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12 July 2022

AM

Work began in 3 loci in the morning.  Locus 3 was further lowered in the southern extent in order to define the points where Locus 3 meets Locus 2 and Locus 4.  The defining revealed that the locus extends in a linear fashion to the southern baulk wall.

Defining continues in Locus 8 using hand picks and trowels.  The soil is a greyish brown with fragments of plaster broken within the soil.  Tile, plaster, and other ceramic building materials are being revealed.  The layer being revealed appears to be a tile fall.  It is possible that the fall is related to the tiles resting on the floor surface (Locus 12).

A pickpass was begun in Locus 1, around the carbon included soil in the southern extent.  The soil is a lighter brown soil with large amounts of decaying plaster and vitrified materials.  While sorting by hand into buckets a diagnostic bone (Special Find #33) was recovered.

Special Find #33

Locus 1

175.14m E

65.65m S

26.79m AE

Diagnostic Bone

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In the loose soil from the same pickpass a fragment of tile with possible slip was found (Special Find #34).

Special Find #34

Locus 1

175.41m E

64.92m S

26.84m AE

Tile with possible slip

The picked soil revealed significant amounts of plaster in the northern extent of Locus 1 which is also being revealed by T-100.  A second pickpass in locus 1 leveled soil that remained higher.  Soil was sorted by hand into buckets.

PM

Worked continued in Locus 3, Locus 8, and Locus 1.  In Locus 3 the extent of the soil between the two floor surfaces was revealed to continue to the southern baulk wall.  On the western side of Locus 3 the soil was found to continue along the southern baulk wall.  A diagnostic bone (Special Find #35) was found within the soil, along with tiles and small rocks that are visivle on the surface of the unexcavated soil of Locus 3.

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Special Find #35

Locus3

176.38m E

70.88m S

26.72m AE

Diagnostic Bone & 2 associated frags.

While sweeping back from the southern extent of Locus 1 over the heavily carbon included layer, a diagnostic bone was found (Special Find #36).

Special Find #6

Locus 1

174.77m E

66.42m S

27.81m AE

Diagnostic Bone

Further along the soil layer that extends from Locus 3 along the southern baulk wall an additional diagnostic bone was found (Special Find #37).

Special Find #37

Locus 3

176.60m E

70.92m S

26.72m AE

Diagnosic Bone & 3 fragments

In Locus 8, defining and lowering the soil to further reveal the tile packing was completed.  Roof tiles and architectual plaster are found in large quantities to the north of Locus 12.

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From the eastern extent of Locus 8 a fragment of plaster with a deep reed impression and an odd surface (Special Find #38) was recovered, along with a fragment of a rim with possible decoration (Special Find #39).

Special Find #38

Locus 8

176.8[?]6m E

67.23m S

26.48m AE

Plaster with reed impression & odd surface

Special Find #39

Locus 8

176.88m E

67.17m S

26.48m AE

Possible decorated pottery

In Locus 1 baulk walls were improved and the locus was leveled.  While sweeping in the southern extent a fragment of a jaw bone with two teeth was found (Special Find # 40).

Special Find #40

Locus 1

174.46m E

64.89m S

26.81m AE

Diagnostic Bone: Teeth

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While cleaning the plaster surface of Locus 3 with trowels, hand picks, and brushes many small to mediium sized roots were removed that had grown along the surface under the backfill.  A rectilinear break in the floor was revealed during cleaning.  The break preserves 3 corners and one curved edge.  It measures 30cm x 50cm.  The soil within the break of the floor is mottled brown and black.  Further excavation is needed to determine the function of the break in the floor and if it has a relationship to Locus 3.

Closing elevations:

Locus 1:

NW: 26.75m AE

SW: 26.82m AE

SE: 26.83m AE

NE: 26.75m AE

Locus 3:

S: 26.75m AE

W: 26.75m AE

E: 26.71m AE

Locus 4 Break in floor:

26.73m AE

Daily Totals Locus 1:

Pottery: 17 pcs

Bone: 2 pc

Vitrified terracotta: 261 pcs

Plaster with reed impressions: 9 pcs

Plaster: 1 bowl

Tile: 1.25 bowls

Daily Totals Locus 3:

Pottery: 3 pcs

Bone: 5 pcs

Vitrified terracotta: 2 pcs

Plaster: 22 pcs

Tile: 25 pcs

Locus 4:

Plaster: 18 pcs

Daily Totals Locus 8

Pottery: 11 pcs

Plaster: 1/8 bowl

Tile: 11 pcs

Plaster with reed impressions: 22 pcs