KAZI SONUÇLARI TOPLANTISI 1. CİLT - kulturvarliklari.gov.tr

It had become obvious that an up-to-date topographical plan of the sitewas needed to replace that made in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The projectpurchased satellite images of the modern village to assist the creation of anew plan. Mr Z. Kılıç, of Eksenel in Eskişehir, supplied topographical data,supplemented with a digital copy of the cadastral map of the village compiledin ca. 1950-60 and a preliminary version of the new cadastral map currentlyunder compilation by the Turkish authorities. The team created a new plan(Figs. 1-2). This will be updated and more details added to it as we proceed.Excavation in Sector R, Trench R1Vincent CLARKIn the 2010 season a trial trench was opened in Sector R, which is situatednear the southern boundary of the site (Figs. 1-2). This trench, designatedTrench R/1, measured 5m N–S and 3m E–W. It was located on an elevatedarea where the 2009 survey and geophysical investigations had suggestedthat stratified deposits may exist covering a range of occupational periodsfrom Early Byzantine to possibly Hellenistic or Late Iron Age. The aim of theexcavation was to establish the archaeological stratigraphy and occupationalhistory in this area of Pessinus, which has not been subjected previously todetailed archaeological investigation.The most significant problem encountered was the confused and disruptedsoil stratigraphy in the upper 1-<strong>1.</strong>5m of the trench, disruption probably causedby digging in the area after the area went out of use in after the Early Byzantineperiod. The sediments encountered were difficult to excavate on a stratigraphicbasis because of the extent of the disturbance and the fact that the sedimentsencountered were frequently very similar in terms of compaction, colour,composition and inclusions, making them difficult to differentiate one fromanother. Adding to this was the problem that the upper 5cm (approximately)of any exposed deposits of fill or accumulated sediments dried out, becamebleached to a uniform pale grey colour and lost all compaction within hours ofbeing exposed to the sun and the air during excavation.104