DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4945#0043
32 The Archaic Artemisia oe Ephesus.
courtyard ; but nothing appeared below these except, at first, a layer of chips,
and finally clean saturated sand, into which a 5-foot bar could be driven up to
the top. This cut, since it was made to serve as a " sump " to collect water for
the large pump, was continually being dredged and deepened ; but no remains were
discovered in it below the Hellenistic and Croesus levels. Two sinkings were
made at the west end (G 14, C 14) through what would have been the
Croesus steps, had they extended westwards on an even front (see below,
p. 249) ; but once through the chip layer we found ourselves in clean saturated
sand without being able to touch hard bottom within 5 feet. In the west
centre, however, a solitary fragment of foundation in yellow limestone was
uncovered, which lay lower than the lowest Croesus step, and outside it. For a
discussion of this probably Primitive structure see later, p. 71. The lower
levels were also sounded nearer the edge of the stylobate in G 13, E 13,
and D 13. At the east end sinkings were made in A 3, 2, 1, and H 3 ;
and on the north side in A 4, 5, 6, 7, while the bedding between the
Hellenistic piers was being examined. In all these soundings the sand,
presumably the bed of the original marsh, was found under the Croesus layer
of marble chips. But at so low a level does this saturated sand lie that we
were never able to keep a pit sunk in it clear of water, even with pumps ; and
all investigations below the chips were in the nature of dredging operations.
Soundings were also made within the area of the peristyle, but, as far as
possible, without disturbing surviving patches of Croesus pavement. The first
pit was sunk in E 12, close to the corner of the south-west aiita, at a point
where the two uppermost layers of Croesus pavement were seen to be missing.
The third layer was found in place at a depth of "49 below the surface of
the platform. On breaking through this, we came upon a belt of clayey sand
about '15 thick and mixed with much burnt stuff, immediately underlying
the slabs. Below this again were marble chips, mixed with a very tew sherds
of fabrics proper to the earlier part of the 6th century is.c. Under these again
lay saturated sand, into which we persevered for about half a metre depth,
baling out the constant inflow of water ; and finally we probed with a 5-foot
bar without being able to touch hard bottom.
A second pit was made in F 9, where for the first time we observed
massive blocks underlying the triple Croesus paving. Later operations within
the cella showed these to be of the same date as the pavement. Below the
blocks was a layer of chips, and then bottomless sand. The same result
awaited soundings made later in F 6, 5, 4, 3 ; F 4 ; 1) \\ C 5 ; C 7 ;
B 7 ; C 9, 10; L) and F 10 ; but in certain of these pits, though no Primitive
courtyard ; but nothing appeared below these except, at first, a layer of chips,
and finally clean saturated sand, into which a 5-foot bar could be driven up to
the top. This cut, since it was made to serve as a " sump " to collect water for
the large pump, was continually being dredged and deepened ; but no remains were
discovered in it below the Hellenistic and Croesus levels. Two sinkings were
made at the west end (G 14, C 14) through what would have been the
Croesus steps, had they extended westwards on an even front (see below,
p. 249) ; but once through the chip layer we found ourselves in clean saturated
sand without being able to touch hard bottom within 5 feet. In the west
centre, however, a solitary fragment of foundation in yellow limestone was
uncovered, which lay lower than the lowest Croesus step, and outside it. For a
discussion of this probably Primitive structure see later, p. 71. The lower
levels were also sounded nearer the edge of the stylobate in G 13, E 13,
and D 13. At the east end sinkings were made in A 3, 2, 1, and H 3 ;
and on the north side in A 4, 5, 6, 7, while the bedding between the
Hellenistic piers was being examined. In all these soundings the sand,
presumably the bed of the original marsh, was found under the Croesus layer
of marble chips. But at so low a level does this saturated sand lie that we
were never able to keep a pit sunk in it clear of water, even with pumps ; and
all investigations below the chips were in the nature of dredging operations.
Soundings were also made within the area of the peristyle, but, as far as
possible, without disturbing surviving patches of Croesus pavement. The first
pit was sunk in E 12, close to the corner of the south-west aiita, at a point
where the two uppermost layers of Croesus pavement were seen to be missing.
The third layer was found in place at a depth of "49 below the surface of
the platform. On breaking through this, we came upon a belt of clayey sand
about '15 thick and mixed with much burnt stuff, immediately underlying
the slabs. Below this again were marble chips, mixed with a very tew sherds
of fabrics proper to the earlier part of the 6th century is.c. Under these again
lay saturated sand, into which we persevered for about half a metre depth,
baling out the constant inflow of water ; and finally we probed with a 5-foot
bar without being able to touch hard bottom.
A second pit was made in F 9, where for the first time we observed
massive blocks underlying the triple Croesus paving. Later operations within
the cella showed these to be of the same date as the pavement. Below the
blocks was a layer of chips, and then bottomless sand. The same result
awaited soundings made later in F 6, 5, 4, 3 ; F 4 ; 1) \\ C 5 ; C 7 ;
B 7 ; C 9, 10; L) and F 10 ; but in certain of these pits, though no Primitive