Bamboula, Area E–F

AREA E (Revised Stratification) HOUSE VII

The stratification of House VII is of fragmentary nature. House VII is, in effect, a continuation of House I-expanded-into the LC III period. In VII.1-3 were found masses of pottery which was in use at the time of the destruction of the house. This was crushed and covered by a deep deposit of burnt building debris, proof that the house was destroyed by fire, a fire which struck so suddenly that the inhabitants did not have and opportunity to salvage any but perhaps their most cherished possessions. The house was never rebuilt. Evidence of fire was also found in E.V and part of E.IV adjacent to it, but is not general on Bamboula. Thus this is not part of a uniform "destruction level", but simply the result of accidental and isolated conflagration.

House VI, which adjoins House VII, shows no trace of the fire. This raises the possibility that this house had already been razed at the time of the destruction of House VII. This possibility gains further credence from the fact that nothing remains of the walls of the northern of the house, save for the one which it shares with House VII, and which would thus have been needed even after House VI had ceased to exist.

The ceramic evidence for the history of the house is as follows:

1. The material of the upper floor was excavated at the following levels: VII.1, 7.17-7.18; VII.7, 6.58-6.72; VII.6, 6.54-6.62; VII.7, 6.79-6.83. It may be noted here that the big pit in the center of VII.1 is said to have contained the large pithos found by Markides and now in the Cyprus Museum. Daniel remarked that roots had caused considerable damage to the floors in this area.

2. Deposit dating from the last use of the house was found on the floors at the following levels: VII.1. on 7.17; E.VII.2, on 6.94; VII.3, on 7.16; VII.7, on 6.58. The following decorated vases were found at these levels:

LC III Dec. : P984, 985 Black Slip Bucchero: P1206 Shaved ware, wheelmade: P986 Plain Wheelmade II: P2832, 2837, 2851, 1207, 2831 Vat: P2829

Printed: P2839

Handwritten: ML 124

The sherds were as follows:

90% Plain (with at least 434 PWM II) 70 sherds LC III Dec. (includes P984-5) 13 " BSB 5 " Myc. III 5 " WS II 27 " BR 10 " Wash 4 " RP

85 % Plain (includes 98 PWM II) 10 sherds LC III Dec. 7 " BSB 1 " RL III 4 " WS II 7 " WS I 8 " BR (includes one bull frag.) 10 " Wash 4 " RP

Handwritten: D 18 VII

Handwritten: D 14 VII

Handwritten: VII.5-6 filling of wall cutting