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Tuesday, July 25 2023

AM

After taking closing photos yesterday for Locus 48, this morning we took closing elevations and completed a closing plan for Locus 48, officially closing the locus.

Locus 48: Closing Elevations

• NW corner (105.11 E/45.44 S): 25.85m A.E.

• NE corner (106.35 E/45.70 S): 25.88m A.E.

• SE corner (106.22 E/46.51 S): 25.88m A.E.

• SW corner (104.91 E/46.22 S): 25.87m A.E.

Underneath the soil deposit of Locus 48, we encountered what appears to be a level surface comprised of a compacted, yellow-colored soil. Small stones (max. Dimensions 15 cm) lie flat atop this surface and in the center is a concentration of charcoal. In places, the yellowish soil appears somewhat mottled, with visible fragments of terracotta and charcoal, although it is not clear if this material culture results form the interface of the overlying Locus 48 or is truly situated within this new deposit. Therefore, this new deposit will be excavated as Locus 51, to determine if the exposed surface is the bottom of Locus 47 rectangular

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Cut or if the cut cntinues to a greater depth, possible reason or explanations for the Locus 47 cut into EPOC4’s floor, and to possibly determine the date at which the cut was made. Openng photos and elevations for Locus 51 were taken and an opening plan was made.

Locus 51: Opening Elevations

• NW corner (105.11 E/45.44 S): 25.85m A.E.

• NE corner (106.35 E/45.70 S): 25.88m A.E.

• SE corner (106.22 E/46.51 S): 25.88m A.E.

• SW corner (104.91 E/46.22 S): 25.87m A.E.

We then began excavating in Locus 50, the olive brown soil deposit associated with the exterior surface of the small, rectilinear hut built atop EPOC4’s porch. Soil remains olive-brown and moderately compacted, although we are coming down on a looser, darker gray mottled deposit that resembles the soil of Locus 45 and Likely is debris from EPOC4, to be associated with EPOC4’s abandonment and destruction. We are excavating using trowels and handpicks, are sorting soil in the trench before passing it through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We are recovering

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Moderately high quantities of pottery and bone but only small quantities of tile, plaster, and vitrified terracotta, and no slag. While working in Locus 50, we recovered a large plate fragment (Find #86) and an incised rim fragment (Find #87).

Work ended early due to rain.

Locus 50:

• Tile + plaster: 25 fragments

• Pottery: 37 sherds

• Bone: 15 fragments

• Slag: 0 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 1 fragment

Special finds:

• Special find #86

• Locus 50

• 105.37 E/41.94 S

• 26.47m A.E.

• Plate fragments

• Special find #87

• Locus 50

• 104.54 E/42.30 S

• 26.54m A.E.

• Incised rim

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