NO. 15 ENCLOSURE
From an archæological point of view this enclosure is one of the most interesting compartments in the temple, for here are to be seen several layers of floors of a succession of occupiers each for a long period of time.
In 1903 this enclosure was found to be filled in with soil, ashes, and bones to a depth of 12 ft., and on the top was a large tree at least seventy to a hundred years old. When this great body of filling-in was cleared away several most interesting architectural features were revealed.
The area is 56 ft. from east to west, and at its widest point 18 ft. from north to south. The east, north, and west sides are formed by the south wall of the Inner Parallel Passage, and by a continuation of the same wall which curves outwards towards the north-west and forms the south wall of the South Passage. This wall is 12 ft. high all round and is well and massively built, the curve at the north-west end being exceedingly well carried out. A drain passes through the east end of the wall and opens into the Inner Parallel Passage.
The south side is formed by two walls and a series of semi-circular cement buttresses. The first or western end wall is rounded, being 7 ft. round the face and 8 ft. high. A straight wall joins on to the rounded length, and is 6 ft. 6 in. long and 7 ft. high. This length has a drain-hole passing through it from the passage which forms the eastern approach to the South Passage. A large rounded cement buttress follows the two walls, and this is 14 ft. long and 7 ft. high. A length of a few feet of soil showing several floors at different heights is on the east side of the cement buttress, and another rounded cement buttress, 3 ft. high, completes the boundary of the enclosure on the south side.
The lowest of the floors is formed of paving stones and granite cement, and the level of this is flush with the bottom course of blocks in the drain. But underneath this undoubtedly old floor, which was apparently laid down when the east wall was built, there are cement steps and buttresses at a depth of some 18 in. below the level of the drain. Underneath the floor were found two phalli, fragments of ornamented bowls and soapstone beams, clearly showing that the space underneath this lowest floor had been occupied before the floor was laid.
A floor of a pinkish-coloured cement, similar to that found in other enclosures, is at some distance above the granite cement floor, and on this floor were found very old native articles and quantities of buck bones and ashes. Above this are floors of thin daga (clay), and on each of these were also bones and ashes and native articles which are not now manufactured.
The position of the east wall of this enclosure and the fact of its covering some older enclosure seem to point to it as not being a portion of the original building.