Daily Log Entry for Monday, 29 June 2009

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DAILY LOG ENTRY FOR MONDAY, 29 JUNE 2009

MORNING:

Continued work in Locus 1 to see extent of the \x93modern\x94 layer and level the trench somewhat. Two pickpasses were completed. There still is a visible difference in color of the soil in Locus 1 and Locus 2, with Locus 2 being lighter & more yellowish in color. The pickpasses revealed some more terracotta, but there were less organic inclusions. There are still roots, but the \x93pockets\x94 of decaying organic material have ceased to be found. While there is less organic material, a modern snail shell was still recovered. A piece of modern green glass was also recovered in the second pick pass. The dirt seems finer and does not form as large of chunks when picked. Some rocks have also appeared along the edge of Locus 1 & Locus 2 . (See diagram for rocks). We picked amongst the rocks and the soil was typical of Locus 1 . The rocks vary in size, but the average would probably be 10-15 cm long and 8-10 cm wide. They don't seem to form any sort of packing or feature. Since the soil in Locus 1 is changing, it will be declared Locus 3 soon; but Locus 2 will be taken down first to

(see diagram of T-56 on pg 27 of JRV-II)

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see how it relates to the new soil appearing in Locus 1 . (Additional note white root rot has appeared in the NE corner of the trench.) After the morning break, the baulk walls around Locus 1 were trimmed in preparation for declaring Locus 3 . After doing baulk trim Locus 2 was picked. One pick pass in Locus 2 revealed significant changes in soil. The yellowish, almost olive colored clayey soil of Locus 2 sits on top of a layer of extremely organic, almost black soil, w/ lots of decaying material. The black soil has a Munsell designation of 2.5Y 2.5/1 black (dry) and 5Y 2.5/1 black (wet). Single dirt clods would be of yellowish soil, w/ a black layer on the bottom and there is more black soil underneath it. Some small (dime-sized) chucks of terracotta were recovered as was one small chunk of vitrified terracotta (Find #1).

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(See diagram of trench on page 31 of JRV-II)

LOCUS 3 OPENING COORDINATES (& elevations):

(cm BD)

1. 136.11 E, 39.58 S, 65 = 28.33 m abs elev

2. 137.03 E, 39.58 S, 72 = 28.26 m abs elev

3. 137.86 E, 39.80 S, 79 = 28.19 m abs elev

4. SE Corner- 84 = 28.14 m abs elev

5. SW Corner - 73 = 28.25 m abs elev

After declaring Locus 3 , we picked in a wedge shaped area in the middle of the trench in between locus 3 and locus 1 in an effort to see the relationship between Locus 1 & 3 . The soil is more like locus 1 , and contains several rocks ca 10 cm long. On closer examination Find #1 was not vitrified terracotta.

FINDS:

LOCUS 1 ca. 1/3 bowl terracotta

- 5 pcs. ceramic

- 1 pc. bone

LOCUS 2 - 35 pcs. (1/8 bowl) terracotta

- 3 pcs. ceramic

FIND #1

Partially vitrified terracotta

137.34 E, 40.68 S 84 cm BD = 28.14 abs elev

Locus 2

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FIND #2

partially vitrified terracotta

Locus 2

137.34 E, 40.68 E

84 cm BD, 28.14 m abs elev

CLOSING ELEVATIONS:

NW: 68 cm BD = 28.30 m abs elev

NE: 63 cm BD = 28.35 m abs elev

SW: 73 cm BD = 28.25 m abs elev

SE: 90 cm BD = 28.09 m abs elev

Center: 75 cm BD = 28.23 m abs elev

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