Agora Deposit: U 21:1
Title:   Well
Category:   Well
Description:   Well cut into bedrock under late Roman building in ΕΛ. 1.2m in diameter with small cutting of unclear function at south edge about 0.2m wide. Walls cut straight down, tapering near bottom to 0.8m. Footholds about 30cm apart down the north and south sides. Does not seem to have tapped into a water source, no distinct period of use. There were 14 layers of fill from two periods-the Roman resurfacing of the area using Hellenistic fill (possibly associated with Deposit T-U 21:1, but not kept as such since floors were damaged in area directly above) and dumped fill from the late 6th/early 5th c. B.C. Much earlier material (Neolithic, etc) mixed throughout.
Layers:
Hellenistic fill under Roman floors
I.(86.34-85.93m) rubble
II.(85.93-85.58m) dark brown rubble
III.(85.57-85.30m) more stony rubble
IV.(85.30-84.80m) very rocky, almost sterile, increase of clay and sand
V.(84.80-84.03m) less rocks, almost sterile, increase of clay and sand
Late 6th/early 5th B.C dumped fills
VI.(84.03-82.64m) mix of clay and sand deposits, dog skulls
VII.(82.64-81.79m) mostly sand
VIII.(81.79-81.39m) light brownish-grey clay, almost sterile
IX.(80.39-80.99m) mix of grey clay, brown clay and sand, much ceramic
X.(80.99-80.24m) sandy, more ceramic
XI.(80.19-77.74m) sandy, enormous stones (some 100kg+). A "contamination layer" was excavated after layer X because heavy rains refilled the well.
XII.(77.74-75.71m) clay with sand, even more ceramic, ,burned rocks and sherds; pigment and wood
XIII.(75.71-74.84m) crushed bedrock and marl, wood (bucket), large shells, little ceramic, pigment. Excavated in two baskets, seasons 2002 and 2003.
XIV.(74.84-74.57m) bluish-gray crushed bedrock,, little ceramic and charcoal
Notes:   This deposit should be called U 20-22: but won't be changed for practical reason. (February 2007).
Bibliography:   Hesperia 83 (2014), p. 201, table 2.
    Hesperia Suppl. 46 (2011), p. 376.
Chronology:   Late Archaic
Date:   26 June-2 August 2001
12 June-2 August 2002
12-23 June 2003
Section:   ΕΛ
Grid:   U/3,4-21/20,22/2
Elevation:   86.34-74.57m.
Masl:   74.57-86.34m.
References:   Publication: Hesperia 83 (2014)
Publication: Hesperia Suppl. 46 (2011)
Report: 2002 Excavations
Images (24)
Objects (9)