Date: 10-Aug-99
Weather: Clear heat causes surface of trench to bake
Number of Workers: 5
Lots Open: 2483 2484 2585 2586
Page Reference: 433

STRATEGY: Differentiate constructional stones from rubble in northern part of square. Continue removal of features 844, 841, 846. Clarify extent & nature of pise in S part of trench.

SUMMARY: Rubble in N part of square (c.506-509/530.5) removed leaving f872 - an ephemeral wall running N-S and stopping where f847 comes to an end. There is no clear stratigraphical relation between them, however. The area to the NW of these two features continued to be excavated as 2585 (6 Sept 2385 = part of 2586). 2478 gave way to 2586, which had a similar texture (mixed silt/plaster) but preserved clear traces of dark ash in patches throughout the NW part of the trench. In E section this lot is sealed partially by f849 (the most dense spread of plaster in the N part of the trench, and it appears to predate the construction of "tholos" f846, continuing beneath 2483. Since they are now related to later stratigraphical phases than the surrounding area, removal of f846 & f841/f844 commenced. Fs841 & 844 were removed and f846 partially so. C14 sample (sf30) recovered from directly beneath stone of f841 (2478). Lifting of f870 (slab within f846) revealed an unsuspected plaster surface preserved beneath the slab, clearly higher then f848 & seperated from it by a thin layer of soil packed with sherds and bone (2483). It therefore represents a second floor surface of f846 for which 2483. Provided the make-up before plaster was laid and f872 (see sketch of profile). Within the pise surface (2484) , three pits became evident as dark, circular soil patches after thorough trowelling.