Thursday, 06 July, 2023 

AM

Opening elevations:

NW: 28.00 mAE

NE: 27.98 mAE

SE: 28.28 mAE

SW: 28.22 mAE

Continued removal of topsoil, with a focus on the possible bedrock or stone formation on the east boundary of the trench. The stones here are larger and were exposed at the end of the previous day. As the topsoil was removed the stones became more defined and revealed the eastern boundary to be largely composed of either bedrock or larger stones, though this outcropping was approximately 2m in length from north to south. While excavating the crevices of bedrock, a special find was made:

Special find 2: small square bronze bar: sf-ca94-2023-1-2

20.73/14.75

Locus 1

28.07 mAE 

Out of context in the topsoil, this small but heavy bronze bar has a flattened square shape. It was found next to the rock or large stone feature on the eastern border of the trench. 

Within five minutes of this find special find 3 was discovered just west of special find 2:

Special find 3: slag: sf-ca94-2023-1-3

20.18/14.98

Locus 1

28.14 mAE

The piece of slag features both yellowish rock and iron colored inclusions. It is heavy and perhaps was used to extract copper from, leaving the iron intact within the rock. It was found in the topsoil just west of the rock feature on the eastern boundary of the trench.

After a few more minutes special find 4 was made:

Special find 4: slag: sf-ca94-2023-1-4

20.14/13.90

Locus 1

28.07 mAE

The piece of slag features both yellowish rock and iron colored inclusions. It is heavy and perhaps was used to extract copper from, leaving the iron intact within the rock. It was found in the topsoil just west of the rock feature on the eastern boundary of the trench. 

As more large stone or what is possibly bedrock was revealed, the linear exactitude of the feature became more evident. It was therefore decided that a trench extension to the east to reveal more of this feature should be made. The feature may not be bedrock but intentionally placed stones. More pieces of similar slag were found, and collected in bulk after special find 4.

PM

After further leveling and cleaning of the linear rock feature, we triangulated corners for a trench extension east, which will become locus 2. However, we did not close locus 1. 

The trench extension will be 3m north/south, and 2m east/west, centering on the 5m eastern wall of the original trench. The trench extension was measured, nailed, and strung to define the trench. It was then raked to prepare for drawing and photographs for the following day. 

Closing elevations: 

NW: 28.00 mAE

NE: 27.98 mAE

SE: 28.28 mAE

SW: 28.22 mAE

Totals:

Locus 1

Pottery (bulk find 7) 16

Bone (bulk find 8) 0

Tile (bulk find 9) 15% of bucket (11cm deep, 25cm diameter)

Slag (bulk find 10) 5