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21 July 2022

AM

The morning began with work in Loci 15, 14, 3, 16, and 2.  In Locus 14 the plaster and soil mix continues to be lowered and tiles are being defined.   While hand picking and sorting a diagnostic bone (Special Find #72), possibly a knucklebone, and a tooth (Special Find #73) were found.

Special Find #72

Locus 14

174.29m E

64.70m S

26.75m AE

Diagnostic Bone: Knuckle Bone

Special Find #73

174.57m E

64.89m S

26.73m AE

Diagnostic Bone: Tooth

Locus 14

Excavation resumed in Locus 15 using handpicks, trowls, and a brush.  The soil is a very dense compacted brown clay.  Small amounts of pottery and plaster are being recovered.  Two diagnostic bones (Special Find #74) (Special Find #75).

Special Find #74

Locus 15

176.38m E

69.92m S

26.60m AE

Diagnostic Bone

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Special Find #75

Locus 15

176.21m E

69.94m S

26.53m AE

Diagnostic Bone

In Locus 14 3 large cover tiles were found and are being defined.  A pan tile with plaster pressed inside adhering to the surface was found in the tile packing.  While sorting close to the pan tile a fragment of burnt bone was found (Special Find #76).

Special Find #36

Locus 14

175.23m E

65.13m S

26.69m AE

Burnt Bone

Excavation in Locus 3 continues to lower the level of the soil in the northern extension of the trench and further leveled the compacted brown clay that has been revealed.  While baulk walling within Locus 3 fragments of teeth were found im many fragments (Special Find #77).

Special Find #77

Locus 3

175.36m E

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In Locus 2 the remaining soil was cleaned off the plaster floor surface.  Brushes and trowels were used to sweep the extension.  In Locus 16 the leveling of the floor surface and the surround[ing] soil continues working south and east in the locus.

PM

In Locus 16 the plaster floor surface continues to be revealed and appears to be less well preserved in the extension than the remainder of the trench.  Small amounts of pottery and some tiles which remain on the surface have been removed.  A fragment of bronze slag (Special Find #78) was found in the SE corner.  Fragments of plastic tarp under the backfill from the 1980s excavation continues to be found in strings.

Special Find #78

176.44m E

72.40m S

26.74m AE

Locus 16

Bronze Slag

Locus 2 was swept and the surrounding area of the trench was cleaned.  Tiles continued to be defined in Locus 14.  The soil in Locus 15 was lowered with a hand pick and the baulk wall were improved.

Closing elevations Locus 3:

N: 26.46m AE

S: 26.51m AE

Closing elevations Locus 14:

E: 26.70m AE

W: 26.75m AE

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Closing elevation Locus 15:

26.49m AE

Closing elevations Locus 16:

NW: 26.73m AE

SW: 26.70m AE

SE: 26.70m AE

NE: 26.72m AE

Closing Totals:

Locus 3:

Pottery: 34 pcs

Bone: 8 pcs

Plaster: 1/4 bowl

Tile: 1/8 bowl

Locus 14:

Pottery: 9 pcs

Bone: 4 pcs

Vitrified terracotta: 100 pcs

Plaster: 1.25 bowls

Tile: 1/8 bowl

Locus 15:

Pottery: 10 pcs

Bone: 2 pcs

Plaster: 1/3 bowl

Tile: 1 bowl

Locus 16:

Pottery: 15 pcs

Bone: 2 pcs

Plaster: 1/8 bowl

Tile: 1/8 bowl

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