August 6, 2000

Today I am started a new trench in Area D, on the east slope of Kenan Tepe. Randy is in the next trench over, Trench 1, and is also responsible for Trench 3, a 2x2 sounding adjoining Trench 1 to the west. I am in Trench 2, which is directly to the North of Trench 1.

At the start of the day, Randy and I took elevations for all three trenches, and then spent some time rounding up workmen and tools. After that task was more or less completed, I had my workmen dig approximately 15 cm throughout the trench in order to clear out the layer of topsoil.

While cleaning up L 2000, 2 chunks of basalt were discovered. KT 2003, in the SW quadrant of the trench, was a flat stone with a central hole. Though not complete, it appears to be some kind of weight. KT 2004 was found in the NW corner of the trench, and is a fragment of a grindstone.

After all the dirt from L 2000 was removed, I decided to start the process of levelling the trench by opening a new locus below L 2000 and digging in the eastern half. L 2001 will be dug so that everything will be even with the lowest point, which is located in the NE corner.

We continued digging this locus until the end of the day. Large amounts of pottery, several small finds, and one scorpion were found in L 2001, which consists of very loose, crumbly soil with coarse granules. Among the more interesting of the small finds was a large stone in the S balk, which appeared to be a complete, non basalt grindstone. It was large and heavy.

Another interesting object was found at the end of the day near the middle of the trench. It appeared to be a kind of concrete mixed with large pebbles. Andy says that it is a naturally forming concrete-like substance known as river conglomerate.

We will continue digging L 2001 tomorrow.