VSF 2010 Report - Nabo

Context Descriptions
[10401] Loose dark brown sandy silt with frequent gravels of all sizes and occasional charcoal flecks. Spoil
from 2008 test pit, overlying previous turf. 7.5YR 3/1 Very Dark Grey
[10402] Fairly loose dark blackish brown sandy silt with frequent gravels of all sizes. Topsoil. Substantial
bioturbation by roots, and disturbance both from levelling of mound and diversion of stream. Clear boundary
with [10401], marked by pre-2008 turf. 5YR 3/2 Dark Reddish Brown
[10403] Fairly loose very dark brown sandy silt with frequent charcoal flecks and small gravels. Three large flat
stones. Substantial bioturbation by roots and worms. Slightly mixed boundary with [10402]. 2.5YR 2.5/1
Reddish Black
[10404] Charcoal-rich lens in southern edge of column. Does not connect with section. 2-3 cm thick, clear
boundary with [10403] above. Moderately compacted black sandy silt with very frequent charcoal flecks and
fragments, and occasional small gravels. Bioturbated by roots and worms, southern edge disturbed by
excavation of 2008 column. 7.5YR 2.5/1 Black
[10405] Midden deposit. Moderately compacted mid orangey brown sandy silt with occasional charcoal flecks
and frequent natural gravels of all sizes. 7-28cm thick. Clear boundary with [10404], slightly mixed with
[10403], fairly clear with [10406]. Fairly homogenous. Bioturbation by roots and worms. 5YR 4/4 Reddish
Brown
[10406] Midden deposit. Moderately compacted mid to dark brown clayey silt with moderately frequent small
gravels and charcoal flecks. 6-15cm thick. Slightly mixed boundary with [10405], fairly clear with [10407].
Fairly homogenous. Bioturbation by roots and worms. 7.5YR 2.5/2 Very Dark Brown
[10407] Turf collapse layer from building to north east of sample column. Firm mid pinkish brown sandy silt
mottled c. 10% with mid reddish orange, with frequent charcoal flecks and moderately frequent small natural
gravels. 2-12cm thick. Clear boundary with [10406] above and [10408] below. Heterogeneous. Some
bioturbation by roots and worms. H1693 tephra within turves. 2.5YR 3/3 Dark Reddish Brown
[10408] Midden deposit. Firm mid greyish brown sandy silt with frequent charcoal flecks and occasional small
natural gravels. 7-10cm thick. Clear boundary with [10407], boundary with [10406] marked by H1693 tephra,
clear with [10409] below. Somewhat heterogeneous. Some bioturbation by roots and worms. 10YR 3/2 Very
Dark Greyish Brown
[10409] Burnt midden layer. Friable black sandy silt with very frequent charred plant remains and occasional
small natural gravels. 2-3cm thick. Clear boundary above and below. Homogenous. Some bioturbation by roots
and worms. 7.5YR 2.5/1 Black
[10410] Midden deposit. Firm mid greyish-reddish brown sandy silt mottled c. 20% with mid brownish grey,
with occasional charcoal flecks, small natural gravels and very small bone fragments. 1-6cm thick. Clear
boundary with [10409] and [10411], slightly mixed with [10412]. Heterogeneous. Some bioturbation by roots
and worms. 7.5YR 3/1 Very Dark Grey
[10411] Burnt midden layer. Friable very dark brownish black sandy silt with very frequent charred plant
remains and occasional small natural gravels. 2-4cm thick. Clear boundary above and below. Homogenous.
Some bioturbation by roots and worms. 7.5YR 2.5/1 Black
[10412] Midden deposit. Firm mid orangey-pinkish sandy silt mottled c. 5% with yellowish orange and c. 10%
with dark brown, with occasional charcoal flecks and small natural gravels. 2-4cm thick. Clear boundary with
[10411] and [10413], slightly mixed with [10410]. 2.5YR 3/1 Dark Reddish Grey
[10413] Midden deposit. Firm mid greyish brown sandy silt, mottled c. 5% with mid yellowish orange and pale
pinkish beige, with occasional charcoal flecks and small natural gravels. 3-7cm thick. Clear boundary above and
below. Very heterogeneous. Some bioturbation by roots and worms. 7.5YR 4/3 Brown
[10414] Redeposited gravel layer. Friable mid orangey greyish brown sandy silt, with occasional charcoal flecks
and very frequent natural gravels of all sizes. 26-41cm thick. Clear boundary above and below. Homogenous.
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