Organics Summary

 Most organic finds recovered from T90 in 2018 were charcoal samples. A total of 8 charcoal samples were recovered from T90. All loci contained some charcoal and most contained sizeable enough charcoal fragments to collect as samples. Loci 13, 19, and 20 were characterized by high quantities of charcoal. In fact, Locus 13 had a dark gray color that resulted from high quantities of charcoal, indicating that this was a burnt deposit.

 One charcoal sample in particular, Charcoal Sample #8, may have been the remains of a beam or post. Charcoal Sample #8 was rectangular in shape, measured approximately 7cm across, and was situated in a highly compressed and compacted plaster deposit, which likely was the beaten earth floor of EPOC4 (Locus 19). The upper 5cm of Charcoal Sample #8 were collected for sampling, but the charcoal post or beam continued downward into the plaster deposit. At the end of the 2018 season, it is still unclear if Charcoal Sample #8 is a post or beam; further excavation is needed to clarify the nature of Charcoal Sample #8.

 Flotation conducted in 2018 from soil samples collected in both 2017 and 2018 yielded organic remains. Examples of grain, specifically bread wheat, were found in Locus 9 from the T90 2017 excavations (20170059) and from Locus 15 (20180030); these loci are equivalent and both are part of the subflooring of EPOC4. Additionally, possible grape seeds were found from soil samples taken from Locus 19 (20180031), which is associated with EPOC4’s plaster-rich beaten earth floor. Flotation results suggest that cooking, specifically the baking of bread, and wine consumption occurred within the front porch of EPOC4. Such finds further suggest domestic activities, indicating that EPOC4 is Poggio Civitate’s earliest monumental domestic structure.