31 July 2017

The morning began with a pickpass in locus 5.  Work is focused on the eastern extent in order to find the bottom layer of the fossa.  The soil is becoming more yellow and less compacted.  Materials such as pottery, tile, and small rocks.  While sorting a fragment of slag (Special Find #204) was recovered.

Special Find #204

Locus 5

303.15 mASL

10.11 m W

3.38 m S

Work continues also in locus 7 with a pickpass focused on the western extent.  The soil is a medium brown that is very compacted.  Small amounts of pottery and tile continue to be found.  While sorting the pickpass of locus 5 a sherd (Special Find #205) of diagnostic slipped pottery was found.

Special Find #205

Locus 5

303.16mASL

10.60mW

4.15mS

Slipped diagnostic pottery

Supplemental Find #8

Locus 7

304.40-304.19mASL

9.65-12.72mW

0.24-2.00mS

Slipped Pottery

A tooth (Special Find #206) was also found.

Special Find #206

Loucs 5

303.11mASL

10.22mW

3.47mS

Tooth

Small amounts of pottery and tile continue to be recovered in the western extent of locus 7.  AN additional pickpass was done in locus 7.  In locus 5 an additional pickpass revealed that bedrock found in the southeastern corner of locus 5 continues north.  While picking a  large loom weight (Special Find #207) was found.

Special Find #207

Locus 5

303.02mASL

9.78mW

3.35mS

Loom weight

Trowels and handpicks were used to reveal the green blue stone along the cut and along the bottom of locus 5.  While defining the wall a loom weight was found (Special Find #208).

Special Find #208

Locus 5

303.39mASL

9.55mW

2.89mS

Loom weight

Continued defining in the same area revealed an additional loom weight (Special Find #209).  This loom weight appears to be of similar dimensions to the first.

In locus 5 the baulk walling of a pedestal to support the circular stone feature of VT8 created from the fill of locus 5 was created using pickaxes, handpicks, and trowels.  While baulk walling a fragment of slag along with an associated piece was found (Special Find #210).

Special Find #209

Locus 5303.15mASL

9.97mW

2.82mS

Loom weight

Special Find #210

Locus 5

303.41mASL

11.58mW

4.56mS

Slag

An additional pickpass in locus 7 was done in order to reveal the extent of the fill and to lower the level of the trench floor to the level in locus 1.  While sorting soil by hand into buckets a decorated rim fragment was found (Special Find #211).

Special Find #211

Locus 7

304.13mASL

12.80mW

1.43mS

Decorated rim fragment

In locus 5 the green-blue decaying rock was found ca. 50 cm away from the western baulk wall.  WHile the remaining clay fill was excavated using trowels and handpicks, a lamp fragment was found (Special Find #212).

Special Find #212

Locus 5

302.92mASL

12.59mW

3.85mS

Lamp fragment

A fragment of slag was also found (Special Find #213).

Special Find #213

Locus 5

302.79mASL

9.85mW

3.07mS

Slag

The area in the western extent was continued to be excavated using handpicks and trowels revealing a possible cut.  The cut is ca. 67 cm wide by 95 cm long.  The edged slope towards the deepest point which is ca. 26 cm lower than the trench floor.

Closing totals:

Locus 5:

Pottery: 305 pieces

Tile: 8 bowls

Bone: 14 pieces

Burnt bone: 1 piece

Locus 7:

Pottery: 130 pieces

Tile: 6 bowls

Bone: 1 piece