20 July 2023

AM

Excavation began in Locus 30 to begin to remove the second section of the carbon feature. The sides of the remaining soil of Locus 30 was baulk walled on all sides. The section that will be removed was separated from the baulk wall on the 174 E line to prepare for removal. Once the sides of the section were prepared, trowels, handpicks, leaf trowels, and a baulk walling trowel started to be used to undercut the section for removal.

Excavation began in Locus 32 using trowels to lower the level of the soil. Frequent highly friable rocks that are soft and chalky are being removed. A dark brown soil was revealed under the red soil. The dark brown soil is clay dense and highly compacted. Handpicks and trowels are being used to investigate the extent of the soil and continue to remove the red soil.

The dark brown soil revealed in Locus 32 continues to be revealed. It was exposed throughout the northern extent. In Locus 30 the work continues to prepare the section for removal. Leaf trowels, a baulk trowel, and small handpicks are being used to undercut the section. Once the section is removed it will be recorded as Special Find #20. An attempt to remove the section was made using trowels to move the section onto a board. The section was not able to be removed and work returned to removing soil under the section. Trowels were once again used to move the section which was removed by sliding the section onto a board. The soil was then wrapped in plastic wrap and the western side supported with foam and rocks. Special Find #20 was removed. The four corners of Special Find #20 are the following:

NW: 174.20 E / 66.34 S, 26.70 m AE

NE: 174.88 E / 66.22 S, 26.68 m AE

SE: 174.89 E / 66.55 S, 26.71 m AE

SW: 174.18 E / 66.61 S, 26.71 m AE

Special Find #20 is 0.72 m in length and 0.33 m in width. Loose soil was cleaned and closing elevations were taken.

Closing elevations Locus 30:

NW: 26.53 m AE

NE: 26.47 m AE

SE: 26.53 m AE

SW: 26.55 m AE

Midpoint: 26.42 m AE

Closing elevations Locus 32:

NW: 26.52 m AE

NE: 26.54 m AE

SE: 26.57 m AE

SW: 26.55 m AE

Closing totals Locus 30:

178: Terracotta - 2 pcs

179: Plaster - ⅛ bowl

180: Pottery - 0

181: Plaster with reed impressions - 0

182: Vitrified plaster - 1 pc

183: Vitrified terracotta - 0

184: Bone - 4 pcs

185: Burnt bone - 0