18 July 2023

AM

Work began this morning by troweling and brushing the area of excavation in preparation for opening a new locus after opening elevations were taken.

NW: 28.36 mAE

NE: 28.30 mAE

SE: 28.43 mAE

SW: 28.46 mAE

After the area of excavation was cleaned and brushed, closing photos for Locus 8 were taken facing south and east. Opening photos were taken for Locus 9 also facing south and east and the surface of Locus 9 was then drawn on millimeter paper. Because only a portion of Locus 8 was actively excavated leaving the southernmost ~one meter of the extension unexcavated, closing elevations for Locus 8 will be taken only in the area of excavation and are as follows:

NW: 28.33 mAE

NE: 28.30 mAE

SE: 28.31 mAE

SW: 28.34 mAE

4 terracotta fragments

0 pieces of plaster

0 pieces of pottery

0 Bone fragments

Locus 9 will only be opened in the active area of excavation and therefore, the opening coordinates and elevations are as follows:

NW: 169E 41.12S / 28.33 mAE

NE: 171E 41.90S / 28.30mAE

SE: 171E 43S / 28.31 mAE

SW: 169E 43S / 28.34 mAE

After opening locus prep work was completed, a pick pass was thrown in Locus 9 from the northernmost edge moving south throughout the entire locus. Locus 9 appears to be a light grey brown silty clay with some grey and yellow inclusions. The soil is extremely dense and there are several small to medium sized roots throughout the locus. There continues to be a large tree stump in the northwest corner of the extension with a large rock situated against it to the north. Large tree roots continue to extend from the tree just east of the extension. Medium to large sized roots and rocks are concentrated in the northern corners of the locus as well as along the southern edge of the locus. Abraded pieces of terracotta have been found as well as coarseware and impasto fragments. While hand sifting, a piece of ridged impasto pottery was found.

Special Find #5: Ridged Pottery Fragment

Coordinates: 170E 41.81S

Elevation: 28.30 mAE

Another pick pass was thrown along the southern edge of the locus moving north approximately one meter. While artifact density has not changed, there seem to be larger, less abraded pieces of terracotta and coarseware. More medium to large sized roots are occurring in the eastern half of the locus while small to medium sized rocks are being encountered throughout the locus. The soil continues to be dense and compact throughout the locus.

PM

After lunch, hand sifting and troweling continued. The soil continues to be a dense and compact light grey brown silty clay with rock and root inclusions concentrated in the northwest corner and in the eastern half of the trench. Another pick pass was thrown starting along the north edge of the locus and moving south across the entirety of Locus 9. The soil continues to be a light grey brown silty clay with grey and yellow clay inclusions. There continues to be small to medium rocks throughout the locus with medium to large rocks concentrated in the northern corners of the extension. Abraded pieces of terracotta continue to be found along with coarseware, impasto, and fine impasto fragments. Larger fragments of terracotta have been found along the western baulk wall. Large roots are continuing to occur throughout the locus. The rest of the afternoon was spent handpicking and troweling in order to level the area of excavation and define the larger roots in preparation for later removal. The soil continues to be a dense and compact grey brown silty clay with grey and yellow inclusions. The northwest corner has largely been left at a higher elevation due to the presence of tree stumps and large rocks and will be brought down to level at a later time. At the end of the day, closing elevations were taken.

NW: 28.28 mAE

NE: 28.28 mAE

SE: 28.26 mAE

SW: 28.24 mAE

⅓ Bowl of terracotta

3 pieces of plaster

33 pieces of pottery

0 Bone fragment