Daily Log

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June 20, 1990

A.M.

The area of burn encountered yesterday in meters I-J/15 was cleaned down with brush and mestalina for photographs.  Cleaning revealed a layer of black burn soil at the base of the trench at a depth of ca. 70cm.  This burn soil contained a high concentration of carbonized wood and several small gragments of slag and small chunks of vitrified tile.  Further cleaning of the southern half of meter J/15 also revealed a number of rocks lying amidst the layer of burn soil at the bottom of the trench.  The area around the rocks will have to be cleaned further to determine their placement and orientation.  The currently exposed portions of the rocks, however, do not

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appear to display traces of burning.  One quarter of a box of impasto and coarseware fragments, including many burned pieces, and one quarter of a cassetta of small fragments of plaster and tile, also including several burned pieces, were removed from the dark burn soil.  Sweeping of the trench floor in meters J/15-16 also revealed more distinctly the soil change from dark brown burn soil to grey-yellow soil noted yesterday morning (p. 133 ) in meter J/16 at a depth of ca. 70cm.  The area of this gerey-yellow soil currently exposed extends from the northern half of meter J/15 into the southern potion of J/16.  Further cleaning of the trench floor will be necessary to determine the extent and depth of the grey-yellow layer.

The stump situated between

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meters I/J 15 was cleaned down with hammer and mestalina.  The soil beneath the stump was dark brown in color and contained a high concentration of carbonized wood.  Several small pieces of slag ( 19900033

, photograph ) were recovered form beneath the stump.  In addition, one half of a box of impasto, including several burned pieces, and one quarter of a cassetta of tile and small chunks of plaster were discovered beneath the stump.  It is interesting to note that several of the small pieces of tile were extremely friable, although not bisibly burned.  It is conceivable, therefore, that this tile may be unfired.  Several of these friable pieces were bagged to be brought down to the magazzino for further study.  The pit formation in meters H-I/11-12

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was cleaned and drawn. *  The two large pithos rim fragments uncovered in meter I/12 were then lifted.  Both fragments were placed upside down and extended ca. 5cm into the soil below.  This soil below the fragmetns was black from excessive burn.  It is not yet clear whether this blackened soil exists only beneath the pithos fragments or constitutes a continuous stratum.  Several of the large rocks located around the pit were also removed.  None of the rocks displayed traces of burning.  The surface of the pit was then scraped, beginning from the area beneath the pithos and moving south into meter I/11.  The soil removed in scraping was mottled and included a large amount of disintegrated

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plaster and organic material.  In addition, a number of patches of blackened, burn soil also began to appear.  Very little material was recovered from this mottle soil.  One quarter of a cassetta of small plaster chunks, four pieces of impasto and a few small pieces of tile were recovered.  None of this material displayed traces of burning.

* see CA33 1990 Plan I

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P.M.

The large stump located in meters I-J/15 was cleaned down and removed.  Much of the soil beneath the stump was blackened from burn.  A large amount of pottery (one and a half boxes), much of it burned, and a few pieces of bone were removed from this black burn soil.  In addition, a great deal of small pieces of slag and vitrified tile were discovered in the soil beneath and immediately around the stump.  All of this material was bagged and brought down to the magazzino.  It is still not clear whether all the burn material recovered in meters J/15-16 and I/15 represents a primary depostion or, instead, a collection of refuse material.  The burn, although heavy in some areas, does not appear concentrated enough to

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constitute the remains of a roasting pit for bronze production or kiln.  Such a facility, however, may be nearby.  Moreover, the burn soil has a loosed consistancy and therefore may represent a fill deposit.  Further cleaning of the surrounding area will be necissary to more precisely determine the nature of the burn deposit.

The trench was extended northwards into meters G-J/18, where a topsoil cut was taken to a depth of 10cm.  The soil was dark brown in color and contained a large amount of small rocks and roots.  One quarter of a cassetta of small pieces of worn tile and a few pieces of weathered impasto were discovered.  A second

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10cm. cut was then begun in meter G/18.  The soil remained dark brown in color with many small roots and rocks.  A few pieces of weathered tile were removed from the cut.

Work continued also on clearing down the pit formation in meters H-I/11-12 with mestalina and brush.  Working from the area of black burn uncovered beneath the two pithos rim fragments in meter I/12, the pit surface was cleared to the south.  Cleaning revealed a thick layer (ca. 5cm.) of amorphous plaster chunks extending to the south.  At least some of the plaster appears to be burned.  Moreover, the plaster itself displays great variation in color, exhibiting red, orange and yellowish-orange surfaces.  Several small to medium sized rocks were also uncovered amidst the

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plaster.  A small amount of impasto (one quarter of a box), most of it unburned, was discovered amidst the plaster.  In addition, the soil above and around the plaster contained a high concentration of carbonized wood and charcoal.  In overall color and consistency this soil is not unlike that currently encountered along the northern flank of the southeast building in T-26.

19900006

• Find 1
• G/18
• depth of 10cm
• cavetto fragment
  • drawing
  • photograph