Daily Logs

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Daily log 22 July 2011

AM:

Morning began defining the highest portions of the trench with trowels to get a clearer picture of the feature. Of first priority was the NW and NE corners, both slightly elevated due to tree stumps Once these areas were leveled Locus 2 was declared across the trench\x97 Locus 3 is the rock/terracotta feature that spands the entire trench. While material is most concentrated in the SW quadrant, it extends to all four walls without a clear edge or end point. As such, Locus 3 covers all of CB-46 and has the same corner coordinates as Locus 1 and 2 . The surface was swept and clipped for opening photos. After photos, elevations were taken. Elevations for Locus 3 are:

NE corner (0W/31S): 29.57mAE

NW corner (3W/31N): 29.67mAE

SW corner (3W/33S): 29.62mAE

SE corner (0W/33S): 29.51mAE

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Drawing of Locus 3 rock.terracotta feature:

(drawing)

After photos and elevations we began to explore the feature. Beginning in the SW corner we removed the top layer of rocks and terracotta, discarding the former and placing the latter in a bowl. As material being uncovered and pulled out we will use trowels

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to level the dirt. The soil remains the same as Locus 2 , olive brown and claylike; the rock feature alone spurred the creation of a third Locus. As we remove materials and enter lower lays of the feature we will look for soil change and variations in material density. Within the western most meter (where material removal began) immense amounts of terracotta have been found. While dumping the first bowl a piece of terracotta with a finger impression was found. The location of the fragment (special find #1) was recalled and therefore approximate.

Special find #1: terracotta fragment with finger impression

Locus 3

Elevation: 29.66mAE

Coordinates: 2.27W/31.82S (approx)

(drawing)

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Troweling through and removing material continued eastward. Meanwhile, the NW corner appeared more elevated and while troweling through to level the area a frieze plaque fragment (special find #2) was found. Elevations and coordinates were taken.

Special find #2: frieze plaque fragment

Locus 3

Elevation: 29.65mAE

Coordinates: 2.82W, 31.26S

(drawing)

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Within the eastern meter an additional frieze plaque fragment was found (special find #3) while remoing material. Coordinates and elevations were taken.

Special find #3: frieze plaque fragment

Locus 3

Elevation: 29.56mAE

Coordinates: 0.77W/31.29S

(drawing)

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Approximately a meter south of special find #3 a piece of vitrified terracotta was found (special find #4).

Special find #4: vitrified terracotta

Locus 3

Elevation: 29.56mAE

Coordinates: 0.56W,32.08S

(drawing)

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After an initial sweep of the trench all (most) visible, superficial rocks and terracotta were removed. The trench remains relatively level. We will clean up excess dirt from the trench and work to expose the underlaying of the rock/terracotta feature, should feature continue.

PM:

Work continues in CB 46 both in troweling and in baulk walling. Baulk walls were trimmed first along the NE corner; this then continued in a counter clockwise circle. All the baulk walls were completed though finer work may be needed for photos (to happen at completion of the second layer of rock feature definition. While the walls were baulked, further definition of the rock /terracotta feature began again in the SW corner. A similar spread of materials is evident: rocks 5-15cm in diameter and terracotta of comparable size. The materials are very tightly compact, mirroring the concentration in the previous layer. We will trowel outward from this corner and

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Locus 2 in color and texture. Soil is sorted into buckets and terracotta is sorted into bowls, either designated Locus 3 or baulk terracotta. No pottery is being found though a small amount was removed during the removal of rocks/terracotta from the top layer of the feature.

As troweling continues north and east the feature is being further defined. Materials remain the same, though some pottery is now being found, a very little amount. While defining a piece of very vitrified terracotta was unearthed, it almost appears like glass (special find #5). Elevations and coordinates were taken.

Special find #5: vitrified terracotta

Locus 3

Elevation: 29.63mAE

Coordinates: 2.05W/32.01S

(drawing)

The SW quadrant is defined entirely, we will work next week on finding the extent of the feature.

Locus 2 :

Terracotta: 1/5 bowl

Pottery: 4 pieces

Locus 3 :

Terracotta: 4 and 1/5 bowls

Pottery: 18 pieces

Baulk Walls:

Terracotta: \xbd bowls

Pottery: 2 pieces

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