30 July 2018

AM

A pick pass was thrown throughout the trench to level the points of higher elevation and to further expose the soil change, which appears to be an olive-green color. The eastern baulk wall was then knocked in to be level with the rest of the trench, and cleaning began on the northern baulk wall.

A second pick pass lightly picked throughout the trench to continue to expose the soil change which has appeared in the central section of the trench but not in the southern section. While sorting he soil, a possible brazier fragment was discovered.

Special find #81: Possible brazier fragment

26.90 m.AE

47.45 S / 170.64 E

Locus

The fragment preserves a flap on either side that curves inward; the angle of curvature for each flap is slightly different. The piece displays vitrification along the inner face while the outer face preserves an approx.. 6cm long terracotta protrusion. The protrusion is approx.. 0.5cm in width and stretches from one flap to the upper worked edge.

A fragment of bronze was also recovered.

Special find #82: bronze ribbon

26.89 m.AE

47.09 S / 168. 76 E

Locus 6

The find is approx.. 3.6 cm in length and the ends are approx.. 0.4cm and 0.5cm. It appears to twist or curve slightly along the length of the ribbon. While hand sorting into the wheel barrow, a fragment of shaped iron was recovered and recorded as a supplemental find.

Supplemental find #83: Iron fragment

Northern baulk area, possibly from locus 6.

Baulk trim

As the fragment was recovered from the baulk trim and its exact location is unknown, a range of elevation and coordinates was taken.

It is approx.. 2cm in length and was possibly part of an iron nail.

A light pick pass then focused on the southern area of the trench, using the exposed soil change in the rest of the trench to search for the slope of the soil.

While sorting the soil, a piece of worked bone was discovered.

Special find #84: Worked bone; incised bone plaque?

26.85 m.AE

47.35 S /169.12 E

Locus 6

The bone appears to be triangular in shape. One face preserves a series of incised parallel lines; the central most line forks out into a triangular shape towards one of the bone’s corners. The opposite face preserves what appears to be a series of incised parallel lines around the edges; however, only two edges preserve the incisions in detail.

While tidying the eastern baulk wall of the trench, a fragment of slipped pottery was discovered.

Special find #85: Slipped pottery

26.97 m.AE

46.76 S / 171 E

Locus 6

The fragment preserves slip on the exterior face of the sherd.

As the eastern baulk wall was tidied; two pick passes focused on the western section of the trench, as there appears to be a 1X1M area in which the olive-green soil has not yet appeared. The trench appears to be sloping down in this area.

PM

Two light pick passes concentrated on the areas around NE2 and SW3 to reveal the soil change. While sorting the area around NE 2, a crucible fragment was discovered, as well as a smaller, non-joining fragment.

Special find #86: Crucible fragment with adhering bronze

26.82 m.AE
47.88 S / 170.65 E

Locus 6

The fragment preserves bronze adhered to the inner face. There is a modern break, but the remainder of the piece has not been located.

Special find #87: Crucible fragment with adhering bronze

26.83 m.AE

47.80 S / 170.80 E

Locus 6

The fragment is approx.. 2cm in length and preserves bronze along the interior face. It does not appear to join with special find #86.

The area picked around SW3 appears to have fewer inclusions and an increase in small chunks of plaster. The area appear to continue going down and has revealed a concentration of clustered rocks along the western baulk. The rock cluster appears to continue into the western baulk but not into the southern baulk. While sorting the area, a fragment of pottery with a semi-circular incision was recovered.

Special find #88: pottery with semi-circular incision

26.84 m.AE

46.92 S / 168.45 E

Locus 6

The fragment preserves a semi-circular incision about 0.2cm in width along the interior face. The exterior appears to be undecorated.

Two finds were then recovered from the eastern area of the trench. A range of elevations and coordinates was taken, as both were recovered from the pottery bowl associated with the eastern section of the trench.

Supplemental find #89: perforated base

Approx.. 26.94-26.96 m.AE

Approx. 47.22 S / 170.93 E

Locus 6

The fragment preserves the finished and slightly curved perforated base of a vessel.

Supplemental find #90: Crucible fragment

Approx. 26.94 – 26.96 m.AE

Approx.. 46-47.81 S / 170-171 E

Locus 6

A piece of vitrified terracotta was also discovered in the eastern section.

Special find #91: Vitrified terracotta

26.89 m.AE

47.34 S / 170.83 E

Locus 6

The piece has a modern break and is currently composed of two fragments that join together.

While continuing to sort through the western area of the trench by the rock cluster, a piece of slipped pottery and a piece of pottery with a semi-circular incision were discovered.

Special find #92: Slipped pottery

26.86 m.AE

46.80 S / 168.43 E

Locus 6

The fragment preserves traces of slip on the exterior surface; it is part of a rim

Special find #93: Pottery with semi-circular incision

26.90 m.AE

46.98 S / 168.34 E

Locus 6

The fragment preserves a semi-circular incision on the interior finished surface.

Baulk-walling occurred in the northern area of the trench for the remainder of the day.

End of day totals are as follows:

Locus 6:

Pottery – 186 pieces

Bone -115 pieces

Tile – 1.5 bowls

Baulk trim:

Pottery – 23 pieces

Bone – 19 pieces

Tile – 0.2 bowls