DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4945#0068
The Primitive Structures.
57
character, mere clay and small flattish stones. The bed is rather irregular,
but never above —4-85, and the highest surviving stone lies at — 4* 22.
When it was gutted and partly destroyed at the close of our search, no objects
similar to those in the Basis filling were found under its foundations ; but
four electrum coins (p. 75) and a few beads occurred in the upper part
of its filling. On all grounds, therefore, but one, it is naturally to be
referred to the same period as the Basis ; and that one is this. Whereas
the Basis wall was evidently left visible down to its lowest course, and the
surrounding pavement must have lain, as stated above, not higher than
— 4 • 70, the western rectangle shows roughly faced courses rising about
■ 50 above that level. It is, of course, not impossible that an outer skin
of better masonry has been
lost, and that what now
remains is only a core ; but
there is no vestige of such
a skin, and, after all, the
existent facing is not more
rough than that of most
primitive Greek buildings.
It is quite possible, also, that
it was originally plastered.
It suffers from comparison
with the schist masonry of
the Basis, which is of ex-
ceptional excellence for its
period. We conclude, therefore, that the western structure also belongs to
Temple A.
Between it and the Basis intervenes a T-shaped mass of foundations,
agreeing in axial direction with both rectangles, constructed in the same
material as the western, and bedded equally low (the eastern part
even lower, on the same level as the Basis foundation). The head of
the T is 2-82 long, the stem 1 ■ 66 broad in the middle, and the two together
measure 2-88 from W. to E. The highest surviving point is —4-43. In
considering the period to which this foundation belongs, certain facts must
be noted. (1) It abuts on the western platform with a straight joint.
(2) Its lower courses are bonded throughout, and form one mass of con-
struction. (3) The lower courses of the foot of the T arc continued
through the Basis wall behind, occupying the place of the lowest schist
1
Fig
15. Western A Rectangle from the S.E., partly gutted.
T-shaped foundation projecting in the foreground.
57
character, mere clay and small flattish stones. The bed is rather irregular,
but never above —4-85, and the highest surviving stone lies at — 4* 22.
When it was gutted and partly destroyed at the close of our search, no objects
similar to those in the Basis filling were found under its foundations ; but
four electrum coins (p. 75) and a few beads occurred in the upper part
of its filling. On all grounds, therefore, but one, it is naturally to be
referred to the same period as the Basis ; and that one is this. Whereas
the Basis wall was evidently left visible down to its lowest course, and the
surrounding pavement must have lain, as stated above, not higher than
— 4 • 70, the western rectangle shows roughly faced courses rising about
■ 50 above that level. It is, of course, not impossible that an outer skin
of better masonry has been
lost, and that what now
remains is only a core ; but
there is no vestige of such
a skin, and, after all, the
existent facing is not more
rough than that of most
primitive Greek buildings.
It is quite possible, also, that
it was originally plastered.
It suffers from comparison
with the schist masonry of
the Basis, which is of ex-
ceptional excellence for its
period. We conclude, therefore, that the western structure also belongs to
Temple A.
Between it and the Basis intervenes a T-shaped mass of foundations,
agreeing in axial direction with both rectangles, constructed in the same
material as the western, and bedded equally low (the eastern part
even lower, on the same level as the Basis foundation). The head of
the T is 2-82 long, the stem 1 ■ 66 broad in the middle, and the two together
measure 2-88 from W. to E. The highest surviving point is —4-43. In
considering the period to which this foundation belongs, certain facts must
be noted. (1) It abuts on the western platform with a straight joint.
(2) Its lower courses are bonded throughout, and form one mass of con-
struction. (3) The lower courses of the foot of the T arc continued
through the Basis wall behind, occupying the place of the lowest schist
1
Fig
15. Western A Rectangle from the S.E., partly gutted.
T-shaped foundation projecting in the foreground.