Bamboula, Trenches 1–21

Tr 20:15 (no house designation)

(IX:1;22-10-48) In the southern section of tr 20 (20:15 & 16) we work cleaning out intrusions, several of which seem to have excaped us before. Along the extreme S. wall of the trench, grey earth that looks intrusive is found under red earth that appears intact. It may be that we have hit on a tunnel dug from a plunderer's pit further to the south.

(IX:11;22-10-48) Dig below 9.19 in 20:15 through gritty red earth, much like that at 9.50 in 20:11. (Same; 23-10-48) In the whole area of 20:15, 20:16 and 20:12 there is apparently a deep fill of red earth thrown in before the LCIII houses were built. This goes down, apparently pretty much thoughout this section, to a fairly consistent burned level, covered with ash varying from a thin trace to ca. 10 cm. in depth. There are no signs of building remains inthis level. Abandon the digging in most of the trench and sink one square, under the corner of 20:11, 20:15, and 20:16 to see the stratification. The pure charcoal and ash layer goes to a burnt clayey level. Below this we find another layer of ash, at 10.11. This is circular in shape, and rests on a bed of clay with many stones, clearly burnt under considerable temperature. Around this circle of ash is a solid bed of gritty red clay, similar to that we have been cutting through, burned hard along the ash circle, which slpes up onto it slightly. Over the whole thingwas a layer of clayey silt, clearly deposited in several strata with water (see drawing on p.13). It now becomes clear that the whole area under 20:11 and 20:15, as well as the confused section dug earlier in 20:12 is a large open space within a vast rock cutting, in which we have the remains of many small furnaces, sunk partly into red clay. They are on several overlapping levels, without any prevalent level; there was apparently a constant replacement, and raising of level as required, no one held long enough to become packed into a real floor. It seems likely that these ovens have some connection with the evidence we have fo nd for bronze smelting in this area. Photos B3-5 showing furnaces. Dig below 10.11 in the trial pit, again upon a deep deppsit of clay silt, lying in part on ash, in part on stones and sherds. At 10.17 come upon a deep deppsit of clay silt, lying in part on ash, in part on stones and sherds. The silt lies in rather uneven strata, suggesting that it came in a fairly thick state, too thick to lie at a uniform level throughout. There are pieces of gritty red clay in the mud, and one large and several small pieces of green clay, looking as is it might contain some copper.

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(IX:15;25-10-48) Dig below 10.17, reaching a layer consisting almost entirely of green clay at ca. 10.20. Dig below 10.20 and find a mixed layer of very unusual clays for Bamboula, green, red-brown, deep grey, etc. Keep samples. Digging a bit lower, we realize that this is bedrock; a heavy clay with brightly coloured green and dark brown strata, with chrome yellow spots. Dig away 30cm. to be sure. This is most unusual and should be analysed for metallic content; it may have some bearing on the dopper industry in this area. Dig down west of the trial pit and find a reasonably well preserved oven at 9.87. Photos '48B6-7 partly cleared. Photo '48 B8 cleared inside and to north.