July 10th, 2024

AM:

We threw a pickpass throughout locus 3. The soil in this locus continues to be dry, compact and included with small rocks. After sorting our finds consisted of some abraded tile, slightly increasing in both quantity and quality. In comparison to yesterday’s pickpass here pottery is increasing as well, including a piece of glossy medieval rim and a large well preserved tondo. After the first pickpass was cleaned up and sorted, a second one was thrown across the surface of locus 3, as we are working to bring this locus down to the level of locus 2. A fourth pickpass was thrown in the north meter of locus 3. A fifth slightly shallower pickpass was thrown in the NW meter of locus 3. The soil seems to be less powdery and loose especially in the NE corner. After beginning in the northern meter, we threw one in the western half of the locus as a means of evening it out and potentially exposing a soil type other than topsoil. The soil type has remained static, but our finds increased. We are encountering more terracotta, even some larger, well preserved fragments. Pottery finds are being encountered at the same frequency as earlier today, but they are more well preserved as well.

PM:

Two pickpasses were thrown simultaneously beginning in the two opposite corners of the locus. The soil is less compact and more brittle, the roots continue to decrease in size. Finds remained consistent. Once again the entirety of locus 3 was pickaxed. Rock inclusions in the soil are decreasing still, and are about 3c, in size on average. We are beginning to clean the extension in its entirety to possibly open locus 4 based on what appears to be a new soil change. Likely similar to that of locus 1 to 2. We uncouvered some tile fragments visible against the NE side of the locus by the northernmost edge of the trench. These remain in situ as they are situated in the next locus. We picked up the loose soil after cleaning up the balk walls.

Closing elevations:

Corner #1 28.06m AE Corner #2 28.03m AE Corner #3 28.04m AE Corner #4 28.03m AE Corner #5 28.07m AE Corner #6 28.07m AE

Closing totals

Terracotta: 2 bowls – BF 28 Pottery: 55 - BF 29 Bone: 0 – BF 30