Tharros

Topsoil in Area B

SU 8002 was a deep fill of topsoil. The first 5-6 cm were a grey topsoil with a mixture of vegetal, faunal, and modern and ancient cultural material, with sizes ranging from penny to palm sizes. Beneath the first 5-6 cm was a large quantity of medium-brown top soil with a softer texture and some inclusions of ceramics, plaster, and other cultural materials also penny to palm sized. Throughout the topsoil were a large quantity of penny sized tesserae, which were collected, as well as some quarter sized chunks of plaster with possible red paint. A large number of fist-sizes stones were located floating along the eastern side of SU 8002. Along the north wall of SU 8002, a lip was located 1-2 cm beneath the surface. The ledge extends varyingly about 4-5 centimeters out from the north wall and has a flat cement surface, and ends near the eastern side of the wall just before the wall ends and before the eastern edge of the trench.