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Friday, July 21 2023

AM

We began the day removing the last of the Locus 46 soil that is infilling the rectilinear cut in EPOC4’s floor. Underneath the darker grayish-brown soil of Locus 46 is a lighter, olive brown soil deposit. At this point, it is not clear whether this new olive brown deposit represents the base of the cut or also infills the cut; therefore, we will excavate into this new deposit, to determine its nature. Regardless of what this new deposit is, we will close Locus 46 and assign Locus 47 to the cut itself and Locus 48 to the new, olive brown soil deposit. We took closing photos and elevations for Locus 46/opening photos and elevations for Locu 47 and 48. We also took a number of photos to build a photogrammetric model of the cut and completed architectural plans of both loci.

Closing Elevations: Locus 46

• NW corner (105.11E/45.44S): 26.05m A.E.

• NE corner (106.35E/45.70S): 26.06m A.E.

• SE corner (106.22E/46.51S): 26.05m A.E.

• SW corner (104.91E/46.22S): 26.13m A.E.

Opening Coordinates and Elevations: Locus 47

• NW corner (105.11E/45.44S): 26.21m A.E.

• NE corner (106.35E/45.70S): 26.27m A.E.

• SE corner (106.22E/46.51S): 26.15m A.E.

• SW corner (104.91E/46.22S): 26.19m A.E.

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Opening Elevations: Locus 48

• NW corner (105.11E/45.44S): 26.05m A.E.

• NE corner (106.35E/45.70S): 26.06m A.E.

• SE corner (106.22E/46.51S): 26.05m A.E.

• SW corner (104.91E/46.22S): 26.13m A.E.

Locus 47 is the rectangular cut made into EPOC4’s plaster-rich floor. The walls of the cut are vertical. At this point, it is unclear whether the cut of Locus 47 terminates at the surface of Locus 48, the newly exposed olive-brown soil, or if Locus 48 also infills the cut of Locus 47, in which case the cut would continue deeper.

We began excavating in Locus 48, in order to determine if this soil also infills the cut made into EPOC4’s floor (Locus 47) or if the cut terminated at the upper surface of Locus 48, in which case the upper surface of Locus 48 may have been the functional surface and exposed during the life of EPOC4. Initially, the soil of Locus 48 is presenting as olive brown in color, claylike in texture, and heavily compacted. There are numerous small limestone rocks included in the soil. At least at the surface, we are recovering some material culture - mainly tile fragments - although it is unclear if these come from the interface of Loci 46 and 48 or are truly situated in the Locus 48 deposit. We are excavating using hand picks and trowels, hand sorting soil in the trench, and collecting

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a soil sample for flotation; therefore, we are not sieving the first buckets of soil to come from this locus.

We have been working from E to W, lowering the elevation of Locus 48 by app. 5cm. While excavating the uppermost 5cm in the central area of the locus, we recovered a grape pip (Find #71) from near the northern edge of the cut. Near the southern edge, also in the central area of the locus, we uncovered a concentration of charcoal and near this charcoal, we found a bucchero fragment that is either a base or a carination (Find #72). To the west, we recovered a crucible fragment (Find #73).

Special Finds:

• Find #71

• Locus 48

• 105.44E/45.74S

• 26.00m A.E.

• Grape pip

• Find #72

• Locus 48

• 105.58E/46.23S

• 25.95m A.E.

• Bucchero base or carination

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• Find #73

• Locus 48

• 105.07E/46.18S

• 26.03m A.E.

• Crucible fragment

PM

We returned to work this afternoon by testing the orientation of the Locus 47 cut. Using an iPhone compass, we determined that the cut is oriented to the cardinal directions; as to why it may be oriented this way, we still do not know.

We then continued excavating into Locus 48, trying to keep the surface as level as possible, so that we may better detect any soil changes. While working to level the locus floor, we recovered a tondo fragment (Find #74) from the same charcoal-included area that the bucchero base was found in. Although we’ve uncovered only small quantities of pottery from this deposit, the bucchero and tondo fragments indicate that Locus 48 dates to the life and occupancy of EPOC4, rather than an earlier phase. Locus 48 then could either have been where the cut terminated, in which case the surface of locus 48 may have been exposed during the life of EPOC4, or it is still infilling the cut of Locus 47, which then would run deeper.

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The spot where the bucchero base and tondo fragment were recovered is now the lowest part of the trench. Working out from that point, we are trying to bring the trench down to that same elevation. While doing so, we began to uncover more charcoal; it is appearing as if a charcoal-rich deposit may underlie the olive brown deposit of Locus 48. However, at this point, only a roughly 30x30cm area has been exposed; we still need to determine the full extent of the charcoal-rich deposit.

While working to reveal this possible charcoal-rich deposit, we recovered a fragment of what might be a coil-made vessel (Find #75).

Locus 46:

• Tile and plaster: 14 fragments

• Pottery: 11 sherds

• Bone: 0 fragments

• Slag: 0 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

Locus 48:

• Tile and plaster: 39 fragments

• Pottery: 28 sherds

• Bone: 5 fragments

• Slag: 7 fragments

• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

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Special Finds:

• Find #74

• Locus 48

• 105.59E/46.18S

• 25.91m A.E.

• Tondo fragment

• Find #75

• Locus 48

• 105.59E/46.04S

• 25.92m A.E.

• Possible coil-made pottery

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