July 5 2004

Area: D Trench: 5

Discussed the contexts of D5 with Dr Parker and the main question raised was whether the Ubaid phase represented by the domestic architecture, the work area and the oven overlaid at least one more earlier phase of construction and activity. It was decided that those features recorded in 2002 and a 5-10cm layer contaminated by the recent work could be removed subject to a watching brief from BU and NL with the oven loci 5155, 5156 and 5157 to be excavated as soon as possible. Following the squaring of the east baulk on July 2 the step baulk abutting the oven and the east baulk had become more pronounced. This was designated as locus 5161 to be removed with the possibility of a reasonable section being left to assist with later work in trench D9.

BU and NL added a locus to the SW corner of the trench where a dark deposit had been revealed during a general clean of the trench following the removal of the plastic.