Page 45

Friday, July 7 2023

AM

We began working in both Loci 43 + 44- deposits associated with the small, rectilinear hut built over the debris of EPOC4. Locus 43 is associated with the interior and exterior spaces of this hut, respectively. In both deposits, soil is olive-brown and compacted, with small limestone, charcoal, and terracotta inclusions. In both deposits, we use hand picks to break up soil then trowels to scrape loose soil into dustpans for hand-sorting. We also are passing all soil through 1 cm + 2 mm gauge sieves. In both deposits we are recovering moderate quantities of pottery, small quantities of tile, bone, and thus far, no slag or vitrified terracotta. While working in Locus 43, we recovered a crucible fragment (Find #7).

In Locus 43, we are beginning to expose a new, mre heavily charcoal included, darker, mottled soil. Additionally, we are starting to recover significantly higher quantities of material culture, especially pottery. This likely is a deposit associated with the abandonment and destruction of EPOC4. This deposit is visible in a section baulk wall and slopes down from N to S, so should be found at a deeper elevation under Locus 44.

Page 46

Page 47

In locus 44, we are excavating from E to W, as the eastern edge of the locus is a section cut made in prior seasons where a stratigraphic section is visible. In this stratigraphic section, the same darker, mottled deposit that underlies Locus 43 is visible underlying Locus 44, sloping downward slightly from N to S. Therefore, we are working to expose this new deposit in both loci. While working along the eastern edge of Locus 44, we recovered a painted ceramic sherd (Find #8), a piece of plaster preserving a finished surface and reed impressions (Find #9), and while sieving soil from the same area, we recovered a bone disc (Find #10).

Page 48

Page 49

Special Finds

• Special Find #7

• Locus 43

• 106.40 E/45.57 S

• 26.38m A.E.

• Crucible fragment

• Special Find #8

• Locus 44

• 106.23 E/ 46.13 S

• 26.37m A.E.

• Painted pottery

• Special Find #9

• Locus 44

• 106.35 E/ 46.17 s

• 26.33m A.E.

• Plaster w/ finished surface + reed impressions

• Special find #10

• Locus 44

• Sieve find

• +/- 10 cm: 106.28 E/46.15 S

• +/- 5cm: 26.38m A.E.

• Bone disc

Page 50

Page 51

PM

We continued working in both Loci 43 and 44, working from E to W to expose the new, underlying, darker, mottled deposit. As we come down on the new deposit, we also are recovering higher quantities of tile, plaster, pottery, and bone. We are excavating with handpicks and trowels, hand-sorting soil directly in the trench, then passing soil through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. Soil in both loci is medium olive brown in color, claylike in texture, and is moderately compacted.

The new, darker, mottled deposit has begun to appear in the central area of Locus 43. Therefore, we will continue to push west, in order to expose the new deposit. In locus 44, the new deposit slopes downward, from N to S, and so is deer than in Locus 43. As we work to expose the new deposit in Locus 44, we also are pushing up against EPOC4’s S foundation wall, exposing its interior face.

Page 52

Page 53

Locus 43

• Tile + plaster: 1/10 bowl

• Pottery: 103 sherds

• Bone: 13 fragments

• Slag: 5 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

Locus 44

• Tile + plaster: ⅕ bowl

• Pottery: 36 sherds

• Bone: 11 fragments

• Slag: 4 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

Page 54

• Special Find #11

• Locus 43

• Bulk bone find

• App 105.40 E/ 45.25S

• App 26.38m A.E.

• Possible neonatal bone