Anne Greaves (asker) Jun 4, 2021:

Marco's suggestion of course of masonry stones sounds convincing to me. Thanks.

SafeTex Jun 4, 2021:

@ all I wonder if it is not the height per se of the wall but the number of layers excavated. I mean a part of the wall might still be buried

Daryo Jun 3, 2021:

@Marco Solinas you're on the right track:

Rirha : site antique et médiéval du Maroc. IV: Période ...
https://books.google.co.uk › books· Translate this page

Laurent Callegarin, ‎Mohamed Kbiri Alaoui, ‎Abdelfattah Ichkhakh · 2016 · ‎Social Science

Ces deux assises sont séparées pas un rang de cailloux en calage, distinguant l'assise de fondation de l'assise d'élévation. La troisième assise est, quant à elle ...

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aQeVDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA63&lpg...

l'assise de fondation = what's left of the foundation (/ layers of ...)

l'assise d'élévation = what's left of "elevations" (walls, pillars, ..) (/ layers of ...)

Marco Solinas Jun 3, 2021:

To Asker I am quite sure that "assise" is a course (range) of masonry (stones, bricks or whatever material was used). You have probably already seen this: https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?l... (record 4) However, I am not sure about the "élévation" bit. I suspect that they are saying that only one course (range) of masonry of the wall survives, but I was unable to find references that would corroborate this.