EXCAVATIONS AND FINDS AT THE SOUTH KURGAN. I19 
be a hearth closed on three sides and built of air-dried bricks, which had been 
heavily subjected to fire (see fig. 51). The walls consisted of the air-dried bricks set 
in pairson edge. Those on the northwest wall were the best preserved in the whole 
brick course, the opposite wall, consisting of whole and fragmentary bricks, being 
much broken, while in the last wall the 
rear brick is wholly wanting. On the 
north edge the backward-lying bricks did 
not suffice to complete the rectangle. 
Fragments were, therefore, used for this 
purpose, but they are only partially pre- 
served. The fire and ash bed of the hearth 
consisted of an earth floor, paved with 
small stones. Of this pavement only a 
small part is preserved at the open side. 
Anciently it had been repaired during the 
period of its use—not with repaving, how- 
ever, but by application of several thin 
earth layers, which are only preserved in 



places. The hearth is shown in different =SCement-and pebbles. 
stages of the excavation and from different = Blech send zwhie ashes ~ 
—— red streaks = aS 

oe —_—_—S EL+23.7 — 
sides in figs. 52, 53, and 54. Fig. 52 was 
photographed before the examination; figs. 
53 and 54, after the examination. 
This hearth is simply the last member of a series of superimposed hearths and 
fireplaces. The remains of an older hearth of similar construction were found 
immediately underneath the 
one just described. It was 
shoved a little northeast, 
but, like the upper one, it 
opened on the opposite side. 
The preserved wall, consist- 
ing of simple rows of brick, 
had been completely slagged 
and glazed on the inside by 
the fire. Below this older 
hearth, ash layers can be 
observed to the level of 
+23 feet 7 inches. Where 
they stopped the earth floor 
is burnt and merges down- 
ward into the natural earth, 
which is the original floor of 
the room. This floor must 
have been gradually raised 
to the level of +24.5 feet, for only in this way can we explain the upward suc- 
cession of layers of ashes and hearths. 

Fig. 51.—Sketch of Fireplace in Terrace C. 

Fig. 52.—Fireplace in Stage of Excavation. 
