July 18, 2004

Continued to excavate pit 5191 and decided to leave it as a half section for reasons of time – still producing material and no clear indication in the baulk section that we have reached the bottom. The platform of material in the southeastern corner of the trench (5196) was excavated and floor 5194 revealed that the subfloor surface was again the same material as the fill in this area. In levelling 5190 we noted an orange linear feature both within wall 5181 and in 5191 – no clear indication of what it is.

In general there is a feeling that D5 is beginning to run out of steam, especially in the southeren section. One possibility is that this area was further down the Ubaid hill than the vilage which has yet to be pinpointed. Therefore this season may have been looking at a low-level activity area between the village and an area of cultivation. However, a new locus was assigned to the central portion of the trench because of a show-through of orange material which may be a feature.