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6. Results: Stratigraphic Distribution and Seriation of the Ceramics

Having described the classes and variants that we were able to identify within the assemblage, we now present the quantitative ratios of each class and its variants according to the chronological sequence of each trench. For reference, brief details of the stratigraphic layers and their depths as they were recorded during excavation are provided in Table 4. As mentioned earlier (see Methods), plotting the stratigraphic distribution of classes began with Trenches C and F. As such, these results are presented first followed by their chronological phasing in relation to the radiocarbon dates for these trenches that have recently been obtained (Mohanty et al. in press). These results are then followed by the stratigraphic distribution of ceramics in the remaining trenches (A, B and D), and their chronological phasing in comparison to the dated ceramics from Trenches C and F.

Table 4: Dig numbers, depths, and brief descriptions of the layers pertaining to Trenches A-D and F at Mahurjhari, together with an indication of the presence (*) or absence of different categories of archaeological material found during excavation.
PT=pottery, BD=bead, BD-d=bead debitage, BR=brick, BN=bone, SH=shell, MT=metal, TC=terracotta, ST=stone, and WS=worked stone
TR Layer Digs Depth (cm) Description PT BD BD-d BR BN SH MT TC ST WS
A 1 1-3 0-30 Loose, greyish soil. Disturbed through modern ploughing activity * * *
2 4-6 30-45 Greyish soil, with potsherds and brick fragments throughout the trench * * * * *
3 7-9 45-80 Compact, light grey soil * * * * * *
4 10-11 80-100 Compact, dark grey soil, with isolated finds including a stone 'Lajjagauri' plaque, as well as fragments of an animal-head terracotta figurine * * * * * * *
5 12-13 100-115 Black clay soil * * * * * *
6 14-15 115-120 Natural black soil, below which was a bed of lateritic gravels (or 'murrum') * * * *
B 1 1-2 0-18 Loose, greyish soil. Disturbed through modern ploughing activity * * *
2 3-5 18-40 Compact, light grey soil * * * * *
3 6-9 40-62 Compact, light grey soil. Special finds including bead polishers * * * * * * *
4 10 62-68 Ashy, loose soil * * * * *
5 11-14 62-90 Black soil, below which was a bed of lateritic gravels (or 'murrum') * * *
C 1 1 0-10 Loose, greyish soil. Disturbed through modern ploughing activity * *
2 2-3 Oct-20 Compact, grey soil * * *
3 4-7 20-50 Ashy, grey, loose soil * * * *
4 8-15 50-110 Compact, brownish grey soil. Special finds including bead polishers * * * * * * *
5 16-21 110-140 Dark brown blackish soil * * * * * *
6 22 141-142 Black soil, below which was a bed of lateritic gravels (or 'murrum') * * *
D 1 1 0-7 Loose, blackish grey soil. Heavily disturbed. * * * *
2 2-9 Aug-60 Compact, grey soil * * * * * *
3 10-12 60-80 Light grey soil * * *
4 13-14 80- Thin layer defined by alignments of stones, indicating possible structure or surface * * * * * *
5 15-17 Natural black soil, below which was a bed of lateritic gravels (or 'murrum') * * *
F 1 1-6 0-20 Light grey, soft loose soil; heavily disturbed through modern ploughing * * *
2 7-14 20-50 Dark grey soil, disturbed with animal burrows * * *
3 15-24 50-75 Compact ashy grey soil with stone beddings * *
4 25-29 75-95 Compact light grey soil * * *
5 30-39 95-145 Compact brownish grey soil, with frequent gravels * * * * *
6 40-48 145-185 Compact, brown clay soil with gravels. High frequency of beads, debitage and polishers * * * * *
7 49-56 185-215 Dark brown compact soil * *
8 57-60 215-232 Natural black soil, below which was a bed of lateritic gravels (or 'murrum') *

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