Daily Logs

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13 July 2016

A.M.

Excavation began in Locus 2 and Locus 3 . Hand pick axes were used to loosed soil that was then sorted into buckets. Pottery was sorted into boxes; tile was sorted into bowls. In Locus 2 , the rocks in the linear rock feature were further exposed. The goal of this is the same as yesterday: to continue to gather evidence in support of or against the hypothesized wall. Work was concentrated in the eastern 2.5m of Locus 2 , and especially along the northern face of the hypothesized wall within Locus 2 . Additional work was undertaken to expose and define the top of the linear rock feature in Locus 2 . Based on the preliminary exposure of the rocks. The rock feature begins to curve approximately 2.5m from the eastern baulk wall. One the southern side of the rock feature, significant

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quantities of tile and pottery inclusions continue to be found in the soil, which is a compacted, dense, moist brown clay. The same soil is also present to the north of the rock feature in Locus 2 . In this area, significant quantities of tile and pottery were also found. Within the area south of the rock feature in Locus 2 , two special finds were recovered: a pottery rim sherd and a slag fragment. Meanwhile, along the north side of the rick feature in Locus 2 , three special finds were found: a braided pottery rim sherd, a bone fragment (that was potentially burned), and teeth (and potentially associated mandible fragments). In Locus 3 , rocks in the western 2.5m were defined with the goal of clarifying the relationship (if any) between the rocks in the southern meter of VT11 and those in the southern meters of VT13 and the northern meters of the newly-opened VT14 .

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Within Locus 3 , the soul was similar to that of Locus 2 previously discussed: a densely-compacted, moist brown clay with inclusions of tile and pottery.

Special Find #1:

Braided Pithos Fragment

Locus 2

Coordinates: 1.97 S/15.63 W

Elevation: 304.34 m A.S.L.

[ drawing ]

Special Find #2:

Slag Fragment

Locus 2

Coordinates: 3.31 S/16.46 W

Elevation: 304.46 m A.S.L.

[ drawing ]

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Special Find #3:

Large Pottery Rim Sherd

Locus 2

Coordinates: 3.43 S/16.45 W

Elevations: 304.46 m A.S.L.

[ drawing ]

Special Find #4:

Teeth Fragments

Locus 2

Coordinates: 2.07 S/15.00 W

Elevation: 304.48 m A.S.L.

[ drawing ]

Special Find #5:

Bone Fragments

Locus 2

Coordinates:1.03 S/14.84 W

Elevation: 304.42 m A.S.L.

[ drawing ]

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P.M.

Excavation resumed in Locus 2 and Locus 3 using the same methodology as this morning. The rock feature now no longer appears to be linear, subsequent to further defining and cleaning. Proceeding from the east, the wall curves northwest. Approximately 1.5m from the east and 1.25m from the south boundaries of the trench, a large charcoal deposit was found. This measured approximately 10 x 7 x 1cm and was ovoid in shape. The goal is now to define the extent of the curving rock feature so that new loci can be declared to reflect this feature's shape. Approximately 1.5m from the west wall and spanning the boundary between Locus 2 and Locus 3 , a 40 x 50cm rock oriented N-S was discovered. Notably this rock appears to be discontinuous with the curving rock feature. This rock is on yellow-grey sandy soil that

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is well-compacted. Very little material was found in its immediate area, whereas on both the north and south sides of the curving rock feature, frequent inclusions of tile and pottery were found. At the end of the workday, there was rain.

Closing Totals:

Locus 2 :

Tile and Plaster: 4 bowls

Pottery: 70 sherds

Locus 3 :

Tile and Plaster: 2-1/4 bowls

Pottery 16 sherds

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Closing Elevations:

Locus 2 :

NW: 304.63 m A.S.L.

SW: 304.64 m A.S.L.

SE: 304.45 m A.S.L.

NE: 304.42 m A.S.L.

Locus 3 :

NW: 304.64 m A.S.L.

SW: 304.63 m A.S.L.

SE: 304.58 m A.S.L.

NE: 304.59 m A.S.L.