13 July 2023 AM Locus 27 was baulk walled and troweled. Small hand picks and trowels were used to improve baulk walls. The trench was swept for photos. Locus 27 was closed in preparation to open the dark brown soil which was revealed under the plaster floor surface. Closing and opening photos were taken. Locus 28 is the dark brown highly compacted and clay dense soil present in the section under the plaster floor surface. Small amounts of bone, coarsewares, and finewares including bucchero are included in the layer. Frequent small roots are present throughout the soil.

Locus 28 opening coordinates: NW: 177.8 E / 68.45 S NE: 177.8 E / 68.38 S SE: 178.8 E / 70.61 S SW: 178.8 E / 70.56 S

Locus 28 opening elevations: NW: 26.78 m AE NE: 26.72 m AE SE: 26.68 m AE SW: 26.69 m AE The pinkish brown clay was revealed in the eastern section of Locus 23 was opened as Locus 29. Locus 29 extends along the eastern baulk wall for 2.5 m from the northern baulk wall at a width of 0.22 m. The layer continues to extend along the eastern baulk wall for 1.40 m at a width of 0.48 m. Plaster, tiles, and a large bone are visible on the surface of the layer. The layer extends into T103 where it is being excavated as Locus 4 (AXBII). In the easternmost extent of the layer it abuts a dark brown highly compacted soil.

Locus 29 opening coordinates: NW: 176.76 E / 64 S NE1: 177 E / 64 S NE2: 177 E / 66 S NE3: 178.35 E / 66 S SE1: 178.33 E / 66.47 S SE2: 176.76 E / 66.46 S

Locus 29 opening elevations: NW: 26.75 m AE NE1: 26.72 m AE NE2: 26.65 m AE NE3: 26.74 m AE SE1: 26.73 m AE SE2: 26.64 m AE

Locus 30 is a carbonized deposit located to the south of the Locus 24 tile fall. The deposit is currently exposed of a length of 1.22 m and 0.16 m in width. The carbon deposit may be carbonized wood associated with the fallen roofing elements found in Locus 24.

Opening coordinates Locus 30: NW: 174.30 E / 66.30 S NE1: 174.80 E / 66.38 S NE2: 175.24 E / 66.45 S

Opening elevations Locus 30: NW: 26.70 m AE NE1: 26.72 m AE NE2: 26.69 m AE

Locus 31 is an additional carbon deposit found in the north of the trench covered by Locus 24. The carbon deposit is surrounded by a darker soil that may cover additional carbon. The layer is irregularly shaped due to the tiles of Locus 24.

Opening coordinates Locus 31: NW: 175.42 E / 64 S NE1: 175.70 E / 64.42 S NE2: 176.34 E / 64.30 S SE: 175.72 E / 64.70 S SW: 175.30 E / 64.90 S

Opening elevations Locus 31: NW: 26.72 m AE NE1: 26.65 m AE NE2: 26.66 m AE SE: 26.66 m AE SW: 26.70 m AE

Opening Munsell designations: Locus 28: 10YR 6/3 - Pale brown Locus 29: 10 YR 6/4 - Light yellowish brown Locus 30: 10 YR 3/2 - Very dark grayish brown Locus 31: 5 YR 4/1 - Dark gray

Once opening elevations and coordinates were taken, excavation began in Locus 28. The soil is highly compacted and dense with a dark color brown and inclusions of carbon. Frequent small roots are being found. Coarsewares and fragments of fineware are being found frequently. A fragment of bucchero with a groove in it that may join Special Find #6 was recovered along with a bucchero rim fragment (Special Find #7 and Special Find #8).

Special Find #7 Bucchero with a groove 178.65 E 69.32 S 26.81 m AE Locus 28

Special Find #8 Bucchero Rim 176.23 E 69.53 S 26.75 m AE Locus 28

Small handpicks and trowels are being used to lower the dark brown soil. A large fragment of a bone was found and recorded as Special Find #9 with 6 associated fragments.

Special Find #9 Diagnostic Bone 177.88 E 70.13 S 26.53 m AE Locus 28 PC20230032

Finewares and fragments of bucchero continue to be recovered from Locus 28. In Locus 29 excavation began in its eastern extent. The pinkish soil contains a large amount of terracotta tiles and plaster. A handpick is being used to define the tiles in place.

PM Excavation continues in Locus 28 excavation through the dark brown soil and sorting soil by hand into buckets. Two associated fragments of bucchero with a groove were recorded as Special Find #10 and a fragment of bucchero with two grooves was recorded as Special Find #11.

Special Find #10 Two associated fragments of grooved bucchero 178.48 E 70.62 S 26.57 m AE Locus 28

Special Find #11 Bucchero with two grooves 178.45 E 70.62 S 26.61 m AE Locus 28

Supplemental Find #23 Fine Impasto Body Fragment with Partial Inscription 177.8-178.8 E / 68.38-70.61 S 26.68 - 26.78 m AE Locus 28 PC20230042

Supplemental Find #24 Fine Impasto Rim Fragment with Interior Net Pattern 177.8-178.8 E / 68.38-70.61 S 26.68 - 26.78 m AE Locus 28 PC20230043

A fragment of a painted handle made of imported material, possibly of Greek origin, was found and recorded as Special Find #12.

Special Find #12 Painted imported handle 178.02 E 70.05 S 26.67 m AE Locus 28 PC20230024

A diagnostic bone was found and recorded as Special Find #13.

Special Find #13 Diagnostic bone 178.42 E 70.42 S 26.64 m AE Locus 28 PC20230031

The reddish brown soil appearing in the south of the trench was scraped and baulk walls were improved. In Locus 24 the area in the northwest currently higher than the remainder of the locus is being lowered and the tiles defined. Loose soil throughout the trench was swept and closing elevations were taken.

Closing elevations Locus 28: NW: 26.60 m AE NE: 26.63 m AE SE: 26.52 m AE SW: 26.57 m AE

Closing totals Locus 28: 74: Terracotta - ⅛ bowl 75: Plaster - ½ bowl 76: Pottery - 168 pcs 77: Plaster with reed impressions - 6 pcs 78: Vitrified plaster - 1 pc 79: Vitrified terracotta - 0 80: Bone - 29 pcs 81: Burnt bone - 6 pcs

Closing totals Locus 29: 82: Terracotta - ⅛ bowl 83: Plaster - ⅛ bowl 84: Pottery - 5 pcs 85: Plaster with reed impressions - 1 pc 86: Vitrified plaster - 3 pcs 87: Vitrified terracotta - 0 88: Bone - 0 89: Burnt bone - 0

Locus 28, 29, 30, 31, Opening Drawing