Descriptive Attribute	Value(s)
Architectural or Soil Locus?	Soil
Stage Description	Deposits from the agricultural use of the area by Bedouin farmers.
Phase	XIV
Definition	Topsoil.
Bottom (m)	Bottom elevation: 899.006 m.
Stage	Stage 7
Phase Description	Phase XIV: Deposits from the agricultural use of the area by Bedouin farmers.
Description	This is a reddish brown soil with large rock inclusions, particularly in the area directly to the east of the wall. Its Munsell color is 7.5YR 5/3 (brown). Most of the layer was loosely-packed; however, the areas around the plaster of Locus 2 were hard-packed, perhaps by the impact of a falling column (but see the above discussion regarding the problems with the plaster deposition, Locus 2). Finds included mixed pottery, bone and metal. A substantial number of architectural fragments, including egg and dart pieces and elephant pieces, were found in this layer. Three of the architectural fragments were column drums that were re-erected on columns in the middle colonnade. One of these was subsequently removed when it was discovered that the drum on which it had been placed was not in situ.