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25 July 2022

AM

The trench was swept and cleaned for photos.  Leaves were removed from the trench.  Opening photos and opening elevations were taken.  Locus 19 is a curvilinear cut in the floor surface of Locus 2.  The locus extends from the western extent of Locus 3.  Locus 3 turns to the west and extends 0.74m in a line going towards the NW and then widens into curvilinear space that measures 1.11m x 1.02m.  The locus is defined by the edge of the floor (Locus 2), abuts Locus 3, and possibly abuts the stone column base of Locus 18.  The inner rock feature in the north of the trench was opened as Locus 20.  The rock feature measures 1.90m x 0.66m wide.  The inner rock feature appears to abut and cover Locus 14.

Locus 19 opening elevations:

NW: 26.77m AE

SW: 26.77m AE

SE: 26.78m AE

NE: 26.77m AE

Locus 19 opening coordinates:

NW: 173.5E/68S

SW: 173.5E/71S

SE: 174E/71S

NE: 174E/68S

Locus 20 opening elevations:

NW: 26.70m AE

SW: 26.66m AE

SE: 26.68m AE

NE: 26.69m AE

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Locus 20 opening coordinates:

NW: 176.56E/64.56S

SW: 176.14E/66.38S

SE: 176.85E/66.24S

NE: 176.90E/64.55S

Locus 19 Munsell designation: 2.5Y 5/6 Light Olive Brown

Locus 20 Munsell designation: 2.5Y 7/4 Pale Yellow

The trench was drawn and excavation began in Locus 3, Locus 14, and Locus 19.  In Locus 14 the tile fall continues to be defined.  Work is moving to the south from known exposed tiles.  While lowering the soil around the tiles 2 associated fragments of a diagnostic burnt bone were found (Special Find #82).

Special Find #82

Locus 14

175.64m E

64.94m S

26.70m AE

Diagnostic Burnt Bone:

(2 associated fragments)

In Locus 3 the remainder of the locus is being lowered to the level reached on the north of the locus.  The baulk walls are being improved and the south is being lowered using hand picks and trowels.  A fragment of vitrified terracotta was found in 5 fragments (Special Find #83).

Special Find #83

Locus 3

173.02m E

69.77m S

26.61m AE

Vitrified Terracotta

(5 pcs)

PC20220067

187

Excavation also began in Locus 19 to determine the relationship of Locus 19 to Locus 3.  The soil contains medium sized rocks and many small roots. Frequent plaster and tile are being recovered.  Small amounts of pottery and bone are being found.  While sorting by hand into buckets a fragment of plaster with small ridge impressions were found (Special Find #84).

Special Find #84

Locus 19

174.78m E

69.90m S

26.76m AE

Ridged Plaster

PC20220054

189

Lowering the level of the soil continues to reveal heavily compacted clay.  A small cover tile was revealed [while] working south from the lowered material (Special Find #85).

Special Find #85

Locus 3

174.87m E

69.75m S

26.45m AE

Small Cover Tile

In Locus 19 a fragment of vitrified tile and a spindle whorl in two fragments was found (Special Find #86 and Special Find #87).

Special Find #86

Locus 3

174.29m E

69.87m S

26.60m AE

Vitrified Tile

Special Find #87

174.51m E

68.20m S

26.69m AE

Locus 19

Spindle Whorl

(2 associated frags)

PC20220062

191

PM

Work in the afternoon continued in Locus 3, Locus 14, and Locus 19.  In Locus 19 hand picks were used to lower the level of the soil within the cut.  A medium sized rock was removed.  A fragment of a tooth was found along with a fragment of tile (Special Find #88 and Special Find #89).  Roots were clipped and hand picks were used to lowered the soil around the edges of the cut.

Special Find #88

Locus 19

174.23m E

70.02 m S

26.68m AE

Diagnostic Bone: Tooth

Special Find #89

Locus 19

174.40m E

69.70 m S

26.62m AE

Vitrified Terracotta

In Locus 3 the soil continues to be lowered to the level of the compacted clay.  Small amounts of pottery, tile, and plaster continue to be found.  The northern 1.45m have been lowered to the new layer.

In Locus 19 the tiles continue to be defined using hand picks and trowels.  Additional cover tile fragments have been found to the south of the packing.  A fragment of a pan tile was found oriented vertically.  The rocks of Locus 20 were further defined.

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Closing elevations Locus 3:

N: 26.53m AE

S: 26.52m AE

Closing elevations Locus 14:

NW: 26.65m AE

SW: 26.70m AE

SE: 26.57m AE

NE: 26.61m AE

Closing elevations Locus 19:

NW: 26.73m AE

SW: 26.71m AE

SE: 26.70m AE

NE: 26.67m AE

Closing Totals Locus 3:

Pottery: 14 pcs

Plaster with reed impressions: 1 pc

Bone: 1 pc

Plaster: 1/5 bowl

Tile: 1/8 bowl

Closing Totals Locus 14:

Pottery: 16 pcs

Vitrified terracotta: 141 pcs

Bone: 1 pc

Plaster: 1/2 bowl

Tile: 27 pcs

Closing Totals Locus 19:

Pottery: 86 pcs

Vitrified terracotta: 8 pcs

Bone: 1 pc

Plaster: 1 bowl

Tile: 1 bowl