7 July 2023

AM

Handpicks and trowels are being used to lower the level of the soil in the northern and eastern extents of the locus. Small rocks found in the northern extent of the locus were found and removed. The soil in the eastern corner was lowered to the level of the 2019 layer to the west. A fragment of a vitrified rim with adhered ceramic was recovered and recorded as Special Find #1.

Special find #1

Locus 23

178.03 E

65.65 S

26.75 m. AE

Vitrified rim with adhered ceramic

Excavation in Locus 23 continues un an attempt to lower the level of the soil to fully reveal the pink layer exposed in the north.

    Excavation also began in Locus 25 in the westernmost extent of the layer. Handpicks and trowels are being used to further reveal the relationship between Locus 26 and Locus 25. The soil of Locus 25 is compacted and is a brown clay dense soil. There are frequent inclusions of plaster, vitrified terracotta, and small amounts of pottery.

PM

Picking with small hand picks and troweling continues in Locus 25. The level of the soil was lowered in the east to the level of the darker soil appearing in the easternmost extent of the Locus. Small rocks continue to be found and defined.

In Locus 25 handpicks and trowels are being used to lower the western extent of Locus 25. The darker soil of Locus 26 appears to slope under the brown soil of Locus 25. The darker soil under Locus 25 continues to be revealed sloping to the north. While using a handpick, a large carbon deposit was revealed. The deposit appears to continue towards the western baulk wall. A sample (Sample #1) of the carbon was saved. 

Sample #1

Locus 25

172.8 E

66.29 S

26.75 m AE

The carbon continues to be defined and the soil around it in Locus 25 continued to be lowered. The carbon has been exposed to a maximum preserved length of 0.35 m long and a maximum preserved width of 0.16 m. 

    Loose soil in Locus 25 and Locus 23 was cleaned and Locus 25 and 26 were swept. Closing elevations were taken and the trench was covered with tarp in Locus 24 and Locus 25.

Closing elevations Locus 23

1: 26.74 m AE

2: 26.74 m AE

3: 26.70 m AE

4: 26.70 m AE

5: 26.68 m AE

6: 26.81 m AE

Closing elevations Locus 25:

NW: 26.66 m AE

NE: 26.69 m AE

SE: 26.69 m AE

SW: 26.72 m AE

Closing totals Locus 23:

6: Terracotta - 1 bowl

7: Plaster - ⅛ bowl

8: Pottery - 22 pcs

9: Plaster with reed impressions - 2 pcs

10: Vitrified plaster - 2 pcs

11: Bone - 2 pcs

Closing totals Locus 25:

12: Terracotta - ¼ bowl

13: Plaster - 1 bowl

14: Pottery - 16 pcs

15: Plaster with reed impressions - 4 pcs

16: Vitrified plaster - 30 pcs

17: Vitrified terracotta - 25 pcs