Date: 16-Aug-99
Weather: very hot, airless day
Number of Workers: 2
Lots Open: 2614,2615,2616,2618,2564
Page Reference: 631

STRATEGY: 1. to excavate squares 496N 510E, 496N 511E, 497N 510E, 497N 512E. 2. Photograph and plan squares 494N 510E, 494N, 511E, 495N 510E, 495N 511E. Attempt to investigate the cut made by the Death Pit f148 into the north/east by following the cut down in square 497N 510E and to take a thin spit from square 497N 512E to discern the nature of the Death Pit cut between squares 497N 512E and 496N 512E.

SUMMARY: Waiting for planning and photography in square 494N 510/511E (planning), 495N 510/511E (planning) and 496N 510/511E (photography and planning). In square 496N 510E we uncovered a dense bone scatter to the north of last year's sounding. They appear to be primarily rib bones scattered in no apparent pattern and a couple of animal shoulder blades. Many of these are set within a hard pise, some of which is off-white and some grey. The bones are mainly fragmented and appear very fragile. As yet the square to the east (496N 511E) appears relatively empty. In square 497N 510E, the interface between the gritty red matrix 2543 and the Death Pit area changes from the red gritty to a mixture of pise and the gritty material and then to a primarily hard yellow/grey pise mix, with lumps of white pise scattered throughout. A small number of plaster and mudbrick fragments were located in the interface mix. Square 497N 512E was opened later in the day. The soil matrix is a mixture of deposits. The red gritty 2543 disappears and a very ashy, crumbly mix predominates. Photos: 494N 510E, 494N 511E, 495N 511E, 495N 510E.