The description of the features Sample Clauses

The description of the features. The pits A total of 36 features have been interpreted as pit features. They consist of 26 simple pits containing artefacts, eight with ceramic depositions, and one very deep pit. Their outline at excavation level is round with the exception of five elongated pits. The shape of the latter can be described as rectangular with rounded corners. They contain one or multiple complete ceramic depositions and/or discarded depositions, i.e. F 18+33, F 143, F 193, F 199 and F 201. When excavating this type of large, but relatively shallow features, one can easily define the limits of the pit by means of the dissimilar texture and the fact that sherds are often found in a vertical position against the pit wall. Entire ceramic vessels are placed at either end of the rectangular pit whereas fragments of broken vessels appear to be deposited randomly but in a voluntary way, as they were rather easy to refit at our home base. These pits measure between 120 and 170 xx xxxx and between 40 and 55 cm wide, creating a pit with perhaps the dimensions of a stretched human body. Although we did not find any bone (burnt or unburnt) or other tangible (human) proof, we consider the pit’s shape and the deposition of the ceramics to comply with an inhumation grave. Once the pit was emptied, we could certainly imagine an individual –possibly wrapped in a hammock– being placed in such a tomb (Fig. 9.6). Pit F 199 is probably the best example together with F 143. Here beautiful ceramics were deposited at one end of the pit, presumably at the deceased’s feet. Pit F18+33 was first excavated as two different features, but a ceramic analysis indicated that fragments from both pits fit. This caused us to opine that both features belonged to one and the same elongated pit disturbed by a treefall as the second décapage confirmed. However, one must not forget the possibility that post-mortem activities may have resulted in the deliberate fragmentation of this pit’s content. The majority of these pits were found at the summit of the hillock whereas one was found to the east of the summit and another in the very southern part of the excavation, which at first sight revealed a dispersed distribution. The other ceramic depositions (N=6) represent complete vessels found locked in the sterile subsoil (US 3000). In fact, the outline of a possible pit was hardly visible. We therefore presume these vessels were deposited in a tight-fitting, rapidly filled pit. Although we did not find any human bone (ag...