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Monday, July 10 2023

AM

We began the day working in both Loci 43 and 44 - the interior and exterior surfaces of the small, rectilinear hut overlying EPOC4, respectively. In both loci, we are working to remove the olive-brown, claylike, moderately compacted soil to reveal the underlying darker, mottled soil, which likely is EPOC4 wall collapse and destruction. In both Locie, we are excavating with handpicks and trowels, handsorting soil directly in the trench, then passing soil through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. In both Loci, we are recovering moderate quantities of pottery and small quantities of tile, paster, bone and slag. While working in Locus 44, we recovered a piece of worked chert with an incised carving line (Find #12).

As we worked in both Loci 43 + 44, we began to expose the underlying darker, mottled deposit across both Loci. We spent the remainder of the morning scraping down both Loci, removing the last of the olive-brown deposit of both Loci. By the end of the morning, all soil of Loci 43 + 44 was removed.

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Special Finds

• Special Find # 12

• Locus 44

• 105.35 E/46.49 S

• 26.49m A.E.

• Worked chert

PM

We removed the last of the Locus 44 olive brown soil, which was pressed up against the interior face of EPOC4’s southern foundation wall. Following the removal of this soil, we closed both Loci 43 and 44, taking closing photos and elevations and completing architectural plans for both Loci.

Locus 43: Closing Elevations

• NW corner (103.91 E/44.57 S): 26.53m A.E.

• NE corner (106.50 E/44.90 S): 26.47m A.E.

• SE corner (106.50 E/45.74 S): 26.42 A.E.

• SW corner (103.93 E/45.43 S): 26.49m A.E.

Locus 44: Closing Elevations

• NW corner (103.93 E/45.43 S): 26.49m A.E.

• NE corner (106.50 E/45.74 S): 26.42m A.E.

• SE corner (106.50 E/46.77 S): 26.40m A.E.

• SW corner (103.98E/46.09 S): 26.44m A.E.

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With the closing of Loci 43 + 44, we opened a new Locus, Locus 45, across the entire area where we have been working. We took opening photos and elevations and completed an opening plan for Locus 45.

Locus 45: Opening Elevations

• NW corner (103.91 E/44.57 S): 26.53m A.E.

• NE corner (106.50 E/44.90 S): 26.47m A.E.

• SE corner (106.50 E/46.77 S): 26.40m A.E.

• SW corner (103.98 E/46.09 S): 26.44m A.E.

Locus 45 consists of debris associated with the abandonment and destruction of EPOC4. Soil is a darker grayish brown and is mottled, with terracotta, charcoal, and limestone inclusions, and is only moderately compacted. We began excavating in Locus 45, using handpicks and trowels, hand sorting soil in the trench and passing it through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We only excavated briefly, but are recovering more pottery and bone, but little tile.

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Locus 43

• Tile + plaster: 74 fragments

• Pottery: 19 sherds

• Bone: 5 fragments

• Slag: 2 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

Locus 44

• Tile + plaster: 1/20 bowl

• Pottery: 42 sherds

• Bone: 12 fragments

• Slag: 0 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

Locus 45:

• Tile + plaster: 23 fragments

• Pottery: 22 sherds

• Bone: 5 fragments

• Slag: 6 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

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