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20 July 2022

AM

Work began in Locus 2, 3, 16, and 14 continuing the clearing efforts started yesterday.  In Locus 16 the soil was lowered ca. 5cm using hand picks and trowels. The continuation of the plaster surface was found to the west of the column pad (Locus 17).  The possible cut in the floor (Locus 3) appears to continue into the extension.  An area ca. 50-75cm from the northern border of the extension has been lowered to the level of the plaster floor.

In Locus 2 the extension was defined using hand picks, trowels and brushes.  A possible break/cut in the floor was defined within the Locus 2 extension.  The cut in the floor appears to continue a cut in the floor that extends to the west a further 1.06m and widens to 1.19m wide.

In Locus 3 the soil continued to be lowered in the northern extent of the locus.  The northern 0.50m was selected as a section to be lowered until a new strategraphic layer is found.  While sorting into buckets by hand a fragment of a curved vitrified terracotta (Special Find #66) was found.

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Special Find #66

Locus 3

175.17m E

69.05m S

26.57m AC

Curved Vitrified Tile & 5 associated frags

PC20220043

In Locus 14 the tiles in the north of the trench were defined.  Small to medium sized rocks were removed and a bowl of plaster was removed from the trench.

In Locus 2 while lowering the level of the soil in a break in the floor a small diagnostic bone was found (Special Find #67).

Special Find #67

171.77m E

69.67m S

26.74m AC

Diagnostic Bone: Tooth

Locus 2

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In Locus 14 the area that has been lowered to the level of the tile packing was leveled. A diagnostic bone (Special Find #68) tht may be a tusk was found.

Special Find #68

Locus 14

174.68m E

64.59m S

26.75m AE

Diagnostic Bone: Tooth/Tusk

In Locus 3 the section revealed a fragment of a tile extending into the brown clay under the column base (Locus 5).  A large fragment of vitrified terracotta (Special Find #69) was recovered.

Special Find #69

Locus 3

174.05m E

69.12m S

26.55m AE

Vitrified Terracotta

In Locus 14 leveling continues using hand picks.  A fragment of possibly worked bone or horn was found (Special Find # 70) along with a bronze nail (Special Find #71).

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Special Find #70

Locus 14

174.63m E

64.51m S

26.74m AE

Possibly worked Bone/Horn

Special Find #71

Locus 14

174.27m E

64.71m S

26.74m AE

Bronze nail

PC20220041

PM

Excavation continued in Locus 3 using hand picks and trowels.  The section in the northern extent of the locus continues to be lowered.  Small amounts of impasto pottery and fine wares are being recovered in small fragments.  The area being sectioned has been lowered ca. 5cm making the deepest elevation of excavation ca. 33cm from the floor surface.  Two fragments of tile were removed from the northern section and the area beneath them was leveled.  The baulk walls of Locus 3 were trimmed in the area of the section and improved under the column base (Locus 5).

In Locus 6 the soil continues to be lowered using hand picks and trowels.  The western extent of the locus has been lowered to the level of the plaster floor.  The plaster floor appears to slope to the south, possibly as a result of erosion in the area.

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In Locus 14 the tiles continue to be defined.  Cover tiles and the flanges of pan tiles are being found frequently.  The soil continues to be mixed with significant amounts of plaster and appears in pink tones throughout the layer.  The tiles have been defined ca. 1m from the northern baulk wall.

In Locus 2 the floor was troweled and all remaining soil on top of the floor was removed.  Roots were clipped and the area was swept.  The cut in the floor (Locus 3) extends to the west for ca. 0.56m at a width of 0.25m before widening to a rectilinear space ca. 1.00 x 0.96m.  The edges of this possible cut were defined.

The trench was swept and general cleaning such as root clipping, troweling any remaining backfill, and clipping branches directly around the trench to the south was completed.

Closing elevations Locus 3:

N: 26.50m AE

S: 26.47m AE

Closing elevations Locus 14:

W: 26.73m AE

E: 26.69m AE

Closing elevations Locus 16:

NW: 26.73m AE

SW: 26.59m AE

SE: 26.63m AE

NE: 26.63m AE

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Closing totals:

Locus 2:

Pottery: 6 pcs

Locus 3:

Bone: 2 pcs

Pottery: 26 pcs

Vitrified terracotta: 9 pcs

Terracotta/tile: 1/8 bowl

Plaster: 1/2 bowl

Locus 14:

Bone: 1 pcs

Plaster with reed impressions: 4 pcs

Pottery: 29 pcs

Tile: 1/8 bowl

Plaster: 2 bowls

Locus 16:

Pottery: 8 pcs

Plaster: 1/8 bowl

Tile: 9 pcs/ 1/8 bowl