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Friday, July 28 2023

AM

Yesterday afternoon, we removed the last of Locus 51, the olive brown deposit with a charcoal concentration situated at the bottom of the Locus 47 rectangular cut into EPOC4’s floor. We began the day taking photos of the Locus 47 cut and its bottom, following the removal of Locus 51, for a photogrammetric model, then took closing photos and elevations for both Loci 47 and 51; we will complete a closing plan for both loci later in the day. Additionally, we designated EPOC4’s plaster-rich floor Locus 53 and the galestra surface at the bottom of the Locus 47 cut as Locus 54. Opening photos and elevations were taken for both loci and a plan will be completed later. As neither locus will be excavated, photos, plans, and elevations for Loci 53 + 54 will be the same for opening and closing.

Locus 47: Closing Elevations

• NW corner (105.14 E/45.55 S): 25.88m A.E.

• NE corner (106.26 E/45.74 S): 25.86m A.E.

• SE corner (106.18 E/46.45 S): 25.84m A.E.

• SW corner (104.94 E/46.27 S): 25.88m A.E.

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Locus 51: Closing Elevations

• NW corner (105.14 E/45.55 S): 25.88m A.E.

• NE corner 106.26 E/45.74 S): 25.86m A.E.

• SE corner (106.18 E/46.45 S): 25.84m A.E.

• SW corner (104.94 E/46.27 S): 25.88m A.E.

Locus 53: Coordinates and Elevations

• NW corner (105.17 E/44.66 S): 26.29m A.E.

• NE corner (106.50 E/44.90 S): 26.32m A.E.

• SE corner (106.50 E/46.77 S): 26.23m A.E.

• SW corner (104.93 E/46.29 S): 26.18m A.E.

Locus 54: Coordinates and Elevations

• NW corner (105.14 E/45.55 S): 25.88m A.E.

• NE corner (106.26 E/45.74 S): 25.86m A.E.

• SE corner (106.18 E/46.45 S): 25.84m A.E.

• SW corner (104.94 E/46.27 S): 25.88m A.E.

At the same time, we continued excavating in Locus 52, trying to expose EPOC4’s underlying earthen floor. We are working along the eastern edge of the locus to remove the last of the Locus 52 mottled deposit associated with the abandonment and destruction of EPOC4. We also are working in the SW corner of the locus, where yesterday we uncovered a small and isolated concentration of charcoal. Here, we are leveling Locus 52 down to preserved elements of EPOc4’s earthen floor to determine if this charcoal concentration might be evidence of a post, supporting EPOC4’s roof. While working in this area, we

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Recovered two carinated rim fragments (Find #110). While working along the edge of the locus, we recovered a bucchero plate or bowl fragment with impressed concentric areas (Find #111).

We alsp decided to clean and trim the southern wall of the Locus 47 cut, so that we can record a strategraphic profile of EPOC4’s foundation wall, the plaster floor surface of Locus 53, the cut of Locus 47, and the deposits underlying EPOC4 that were cut into by 47.

By mid-morning, we brought Locus 52 down to the same elevation as EPOC4’s earthen floor. A small portion of EPOC4’s compacted earthen floor surface is preserved in the NE corner of the locus, but elsewhere, the floor surface has been disturbed; perhaps it was damaged by the small rectilinear hut overlying EPOC4’d debris, following the building’s abandonment. Additionally, we leveled the SW corner of the locus down to the same elevation as EPOC4’s floor; this is the area where the carbon concentration appeared yesterday afternoon. After leveling the locus here, it appears that the carbon concentration continues to the NW, under backfill, and so likely is not a preserved post. While working in this area, we recovered an antler fragment (Find #112) from the sieve.

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Once this work was compacted, we closed Locus 52. Closing photos and elevations were taken and a plan will be drawn later today.

Locus 52: Closing Elevations

• NW corner (104.30 E/40.50 S): 25.42m A.E.

• NE corner (106.50 E/40.50 S): 26.38m A.E.

• SE corner (106.50 E/42.50 S): 26.25m A.E.

• 105.40 E/42.50 S: 26.21m A.E.

• 105.40 E/42.00 S: 26.28m A.E.

• SW corner (104.40 E/42.00 S): 26.33m A.E.

Special Finds

• Special find #110

• Locus 52

• 104.46 E/41.77 S

• 26.33m A.E.

• Carinated rim fragments

• Special find #111

• Locus 52

• 106.39 E/41.47 S

• 26.30m A.E.

• Impressed plate or bowl fragment

• Special find #112

• Locus 52

• Sieve find

• +/- 10cm: 104.55 E/41.78 S

• +/- 1cm: 26.32m A.E.

• Antler fragment

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PM

This afternoon, we completed closing plans for Loci 47, 51, and 52, and drew plans for Loci 53 and 54, which will not be excavated. We also finished cleaning the S wall of the Locsu 47 cut, in preparation for drawing a stratigraphic section that will capture the shape of the Locus 47 cut and the deposits underlying EPOC4’s floor that were cut into. This section will be drawn on Monday.

Locus 52:

• Tile + plaster: 66 fragments

• Pottery: 105 sherds

• Bone: 42 fragments

• Slag: 3 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

South wall of Locus 47 cut:

• Tile + plaster: 1/10 bowl

• Pottery: 84 sherds

• Bone: 9 fragments

• Slag: 16 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

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