22 July 2017

In order to expedite the process of removing the secondary fill layer – a stratum of stone, compacted soil and mixed modern and ancient materials – a mechanical excavator removed one meter of soil across the trench. On the final movement a payer of tile and some stones became visible in the east of the trench. The tile equated to approximately 5 tile bowls. It appears to be entirely ancient. Included in all of this were some large fragments of vitrified tile. The whole locus is now Locus 2. Following the mechanical excavator we partially cleaned the baulk walls and restrung the trench.