Daily Trench Journal

Area D

Trench 8

June 7, 2007

Recorder: Mila Hover (a.k.a. Melek hanim, MH)  
Workers: Cengis, Necat, Sadik

Today, work in trench D8 began by assigning a new locus number to the east half of L137. It was designated as a separate area due to its different surface color in addition to a darker line which became visible at this elevation after the cleaning. The new locus L138 has an irregular shape with dimensions 2.25m (NS) and 1.10m (NS), at its center, it is pinched by the semi-circular shape of L137, it measures 0.6m.

In L136m, 5cm of the top were taken off starting at the beginning of the work day. After completing, the area was cleaned and photographed. Three concentrations of large pot sherds were collected in separate bags (all in pottery bag KT5) in order to allow for future reconstruction. Later, a second round of 5cm removal of the fill was completed     

Soil sample was collected from L138 near the concentration of stone tools. The fill is brown and silty and in it, small painted and unpainted pot sherds and animal bones are intermixed.

Soil sample collected from the pot #2 in L137 (KT6). The contents appear ashy, dark, and contain few small bones.

New locus, L139, 2.10, south of the north trench baulk and protrudes from the west baulk is established. It is the remains of a possible mud bin with reed mat lining its bottom. The fibers are long and are oriented NW/SE. It is not clear whether this locus is below L130 or on the same level.

After the second round of 5cm reduction of the fill in L136, at its NW corner, a dark, ashy stain became visible. It was tested for depth and it may be a pit. New locus is L140. It cuts into the corner of L136 and is contained between two mud bricks extending from the north and the east baulk of the trench. It measures 1m x 1m and after taking a sample and removing its contents, the max. depth measured is 0.3cm. Mixed in the dark, ashy fill are bones, teeth, shell, pot sherds, and lithics.

In L137, the goal is to level to the elevation in L138 (and equal to the abutting L132). In the fill, we observed a brick slump, thin layer of ash, and brownish dirt.

The basalt ground stone is collected (KT #7). It is complete, rests on top of a darkened surface, which has stained its bottom surface.