July 17, 2004

The first aim was to establish the length and breadth of the wall (5181) in the southwestern corner of the trench and to excavate the fill layer 5190 in perpendicular 5cm increments checking and spraying each time. The wall was constructed of large mud bricks with three courses and two rows visible.

Wall 5193 that had been initially seen as running for over 2 meters along the south baulk was excavated from its western end and found to be only 0.5 meters long and 0.12 meters wide. The slope of floor 5194 suggests that there is no articulation between these two features. The eastern section of 5190 was then excavated by 5cm and, after spraying and checking, like the western section revealed no new context.

A new locus of 5191 was given to the outstanding surface of the areas excavated as part of the oven – 5155, 5156 and 5157. On reducing this by 5cm a circular indentation between 5174 and 5191 was noted that corresponded with a grey area in the east baulk. This implied that the oven itself had been built on top of or into a pit. A wheel-made sherd found in 5191 suggested that the pit could be dated to the Early Bronze.

5174 was also partially taken back by 5cm to the north of the cooking vessel and the flat rock. A possible theory is that to the south of wall 5181 represents an interior space with the large rock in the south of 5174 a step for an entrance. 5174 would be an exterior activity area and the wall (5183) in the northwestern part of the trench a further structure.