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several ertrnordinaniy large rherdr of pottery and long pipe stems were found on the
floor of the hemh ma. It seems s m@ Iha! the pan of the houw that w pmbvbly used
rhc morr would also produce some of the largest r hdr of fragile. thin-walled driddng
vessels and pipe stems in excess of 10 cm long. Considering the degree of fan tmffic in
the hemh ma. it would be expected thnt the most fragmented potsherds and pipe
fragments would be found there. Clearly. he archaeological evtdence implies that this
was not the case. One explanation for this would be Ulat the m a was covered by a
wooden floor, one [hut may have had loose planks that could be lined for the disposal of
broken CUPS. case bottler or piper. Reeious items. such as h silver half gmat coin could
hnve been conceded beneath the floor. Nair, tm. were discovered in rbe heanh area
Although not in my recognizable pattern. their presence done is comborating evidence
for a floor covering rhe heanh ma. The alignment of stoner bordering the wut rtde of
[he hemh m a may have been intentionally placed in position to suppon a floor.
If the hemh m a (excluding the fire box) was no1 covered by a floor of some son, thew
would surely have been eriaur water pmblemr in this area. As the sub-floor drainage
system was needed m channel gmund water our of r k houe. it would have k n
counter-productive to have the hemh maawash in a qwpmire of mud, especially if it
was a foeal poinr for the horn and the role source af heat for the houw. A wmden floor
in the hemh ma, near the fire box would also serve as a w m and dry sleeping
platform. Sleeping elore 10 h heat source would cenainiy be hneficial during the long