PICKLED IN MUD
Archaeologist Conrad Schmidt as-
cends the spiralling basalt stairs
from the bottom of his science pro-
ject. The rectangular shaft of the
palace well-room is carved into the
bedrock. 18 m down, waterlogged
cedar wood was uncovered in a
heap, probably the remains of a
roof which collapsed when the
palace was burned down. The wood
must be kept wet until final preser-
vation lest it turn to dust.