plants had been added as temper (fig. 9-5, A). The material was then kneaded in a less wet state. The kneading created a particular microstructure of rounded aggregates delineated by fine curved cracks. The small voids and some planar sub-horizontal voids were associated with compaction during implementation. Formal floors were usually 2-4 cm thick.

Informal floor

27For the construction of informal floors, only fine sediments poor in anthropogenic micro-residues were used, probably related to the sieving of sediments before preparation. Sediments were mixed with plant represented by phytoliths (fig. 9-5, B). Informal floors were prepared and setup in an almost dry state by spreading the mixture on the surface. Each layer was about 0.5 to 1 cm thick.

6.1.1. Wall

33The peripheral earth wall was constructed by piling earthen lumps of facies GGB (at least for the conserved part). The entrance was delineated by three earth walls (St 179, St 175 and St 144), in the north and east. The earth walls associated with the entrance were built by the superimposition of earthen layers. However, the origin of the wall’s sediments was the same BOS facies which corresponded to the substrate of this part of the sector. St 179 was founded into the colluvial formation and built by sediments of BOS facies. In the lower part of the earth wall the material was poor in anthropogenic micro-debris, while in the upper part, micro-residues were more abundant (fig. 9-6).

Fig. 9-6 – Scans of thin section of wall St 179 in association with microphotographs of the sediment used for the construction of the foundation trench and the superstructure of the earth wall (PPL).

34Concerning St 144, there were two hypotheses about the relation of the earth wall with St 10. The first suggests that it was a part of St 10 and belonged to the entrance area (chap. 5). The second hypothesis supported that St 144 was not part of St 10 but belonged to an adjacent building which had not been excavated. Nevertheless, the elevation of St 144 was made of sediments forming occupation layers, though its foundation trench was not yet excavated.

6.1.2. Entrance corridor

35The entrance corridor was located between the two earth walls (chap. 5). Micromorphological analysis detected four episodes of use. The first one is related to two occupation surfaces made of construction debris and formed directly on the havara bedrock (fig. 9-7, A). Trampling marks showed frequently used surfaces in dry weather conditions (fig. 9-7, B). The second episode (SU 2005 inf) corresponded to a circulation surface 2 cm thick. This surface was formed by the accumulation of human activity debris, such as constructed clumps, micro-flakes of animal bones (2-5%, <150µm), clumps with high concentration of phytoliths (20%) and burnt aggregates (2-5%). Biological activity seemed to be contemporary with the use of space and was expressed by root chambers and soil fauna channels (fig. 9-7, C), which in some cases were deformed under the trampling pressure. Micritic coatings and iron oxide impregnations were interpreted as the effect of several cycles of humid/dry environmental conditions.

Fig. 9-7 – Photomicrographs of the activity surfaces of SU 2005 and 2004. A, Two activity surfaces on a carbonated surface; vertical cracks were created by trampling (PPL). B, Carbonated coatings in the voids related to wetting and drying changes (SU 2005 inf; XPL). C, Biological activity channels bore pressure from trampling (SU 2005 sup; PPL). D, Vertical planar voids of earth wall degradation (SU 2004; PPL).

36The third episode (upper part of SU 2005) corresponded to the accumulation of debris resulting from the space’s high frequency. Crumbly microstructure and small planar voids were the result of trampling in humid environmental conditions. Iron oxide impregnations and micritic coatings were related to these environmental conditions. Some silty and dusty aggregates rich in charcoals could have derived from occupation surfaces, like the ones identified in the Tell Halula (Wattez and Courty 1996, p. 56). Connected phytoliths could be the remains of a plant mat. During this episode, biological activity was considered as -contemporary to the occupation.

37The corridor stratigraphy was formed by the accumulation of earthen debris from the walls. Humidity from the rain has been recorded in the sediments suggesting a space poorly protected from the weather. Next to earth wall St 140, some constructed fragments in combination with biological activity suggested accumulations from earth wall degradation.

