Daily Log

159

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

AM

The start of work was delayed today due to rain the night before. Work began with a pick pass in Locus 9 , in the eastern extension of the trench. The soil is dark brown topsoil, somewhat claylike, and contains many roots. Additionally, some larger rocks began to be overturned in the northern meters of the extension. Soil was sorted directly into buckets in the trench; little tile and pottery and no bone was recovered.

After this pick pass, it was decided to excavate the 2010 floor of the trench, what had been Locus 4 , in the southern meters of the trench. These southern meters were declared Locus 10 . Opening photos and elevations were taken.

Locus 10 : Opening Elevations

\xb7 100.70S/50W: 29.61m A.E.

\xb7 100.63S/46.70W: 29.36m A.E.

\xb7 100.50S/45W: 29.41m A.E.

\xb7 102.20S/45W: 29.52m A.E.

\xb7 102.20S/50W: 29.72m A.E.

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Diagram of trench

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A pick pass was made in the entirety of Locus 10 . The soil is a dark grayish-blue color, is the consistency of baked clay, and has an almost oily appearance. The soil during this first pick pass was extremely tough, as it has been baked by the sun. Soil was sorted directly into buckets in the trench with trowels; little tile and pottery and no bone was found in this pick pass.

A second pick pass was begun in the western meters of Locus 10 . Soil this pick pass is much softer and more claylike, but still with a dark grayish-blue color and oily appearance, as well as a somewhat fetid smell. More larger pieces of terracotta roofing tile and pottery sherds were recovered while picking and some smaller rocks began to appear as well. Soil continued to be sorted directly into buckets in the trench.

A second pick pass was made of Locus 9 in the eastern extension. Soil continues to be dark brown topsoil, somewhat claylike, and contains many roots and some rocks but little tile or pottery and no bone. Soil was sorted directly into buckets in the trench. Once the pick pass was cleaned up, work began on removing the stump in the center of the Locus.

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PM

Work continued in both Loci 9 and 10 . In Locus 9 , the debris of the stump that had been removed in the morning was picked up and a pick pass was made of the entire locus. Soil remains dark brown topsoil, somewhat claylike, and full of roots and some smaller rocks; little tile or pottery and no bone was found. Soil was sorted in the trench directly into buckets using trowels. After this pick pass, two mounts of dirt located on the western border of the extension, adjacent to the rest of the trench, were removed using trowels and hand picks.

A pick pass was also made of the eastern meters of Locus 10 , completing the pick pass begun in the morning. Soil was sorted in the trench directly into buckets and remains dark grayish-blue in color, extremely claylike, oily in appearance, with a slightly fetid smell and small amounts of tile, pottery, and bone.

Locus 9

\xb7 Tile and Plaster: \xbe bowl

\xb7 Pottery: 10 sherds

\xb7 Bone: 0 fragments

Locus 10

\xb7 Tile and Plaster: \xbc bowl

\xb7 Pottery: 17 sherds

\xb7 Bone: 1 fragment

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