I14 THE ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN ANAU.
some earth, but nothing else worthy of remark. The positions of these finds (threshold, pithoi, brick, clay quadrangle, and skeleton) are shown in figs. 44 and 45, the pithoi separately in plate 19.
Particular interest attaches to the clay quadrangle (fig. 46). It has the form of a box, square in ground-plan, and is built of air-dried bricks, 68 by 47 cm. in the clear with an interior depth of 6o cm. Externally it is 92 cm. long by 70 cm. wide and 68 cm. high. Its lower edge can be determined all around, but the top is much broken. The inner surfaces are reddened and hardened by fire, while the exterior shows the rough, unburnt, air-dried bricks. This chest has a beam-like projection on the northeast corner, formed of a projecting air-dried brick, making a kind of handle. Similar projections probably existed at the other corners.
The earth in the interior of the chest was mixed with charcoal and with numerous animal bones. A remarkable number of fragments of pottery of group
5, a small clay figure of unburnt clay, and adecorated doubly-conical stone bead were also taken out. Fig. 47 presents the exterior of the chest. The idea of the whole can hardly have originated in a clay technique, for the beam-like projection suggests the imitation of a wooden chest. This explanation is to be considered in determining the significance of the construction. The clay figure might suggest
that it had to do with a religious rite, but quantities of such clay figures were found in the surroundings of the chest, both above and below it. The pithoi standing about point rather to practical significance. On account of the animal bones, I should call it a place for supplies and food ; and the form and origin support this interpretation. The superficial burning of the interior would be explained as a protection of the clay walls against moisture.
After the finds thus far mentioned in terrace B had been surveyed and platted by R. W. Pumpelly, and photographs had been taken of both the whole terrace and the separate finds, it was possible to remove the finds which had been left in situ, with the columns of earth that supported them. On April 26 traces of deeper-lying walls had been observed. These were now followed further as the terrace was deepened, exposing the remains of several notably thick walls, i. e., the constructions of an older period (see figs. 42 and 43).
Fig. 47.—Clay Chest in Terrace B.
IIIFカラー高解像度
