Trench: T26

Trench Book: NKDIII

Locus: 33

Date and Page Opened: 21 July 2023; pg. 154

Date and Page Closed: 1 August 2023; pg. 276

Munsell: 10YR 5/4 Yellowish Brown

Description:

Locus 33 is a light brown clay and soil mixture of medium compaction that represents the level where excavation paused in 2019. The layer was opened in 2022 as Locus 8 but was not excavated fully until the 2023 season. Locus 33 is located north of the northern extent of the OC2/Workshop floor within a depression found in 2019. The slope of the depression is indicated by the sloping soil of Locus 10 which is covered within the depression by Locus 33. The pan tile fragments of Locus 12 abut the tile fall of Locus 33. The soil and inclusions of Locus 8 are the fill within the depression revealed in 2019. The locus is a depth of 20cm.

The layer revealed a tile fall that contained a large amount of plaster fragments, roof tiles, and small amounts of pottery. The tile fall is a result of the collapse of the OC2/Workshop building. The tiles within the fall are preserved in significantly smaller fragments than the tile fall found in Locus 24.

During excavation of Locus 33, a fragment of a terracotta female antefix was found amidst other small tiles from the tile fall (PC20230068). Two more fragments of antefix were found, possibly fragments of terracotta hair from a different female antefixes (PC20230067 and PC20230105), and a fragment of a feline waterspout antefix was also recovered from the southeast corner of the trench (PC20230088). The presence of the antefixes indicates that the rooftop of the workshop complex was decorated in a manner similar to the other Orientalizing buildings, with alternating female faces and feline figures.

Additionally, a fragment of a coarseware handle with a siglum was recovered from the surface of the plaster layer (PC20230069). A fragment of a terracotta forno was also found near the southeastern corner of the trench (PC20230063). In the easternmost extent of the trench nearest to the tile fall and Locus 24, a terracotta cover tile with adhered plaster was removed (PC20230087). Lastly, a fragment of antler and some fragments of slag were found in the trench, lending to ideas regarding production and animal butchering occuring in OC2/Workshop (PC20230101 and PC20230112).

Cataloged Finds: Yes; PC20230063, PC20230067, PC20230068, PC20230069, PC20230087, PC20230088, PC20230101, PC20230105, PC20230112.

Secure Context: Yes

Opening and Closing Coordinates and Elevations: