VSF 2010 Report - Nabo

Figure 2b. Structure 3 in 2006 facing NE, with floor [332] exposed, showing the
section cut by the 2003 evaluation trench, along which the micromorphology samples
were taken in 2005, when the floor was still overlain by turf collapse.
Sample 34 (Figures 5.1-5.2)
This sample was taken from the edge of the floor section near the west turf wall, and was
composed of threee layers. The underlying soil layer was notably organic, containing both
grass phytoliths and amorphous organic matter. This was evidence that this had formerly
been the A horizon (topsoil) before the building was constructed and so showed that the
underlying soil was not prepared in any way prior to building construction. There is clearer
evidence of this in Sample 38, and so this building method will be discussed in further
detail below. Also present in this soil layer were small groups of fungal spores, notably
concentrated in areas of decomposed grass. Another interesting feature identified here
were small groups of wood phytoliths (Figure 5.15), which are the remains of decomposed
wood – either construction materials or fuel. This layer also contained a high number of
pollen spores, which were frequently in clusters (Figure 5.16) but these require futher
work to identify, since palynologists are unaccustomed to examining pollen in thin section
and those consulted were not certain about the identy of the pollen present in Structure 3.
The floor layer, context [332], was dark in colour due to its high charcoal content
(averaging at 44%; see Figure 5.1). The majority of this charcoal was present in the form
of tiny fragments, which could not be identified to species. There was also a small
presence of organic matter in this layer; however, it was in an amorphous state (no cell
structure preserved) making it impossible to identify its origin.
The upper layer in Sample 34 was composed of mixed turf, with various disturbed
lenses resulting from post depositional bioturbation. Worthy of note were the presence of
amorphous yellow aggregates associated with small bone fragments, which are typical of
carnivore/omnivore dung (Figure 5.17). These, along with the irregularly dispersed small
bone fragments also found in this layer were likely to have been present in the turf prior to
it being cut and used for roofing, and indicate that the turf was taken in the region of the
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