Page 57

Tuesday, 12 July 2022

AM

Work continued in Locus 32, with the removal of the medium-brown, claylike deposit and the exposure of the underlying reddish, plaster-rich deposit in the southern meters of the locus (EPOC4 wall collapse) and the concentration of small stones and debris in the northern meters of the locus (EPOC4 subfloor). We continue to excavate with handpicks and trowels and hand-sort soil in the trench before passing it through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We are recovering high quantities of plaster fragments, especially in the southern meters of the locus where the new reddish deposit is appearing. We also are finding higher quantities of bone than yesterday, particularly in the northern meters of the locus, where the concentration of small stones and charcoal-rich soil are appearing; here, we also have recovered three fragments of diagnostic bone (Finds #24, 25, 28). Additionally, we are finding moderate quantities of pottery and high quantities of slag and vitrified terracotta. We also found a crucible fragment (Find #26) and a bronze droplet, perhaps a castoff fragment (Find #27) in the southern meters of the locus.

As we continue to work, the interface between the new, reddish deposit and the concentration of smaller stones in the northern part of the trench is appearing at app. 45S. The new, reddish, plaster-rich deposit stratigraphically is positioned above EPOC4’s

Page 58

Page 59

floor surface, which is visible just to the west of Locus 32, in a 2019 section. Therefore, we hypothesize that this new plaster-rich deposit is debris from the collapse of EPOC4’s S wall. therefore, this likely will be the next deposit excavated. In contrast, the concentration of smaller stones and debris set in a darker, charcoal-rich deposit likely is positioned stratigraphically underneath the new, plaster-rich deposit; it’s at roughly the same elevation as deposits identified as EPOC4’s subfloor and appears to underlie EPOC4’s floor, which is visible along EPOC4’s N wall. While excavating in the southern meters of Locus 32 and exposing the new, plaster-rich deposit, we found another diagnostic bone fragment (Find #29).

While working to fully expose the reddish, plaster-rich deposit in the southern end of the locus, we found that the concentration of plaster ends abruptly; to the east of app. 108.80E, the soil becomes much looser and is mottled in appearance; some patches are dark brown, others light gray in color. The soil also contains larger stones and larger fragments of tile. Given the mottled color, loose texture, and change in composition, we hypothesize this eastern deposit is backfill, resulting from early excavations of the Archaic Building. Therefore, we will look to define this line.

While exposing the new, plaster-rich deposit in the south of the locus, we found a stone fragment with incised cross-hatching (Find #30) and a plaster fragment with reed impressions (Find #31).

Page 60

Page 61

Special Finds:

Find #24

• Locus 32
• 109.29E/45.39S
• 26.39m A.E.
• Diagnostic bone fragment

Find #25

• Locus 32
• 109.07E/44.81S
• 26.45m A.E.
• Tooth fragment

Find #26

• Locus 32
• 108.84E/46.38S
• 26.38m A.E.
• Crucible fragment

Find #27

• Locus 32
• 108.94E/48.40S
• 26.36m A.E.
• Bronze droplet – castoff?

Find #28

• Locus 32
• 109.43E/44.03S
• 26.50m A.E.
• Diagnostic bone fragment

Page 62

Page 63

Find #29

• Locus 32
• 108.09E/46.41S
• 26.40m A.E.
• Diagnostic bone fragment

Find #30

• Locus 32
• 108.25E/46.22S
• 26.39m A.E.
• Stone with incised cross-hatching

Find #31

• Locus 32
• 108.08E/46.84S
• 26.33m A.E.
• Plaster with reed impressions and preserved right angle

Page 64

Page 65

PM

Work continued this afternoon with the continued removal of the medium-brown claylike deposit of locus 32, the exposure of the plaster-rich reddish deposit in the south of the locus (EPOC4 wall collapse) and the concentration of smaller stones and debris (EPOC4 subfloor in the north of the locus, and the identification of the line demarcating backfill in the southeastern portion of the locus. We continue to excavate using handpicks and trowels, hand-sorting soil in the trench and screening soil through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We continue to find high quantities of plaster, slag, and vitrified terracotta and moderate quantities of tile, pottery, and bone. While working in the central meters of the locus, we recovered diagnostic bone fragments (Find #32) and a large fragment of slag (Find #33), while in the southern meters of the locus we recovered a sherd of slipped pottery (Find #34).

By the end of the afternoon, the remaining Locus 32 soil was removed, exposing the two new deposits below and the line of demarcation of Archaic Building excavations backfill. We spent the remainder of the afternoon removing all loose soil, in preparation for the closing of Locus 32. Closing elevations were taken.

Page 66

Page 67

Special Finds:

Find #32

• Locus 32
• 109.10E/45.65S
• 26.46m A.E.
• Diagnostic bone fragments

Find #33

• Locus 32
• 109.10E/45.65S
• 26.46m A.E.
• Large slag fragment

Find #34

• Locus 32
• 108.00E/46.28S
• 26.47m A.E.
• Slipped pottery sherd

Page 68

Page 69

Closing Elevations:

• NW Corner (109.05E/41.55S): 26.75m A.E.
• NE Corner (109.81E/41.92S): 26.72m A.E.
• SE Corner (109.62E/47S): 26.34m A.E.
• SW Corner (108E/47S): 26.38m A.E.
• 108.06E/46S: 26.33m A.E.
• 109E/46S: 26.42m A.E.

Locus 32

• Tile and plaster: ¾ bowl
• Pottery: 65 sherds
• Bone: 14 fragments
• Slag: 72 fragments
• Vitrified terracotta: 36 fragments

Supplemental Find

Find #35

• Pottery box find
• Locus 32
• 108-109.81E/41.55-47S
• 26.33-26.55m A.E.
• Crucible fragment

Page 70