July 9, 2001

Day was spent where previous left off--finishing "peeling" of top level of central feature as L2025 (center, ~ 2m x 2.5m) which proceeded well and clearly revealed a second level a few centimeters below L2016, with flat-lying pot sherds. Notably, a hollow is appearing under the cobble surface. It does not appear to be any sort of animal burrow, but whether it is an architectural anomaly, a burial, or something else entirely remains to be seen. Once the surface was uncovered it was redesignated L2028.

The plaster patches of L2022 (SE corner, ~ 1m x 1m) were removed as L2027, as they could not be followed and there were no other clear surface markers. The possible oven did not materialize. A surface was faintly visible, post-excavation, in the S section. The three large stone demarking the interior border of the locus were all free standing with no apparent association (to anything...) and were removed.

Finally, L2020 (N, ~ 1m x 1m) was excavated, hoping to find some sort of surface level. However, after 7 cm of digging (as L2026), leaving large stones in place, the area still is nothing more than a jumble. Two pieces of slag (KT 2153 & KT 2155) were found, as well as a worked stone (KT 2156). During the excavation one very small, ashy area and a small amount of burnt mudbrick turned up.

The trench was given a thorough cleaning for more photography of the central feature, and the S baulk was cleaned in preparation for its removal to merge D1 and D2. Hopefully a couple surfaces visible in the section will materialize when we take down the baulk.