26 July 2023 AM Excavation began in Locus 24, 33, and 34. In Locus 24 and 33 small handpicks, trowels, and a leaf trowel were used to define tiles in preparation for removing them. In Locus 33, the locus was troweled in order to clean the surface after yesterday’s rain. After the locus was troweled and all remains of Locus 34 were removed, the locus was prepped for photos. The locus was swept and baulk walls were improved. Locus 34 was closed and Locus 35 was opened.

Locus 35 opening coordinates: NW: 177.8 E / 66.43 S NE: 178.8 E / 66.43 S SE: 178.8 E / 68.51 S SW: 177.8 E / 68.51 S

Locus 35 opening elevations: NW: 26.69 m AE NE: 26.73 m AE SE: 26.68 m AE SW: 26.72 m AE

Locus 35 Opening Drawing

Locus 35 is a highly compacted dark brown soil with inclusions of medium sized rocks (less than 5 cm in diameter), frequent pottery with a large amount of finewares, and small to medium sized rocks. The layer appears to be equal to Locus 28.

Locus 35 Munsell designation: 10 YR 2/2 - Very dark brown

Once opening photos and drawings were completed, excavation began in Locus 35. In Locus 24, tiles in the eastern extent of the locus located to the west of the large pan tile were defined. Tiles that were determined not to join with other in situ fragments were removed, A fragment of a pan tile with a finger swipe in 6 joining fragments was recovered (Special Find #34). The tiles being removed are well preserved and some preserve a reddish slip. Two joining fragments of a ridge pole tile (Special Find #34) were also found.

Special Find #34 175.05 E / 67/70 S 26.63 m AE Locus 24 Tile with finger swipe (6 joining fragments)

Special Find #35 174.84 E / 65.18 S 26.62 m AE Locus 24 Ridge pole tile fragment (2 joining fragments)

A fragment of a vitrifying flange with a large inclusion was found (Special Find #36). Tiles were defined and lifted off of possible full dimension tiles working to the east. Once the pass of defining and lifting reaches the easternmost extent, work began again in the western corner defining and removing the full width cover tiles. The full width cover tile along the northern baulk wall was removed. 12 fragments were included with the special find, 8 joining fragments and 4 joining fragments that are possibly associated (Special Find #37).

Special Find #36 (185) 175.02 E / 65.22 S 26.61 m AE Locus 24 Vitrifying flange fragment

Special Find #37 Full width cover tile (12 fragments) 176.15 E / 64.24 S 26.56 m AE Locus 24

The cover tile was resting on a surface of soil with a large amount of carbon, possibly an extension of Locus 30. Excavation continues within the area of the removed cover tile, lowering the pinkish brown heavily plaster included layer to reveal the continuation of the darker soil. Excavation un Locus 24 next focused on defining and removing the full width cover tile in the northwest of the trench, close to the large pan tile. Leaf trowels and brushes were used to remove the cover tile. The cover tile was recorded as Special Find #38.

Special Find #38 Full width cover tile (7 adjoining fragments) 176.5 E / 64.44 S 26.62 m AE Locus 24

In Locus 33, excavation continued in the eastern extent. Trowels and brushes were used to define and remove tiles from the locus. Along with fragments of tile, the locus has inclusions of plaster, pottery and bone that are sorted into boxes as bulk finds. A fragment of vitrified terracotta with linear impressions was found in the northeastern edge of the locus. The fragment was recorded as Special Find #39.

Special Find #39 Impressed vitrified terracotta 176.86 E / 65.56 S 26.63 m AE Locus 33

Excavation began in Locis 35 to lower the dark soil throughout the locus. The soil is clay dense and contains small roots. While using a small hand pick, two fragments of fine ware with slip and incised decoration were found. The pottery may be Greek in origin, possibly Corinthian (Special Object #40).

Special Find #40 Incised Fineware Body Fragment 176.86 E / 65.56 S 26.62 m AE Locus 35 PC20230095

A fragment of a shell (Special Find #41) was also found close to the incised pottery.

Special Find #41 Shell fragment 177.42 E / 70.15 S 26.65 m AE Locus 35

PM Excavation continues in Locus 33. A large amount of plaster continues to be found. A fragment of a possible feline waterspout (Special Find #42) was found.

Special Find #42 Possible feline waterspout fragment 176.04 E / 65.40 S 26.49 m AE Locus 33 PC20230088

In Locus 35 trowels and small handpicks are being used to lower the level of the soil in the entire locus. Two bone fragments, one possibly cut (Special Find #43), and diagnostic bone (Special Find #44) were found laying flat on the compacted surface of the floor.

Special Find #43 Bone 177.29 E / 68.69 S 26.61 m AE Locus 35

Special Find #44 Diagnostic Bone (2 fragments) 177.51 E / 69.47 S 26.61 m AE Locus 35

Excavation continues in Locus 33 working north to south close to the large tile fall and excavating in the eastern extent. In the east a slope similar to that found in 2019 and in 2023 in T103 was found. The slope was defined using trowels. While sorting by hand into buckets in the northern extent of Locus 33 a fragment of an antefix was found, possibly hair of a female antefix (Special Find #45).

Special Find #45 Possible hair fraghment of a female antefix 176.10 E / 66.35 S 26.59 m AE Locus 33 PC20230105

Locus 35 was swept. Closing elevations were taken.

Closing elevations Locus 33: NW: 26.70 m AE NE: 26.92 m AE SE: 26.60 m AE SW: 26.65 m AE

Closing elevations Locus 24: NW: 26.56 m AE NE: 26.59 m AE SE: 26.58 m AE SW: 26.54 m AE

Closing elevations Locus 35: NW: 26.70 m AE NE: 26.72 m AE SE: 26.60 m AE SW: 26.65 m AE

Closing totals Locus 24: 234: Terracotta - 5 bowls 235: Plaster - 1 bowl 236: Pottery - 9 pcs 237: Plaster with reed impressions - 24 pcs 238: Vitrified plaster - 3 pcs 239: Vitrified terracotta - 0 240: Bone - 18 pcs 241: Burnt bone - 0

Closing totals Locus 33: 242: Terracotta - 1.5 bowls 243: Plaster - 3 bowls 244: Pottery - 29 pcs 245: Plaster with reed impressions - 3 pcs 246: Vitrified plaster - 0 247: Vitrified terracotta - 0 248: Bone - 5 pcs 249: Burnt bone - 0

Closing totals Locus 34: 250: Terracotta - ⅛ bowl 251: Plaster - 1 bowl 252: Pottery - 33 pcs 253: Plaster with reed impressions - 5 pcs 254: Vitrified plaster - 6 pcs 255: Vitrified terracotta - 0 pcs 256: Bone - 5 pcs 257: Burnt bone - 0 pcs

Closing totals Locus 35: 258: Terracotta - ⅛ bowl 259: Plaster - ½ bowl 260: Pottery - 79 pcs 261: Plaster with reed impressions - 4 pcs 262: Vitrified plaster - 3 pcs 263: Vitrified terracotta - 0 264: Bone - 32 pcs 265: Burnt bone - 0