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13 July 2022

AM

The trench was detarped and quickly swept in preparations for photos.  Opening photos for Locus 13, the layer of dark brown soil in the south of locus.  A detailed photo of Locus 3 was taken now that the level of the soil is lower than the plaster surface of Locus 2 and Locus 4.  Opening photos and elevations were taken.

Locus 13 opening elevations:

NW: 26.76m AE

NE: 26.72m AE

SW: 26.78m AE

SE: 26.78m AE

Locus 13 opening coordinates

NW: 174E/66.30S4/2 

NE: 173.5E/66.30S

SW: 174E/67.37S

SE: 173.5E/66.50S

Munsell Designation: 7.5 YR 4/2 Brown

Locus 13 is a loosely compacted dark brownish black soil layer that abutts the floor surface of Locus 2 and the rock feature of Locus 6.  The locus is a 1.10m x 1.26m rectangle.

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After Locus 13 was drawn, a pickpass of the entire locus was completed.  The pick revealed significant amounts of reddish and dark brown chert.  Small amounts of pottery, 2 fragments of non-diagnostic bone, plaster fragments with reed impressions, and small amounts of pottery were recovered.

In Locus 3, hand picks were used to lower the level of the soil working from north to south.  The soil is compacted medium brown clay and soil mixture with inclusions of carbon, vitrified materials, medium and small rocks, and tile.  The level of the soil was lowered ca. 5cm in the northern 50cm.  While sorting a fragment of plaster with an impression was found (Special Find #41), and vitrified plaster (Special Find #42).  A fragment of terracotta visible on the surface of Locus 3 was revealed to be a terracotta waster (Special Find #43).

Special Find #41

Locus 3

175.07m E

69.03m S

26.74m AE

Plaster with impression

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Special Find #42

175.18m E

69.04m S

26.70m AE

Locus 3

Vitrified Terracotta

Special Find #43

Locus 3

175.33m E

69.08m S

26.73m AE

Terracotta Waster

PC2022006

In Locus 8 the defining of the possible tile fall continues using hand picks and trowels.  Cover tiles, pan tiles, and large fragments of tile are being uncovered.  A large fragment of plaster with reed impressions that may have been in a corner (Special Find #44) and a fragment preserving beam impressions (Special Find #45) were found.

Special Find #44

Locus 8

176.96m E

66.91m S

26.54m AE

Plaster with reed and bean impressions

PC20220011

Special Find #45

Locus 8

177.00m E

67.17m S

26.52m AE

Plaster with beam impressions

In Locus 3 the soil continues to be lowered with hand picks.  Small rocks, small roots and tiles were found consistently while moving south.  Vitrified terracotta is also being recovered frequently

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including small fragments (Special Find #46), a small fragment of a cover tile (Special Find #47), and a larger fragment of a vitrified tile (Special Find #48).

Special Find #46

Locus 3

175.29m E

68.87m S

26.68m AE

Vitrified Terracotta (3 frags)

Special Find #47

Locus 3

175.14m E

68.96m S

26.68m AE

Vitrified Cover Tile fragment

PC20220012

Special Find #48

Locus 3

176.30m E

68.91m S

26.74m AE

Vitrified Cover Tile

PC20220013

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In Locus 8 the tile and plaster fall continues to be defined working from the west to the east.  Plaster with reed impressions, tiles, and a small amount of pottery are being recovered.  A fragment of a terracotta waster was found among the tile packing (Special Find #49).

Special Find #49

Locus 8

177.43m E

67.05m S

26.49m AE

Terracotta Waster fragment

PM

Locus 13 was troweled and swept.  Baulk walls were established and the edge of the plaster surface was defined where it met the soil of Locus 13.  A diagnostic bone was found while sweeping (Special Find #50). Additionally a diagnostic tooth was found (Special Find #52).

Special Find #50

Locus 13

174.84m E

67.43m S

26.69m AE

Diagnostic Bone

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Special Find #52

Locus 13

175.58m E

67.16m S

26.78m AE

Diagnostic Bone: Tooth

Locus 3 was swept and the edge of the plaster floor in Locus 3 and Locus 4 was defined.  While troweling in the northern extent, a fragment of vitrified terracotta was found (Special Find #51).

Special find #51

Locus 1[?]

175.15m E

68.80m S

26.66m AE

Vitrified Terracotta 

PC20220014

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Closing elevations Locus 3:

N: 26.66m AE

S: 26.71m AE

Closing elevations Locus 8:

E: 26.51m AE

W: 26.45m AE

Closing elevtions Locus 13

NW: 26.72m AE

SW: 26.77m AE

SE: 26.76m AE

NE: 26.77[?]m AE

Closing Totals Locus 3:

Pottery: 18 pcs

Bone: 1 pc

Vitrified Terracotta: 50 pcs

Tile: 1/2 bowl

Plaster: 51 pcs

Closing Locus 8 Totals:

Pottery: 6 pcs

Vitrified Terracotta: 1 pc

Plaster with reed impressions: 25 pcs

Tile: 4 pcs

Plaster: 1 bowl

Closing Totals Locus 13:

Pottery: 18 pcs

Bone: 4 pcs

Plaster with reed impressions: 2 pcs

Vitrified Terracotta: 2 pcs

Tile: 34 pcs/ 1/2 bowl

Plaster: 1 bowel