38The forth episode of the corridor’s use corresponded to SU 2004. The nature of sediments was still the same. However, the trampling marks were less abundant for this episode and the presence of phytoliths on the top of the surfaces suggested plant mats or midden deposits (Karkanas and Efstratiou 2009, Shillito et al. 2011). During this episode, the degree of space use was less intense than during previous episodes. The biological activity was significant and considered as contemporary to the occupation, because in some areas it was compacted by trampling activity

39Sediments in the corridor recorded changes in the external humidity. In combination with the lack of any micromorphological markers of water runoff, we tended to suggest that the corridor was a poorly protected space from the outdoor environmental conditions. Micromorphological observations describe the formation processes of the corridor as the result of both degradation of the earth walls and human activity inside and outside the structure. The biological activity of the soil fauna and flora was well presented and contemporary to the occupation (Kooistra and Pulleman 2010; fig. 9 -7, D).

40During the second phase of occupation, the entrance became narrower and the space was filled with earth and stones. None of micromorphological samples came from this phase.

6.1.3. Floors and activities

41During the first phase of occupation, there were two episodes separated by a stony floor. The first episode was characterised by a formal floor (SU 10.9) made of havara sediments. Trampling marks showed a frequently used space containing some micro-residues, such as micro-charcoals, some bone flakes, all smaller than a millimetre (fig. 9-8, A). Before the second episode, a stony floor (SU 10.3) was installed in order to prepare the space for the next episode (fig. 9-8, B). The latter was characterised by a sequence of informal floors that contained a high amount of phytoliths (20-30%). The successive informal floors (part of the SU 10.3) pointed to a regularly maintained space. Micro-residues were more abundant than the previous episode: micro-charcoals (5-10%), bone flakes (2-5%) and flints (5-10%; < 5mm long; fig. 9-8, C and D).

Fig. 9-8 – Photomicrographs of the first phase of occupation (SU 10.9 and 10.3). A, Formal floor of SU 10.9 with some human micro-residues and enchytreidae activity (PPL). B, Stony floor at the bottom of SU 10.3 containing flints (S), bones (O) and constructed clumps (TC), PPL. C, Informal floor (PPL). D, dusty silt of an informal floor (PPL).

42According to the micro-residue assemblage and the maintenance of the space, we concluded that activities of a domestic character occurred during the occupation of Building 1, which became more important during the second episode (fig. 9-14). The space may have been dedicated to food preparation and consumption, a fact supported by the excavation of hearths along the peripheral earth wall.

6.2.1. Wall and entrance

43According to archaeological data, the peripheral earth wall was restored during the second occupation phase (St 117). Sediments used for the restoration came from occupation layers (YBY facies) containing human micro-residues. This part of the earth wall was built by piling earthen lumps (fig. 9-9, A and B).

44During the second phase of occupation, the entrance became narrower (chap. 5) and the space was intentionally filled with coarse earthen materials, stones and flints. The significant biological activity at these levels showed a post-depositional evolution of the layer. A new part of the peripheral earth wall (St 47) was built by successive earthen layers of sediments. Micromorphological analysis detected the use of YBY facies sediments for the construction of the new wall (fig. 9-9, C, D, E). The use of YBY sediments during the second occupation phase indicates an environment well dominated by human activities.

Fig. 9-9 – Peripheral earth wall of “Building 2”, St 117. A, Microstratigraphy of the earth wall (scan of thin section): kneaded earthen lumps. B, Microphotography of a detail of the sediment used for the construction containing bone flakes and micro-charcoals (PPL). C, Microstratigraphy of earth wall St 47 set up by successive earthen layers (scans of thin sections). D, Fine horizontal voids created by pressure during the set up of earthen layers (PPL). E, Detail from the foundation of the earth wall constructed by sediments from occupation layers (PPL).

6.2.2. Floors and activities in Building 2

45An earth bench (St 166) was identified in the northern part of the Intermediate building (chap. 5). It was constructed by earthen materials of CDB facies, mixed with plant temper and set up by the superimposition of successive layers.

46The transition to the second phase of occupation was materialised by the installation of an embankment (few centimetres in the lower part of SU 10.6; fig. 9-10, A) on which a sequence of informal floors had been setup (fig. 9-10, C; upper part of SU 10.6 and SU 10.28).

