Counter

Counter, east part/faces

Floor in the area: The surface of a floor is preserved by A-B, and by the corner B2-B3. The remains are fragmentary, though a level of the floor is possible to establish. The height of the counter at these points: 0.65 — 0.66 m, in present reconstructed state.

All sides of the counter are polychrome incertum, with a majority of lime stone. Only two tufa blocks are visible, in the S lower corner and on the opposite corner, both show traces of cuttings. Few cruma and some repair with tile/brick, in surface F.

Large amounts of modern mortar in the joints, and there are faint indications that the limit of this mortar is c. 0.1 m above the preserved floor, presumably the level of accumulated earth when the restoration vas made, c. 1960. Modern mortar abuts to the ancient plaster on the N wall.

No other signs/characteristica found on these surfaces.

Surface A: Three tufa blocks, in the corner to surface D, the first block is of a larger size. Other stone: lime stone and one red cruma, with yet anther more uncertain, in blue. The stones are placed in fairly regular lines, though the large amount of mortar seals the joints of the stones completely.

Surface B 1: Limestone, with the same appearance as Surface A.

Surface B: Large amounts of mortar, lime stone dominating, a few cruma seen. The floor is preserved along this surface.

Surface B 2: Exclusively lime stone. Floor preserved by corner of N part.

Surface C: Lime stone and a few cruma. Modern plaster abuts the ancient plaster at N wall. This plaster is a UP, shows in the state of the N wall when the restoration was made.

Surface D: In this surface, larger blocks are used, two tufa block visible in A also visible here. Large amounts of modern mortar. Below the surface is earth, some stones found. No traces of floor or a foundation for the counter.

Surface E: Large amounts of modern mortar. Lime stone dominating, with few cruma. Only the corner stones are cut. Swallow foundation of concrete, plaster, stone and brick/tile and underneath this, earth. The SW corner by the cistern is destroyed. It is not possible to establish the relationship beteen the counter and the cistern in this state since all traces of the floor, as well as its bedding, are gone. Modern material is found at very low level under the lowest level of the counter. This led to the investigation of the stones in the threshold, as we could conclude was of modern origin.

Surface F: Lower E corner repaired with brick and earth mortar, without traces of the abundant modern plaster otherwise visible in the surfaces, as well as in the rest of this surface. W corner built in three large blocks (lime stone), the central part in smaller stones, and the E corner, as mentioned, in brick. The bricks are reused, tiles and presumably a sherd from a larger vessel. Limestone is dominating, as in all other surfaces.

Surface G: As the protruding part in the doorway, the large blocks of Surface F are also visible in this surface. Polychrome incertum.

Top surface: The surface is in level all over the counter. The modern top surface is heavily cracked and pieces are missing. The plaster on top of the counter is slightly darker than the mortar on the sides, and on top on this surface, yet an applied layer of mortar/lime solution along the N wall, which looks like it had been smeared — marks of the tool used.

The Vessels

Vessel 1: Large vessel, extensive modern reconstructions, which is clearly visible since the modern material extends over the broken edge of the vessel. No rim or upper part of the vessel is preserved, and it seems to have been missing when the present restoration was made, since, as noted above, the plaster extends over the broken edge of the body of the vessel. The highest preserved part of the vessel today is c. 0.2 m below the top of the counter.

Diam; 0.54 m (as reconstructed at top)

Depth: 0.75 m (in present condition)

Shape: Amphorish in lower body, upper part completely destroyed/missing.

Vessel 2:

Diam: 0.2 m (inner rim)

0.32 m (outer rim)

0.5 m (interior, centre)

Depth: 0.55 m

Shape: Closed vessel with rounded body, with edged rim, protruding c. 3-4 cm above the surface.

Vessel 3: Rim destroyed, the body preserved to the top of the counter. No possibility to establish the appearance of the rim. Restored in the same manner as Vessel 1. Some stones in the restored counter protrudes into the line of the vessel, and shows that the vessel was destroyed at the moment of the reconstruction.

Diam: 0.55 m

Depth: 0-65 m

Shape: Vessel has a shoulder.

Vessel 4: Same appearances vessel 2, a smaller vessel. Rim damaged, though it seems to have been lower (H: 2.5 cm) than the rim on Vessel 2. Damaged on the W side.

Diam: Rim (inner): 0.22 m

Rim (outer): 0.35 m

interior: 0.35-0.38

Depth: 0.54 m

Shape: Shoulder

Vessel 5: Heavily damaged, rim pieced together, though wrongly since the form is incorrect (not circular as we can assume that it was). Flat rim, as vessel 4.

Diam: Rim, interior: 0.31-0.35 m (wrongly reconstructed)

Rim, exterior: 0.52 m

Interior: 0.62-0.67 m

Depth: 0.81 (minimum)

Shape: oval, though might be wrongly pieced together.

Vessel 6: Piece of the rim preserved, vessel badly pieced together with large gaps between the pieces. E and S parts badly damaged. Low flat rim. Reconstructed Vessel 1 and 3, with modern plaster attached to the edges of the broken body. It is obvious that the modern opening around the vessel is not adapted to the type of rim which is preserved.

Diam: c. 0.6 m

Rim not measurable.

Depth: c. 0.82 m

Shape: Shoulder