Daily log, July 12

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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

AM

Work commences in the morning with a pick pass through the western half of the trench in Locus 6 . Soil is hand-sorted into buckets to be dumped into a wheelbarrow after. There are traces of a brown mottled soil with white, black, and yellowish gray inclusions appearing, just as from the last pick pass yesterday afternoon in the eastern meters of Locus 6 and also in Locus 5 . There are fewer stones in this pass and they range from pebble to half-palm-sized. This locus is characterized by the presence of significantly higher quantities of pottery than of terra cotta.

Another pick pass in the eastern half of Locus 6 is conducted in order to better trace the potential soil change. While sorting the soil, the change in color and composition appears confirmed. A

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pick pass through the western half of the trench is conducted to level more the trench floor in preparation for spotting further the soil change.

Because the soil is consistently changed throughout Locus 6 and presents a new soil package of a mottle brown with white and black inclusions, we are leveling the trench using hand picks and trowels, baulk-wall trimming, and hand-sorting soil into buckets. While sorting, a fragment of vitrified terra cotta (Special find #1) was revealed.

Special find #1 :

- Locus 6

- 23.49 mAE

- 73.65 S/56.78E

- Vitrified terra cotta

- Drawing

For the reasons explained above, a new locus will be declared.

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PM

The trench was cleaned and prepped for opening photos. Loci 5 and 6 are closed, and Locus 8 will be opened, which will go over Locus 6 . Elevations will be taken from the northwest, northwest, and southwest corner of Locus 7 to best represent the northwest corner of Locus 8 .

Locus 8 , opening elevations:

- NW: 23.53 mAE

- NW (72 S/54.55 E): 23.45 mAE

- NW (72.26 S/54 E): 23.45 mAE

- NW (72 S/54 E): 23.73 mAE

- SW: 23.44 mAE

- SW: 23.48 mAE

Locus 8 is characterized by a mottled soil, with black and white inclusions throughout. The soil color is otherwise a dark olive brown, and content is high in terra cotta, as well as pottery. Inclusions seem to be becoming more refined in quality, but remain fingernail to palm-sized in size.

A pick pass was conducted in the eastern flank of Locus 8 . Inclusions continue to be more refined, with pottery

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being recovered in larger, better preserved chunks. Soil continues to be a dark olive brown, mottled, and claylike.

A pick pass was conducted in the central extent of the trench. Soil color and content remain relatively consistent. While sorting, a sherd of slipped pottery was recovered (Special find #2).

Special find #2:

- Locus 8

- 23.24 mAE

- 72.30 S/55.47 E

- Slipped pottery

- Drawing

Closing elevations, Locus 8 :

- NE: 23.43 mAE

- NW (72 S, 54.55 E): 23.46 mAE

- NW (72.26 S/54 E): 23.55 mAE

- NW (72 S/54 E): 23.73 mAE

- SW: 23.53 mAE

- SE: 23.55 mAE

Locus 6 finds:

- Tile: 1 1/5 bowl

- Pottery: 149 sherds

- Bone: 0 fragments

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Locus 8 finds:

- Tile: 1/2 bowl

- Pottery: 62 sherds

- Bone: 0 fragments

Baulk trim finds:

- Tile: 1/12 bowl

- Pottery: 10 sherds

- Bone: 0 fragments