Fig. 9-10 – Photomicrographs from SU 10.6 and 10.28. A, Detail of the embankment between the first and second occupation phase, composed of aggregates of various origins (base of SU 10.6; PPL). B, Detail from an informal floor: dusty silt mixed with phytoliths and altered charcoals (arrow; PPL). C, Sequence of informal floors (SU 10.28; PPL).

47Informal layers were quite poor in phytoliths and micro-residues were few and only represented by micro-charcoals (2-5%) and bone flakes (0-2%; fig. 9-10, B). Trampling was also less intense on these floors. Moreover, biological activity decreased throughout this episode. These elements show a regularly maintained space where human activities were quite limited. The space could have been dedicated to storage, taking into account the assemblage of mouse bones (chap. 28) from these floors; it seems more probable, however, that the space was used as a storage room for cereal.

6.3.1. Floors and activities in Building 3

48The transition from the second to the third occupation phase was made by the setup of an embankment (lower part of SU 10.5; chap. 5). There were not earth wall remains that corresponded to this phase of occupation, only a peripheral earth bench (St 153) inside the structure. St 153, like St 166, was made up of CDB facies sediments containing diatoms and set up by successive layers of earthen material.

49Microstratigraphic analysis showed three occupation episodes for this phase. Some centimetres of the upper part of SU 10.5 were characterised by successive layers of informal floors, set directly on the embankment (fig. 9-11, A). Phytoliths on the floor’s surface suggested the use of a plant mat. Some diatoms, also observed on the surface, could have been related to the degradation of earth bench St 153. Micro-debris were not abundant on these floors– only some burnt aggregates (0-2%) and stones were identified. However, the lamellar microstructure was the result of intense trampling of the surfaces (fig. 9-11, B). On some surfaces, “v” shaped incisions could be related to the flattening of floors before the installation of the next floor.

Fig. 9-11 – Photomicrographs of the “Building 3” floors.

50The beginning of the second episode (always in SU 10.5) was characterised by the setup of a formal floor that included some aggregates from informal floors. In contrast to the first episode, the second episode contained a high number of micro-residues, such as bones (2-5%), flint flakes (2-5% and <1.5cm long) and constructed aggregates (2-5%; fig. 9-11, C).

6.3.2. Spatial analysis

51For SU 10.2, which corresponded to the third episode of “Building 3”, spatial analysis was applied in order to test and define the partition of activities within the same occupation episode. This revealed variations not only in the use of space but also in the floor type and construction. Variations may be related to a repartition of different activities in the same occupation episode. (fig. 9-12).

Fig. 9-12 – Spatial partition of activities in “Building 3” (third occupation phase).

52In the centre of the building, the formal floor was related to an earthen structure, which was identified only in thin section. For the construction of the formal floor, materials seem not to have been well mixed as they contained several residual aggregates. On the surface of the floor, some water intercalation crusts in combination with iron oxide impregnations were associated with the micro-debris of human activities, such as charcoals and bones. The crusts resulted from the superficial runoffs (fig. 9-11, D). This part of the stratigraphy highlighted a peripheral zone of water evacuation and important biological activity (soil fauna and flora). This zone was situated next to an earth wall or an internal earth wall and it had not been well protected from rain or superficial runoffs.

53In the western part of SU 10.2, a sequence of informal floors (fig. 9-11, E) placed on the embankment was identified. The high presence of phytoliths (20-30%), which, in some cases, were interconnected, as well as iron oxide impregnations, could be related to a plant mat on the floor that conserved the soil humidity (fig. 9-11, F). Micro–residues like bones (5-10%) and construction debris (2-5%) of infra-millimetre size were relatively abundant, especially near the upper part of the successive refection layers. Biological activity was moderate, a fact indicated by regular maintenance of the space dedicated, most probably, to food consumption activities.

54In the eastern part of SU 10.2, informal floors were also set. However, bones (2-5%) in relation to micro-charcoals (5-10%) and flint flakes (2-5%) and hearths, found during the excavation, could also be evidence of food preparation activities.