14 July 2023 AM Excavation began in Locus 28 using small handpicks, trowels, and brushes. The densely compacted reddish brown clay was troweled and scraped using small picks. The reddish clay appears to be concentrated in the east and south of the locus. The dark brown compacted clay is still being found in the west and south. Excavation also began in Locus 29. A large amount of tile and plaster are being found. It is possible that the tiles in Locus 29 connect to the smaller tile fall excavated in 2019 and 2022 (Locus 8, NKDII). A large bone fragment was found within Locus 29 close to the surrounding tiles (Special Find #14). The bone is possibly a red deer bone.

Special Find #14 Diagnostic bone (possible red deer) 177.3 E 67.5 S 26.71 m AE Locus 29

In Locus 24 the northwest corner continues to be lowered. Additional dark carbon included soil was found to the west of Locus 31. The dark soil may be related to the carbon and soil mixture found in the east of T103. Excavation continues in Locus 29, lowering the plaster and soil layer to further reveal the tiles, Tiles were defined and the smaller tile fall excavated in 2022 as Locus 8 was revealed to connect to those in Locus 29.

PM Excavation continued in Locus 28. Small handpicks, trowels, and brushes were used to lower the level of the soil and to improve the baulk walls. The reddish brown soil is located in the southeast of the trench. The vibrant red color may be due to exposure to heat. In order to determine the extent and shape of the soil the locus was scareps and a leveling pass with trowels was begun. Excavation in the northern extent of Locus 26 was begun in order to lower the soil behind the carbon of Locus 30 in preparation to remove it. While picking using hand picks and sorting by hand a fragment of a rocchetto was found (Special Find #15).

Special Find #15 Rocchetto fragment 174.27 E 66.78 S 26.68 m AE Locus 26 PC20230027

Also in Locus 26 an impasto rim fragment was found and recorded as Special Find #16.

Special Find #16. 175.35 E 61.48 S 26.61 m AE Locus 28

In Locus 28 fragments of buccheri and other finewares along with a small amount of coursewares were found while leveling. A fragment of a possibly painted fineware rim that is made out of highly levigated clay, possibly imported Greek pottery, was found in the southeast of the Locus (Special Find #17).

Special Find #17 Painted rim fragment (possibly imported) 177.55 E 71.48 S 26.56 m AE Locus 28

Loose soil was cleaned and the trench was swept. Closing elevations were taken.

Closing elevations Locus 24: NW: 26.71 m AE NE: 26.74 m AE SE: 26.72 m AE SW: 26.56 m AE

Closing elevations Locus 26: NW: 26.64 m AE NE: 26.65 m AE SE: 26.64 m AE SW: 265.64 m AE

Closing elevations Locus 28: NW: 26.53 m AE NE: 26.58 m AE SE: 26.54 m AE SW: 26.58 m AE

Closing elevations Locus 29: NW: 26.66 m AE NE: 26.67 m AE Mud point: 26.55 m AE SE1: 26.64 m AE SE2: 26.63 m AE

Closing totals Locus 24: 106: Terracotta - ⅛ bowl 107: Plaster - 1 ½ bowl 108: Pottery - 21 pcs 109: Plaster with reed impressions - 2 pcs 110: Vitrified plaster - 0 111: Vitrified terracotta - 0 112: Bone - 0 113: Burnt bone - 0 Closing totals Locus 26: 114: Terracotta - 0 115: Plaster - 0 116: Pottery - 4 pcs 117: Plaster with reed impressions - 0 pcs 118: Vitrified plaster - 1 pc 119: Vitrified terracotta - 0 120: Bone - 12 pcs 121: Burnt bone - 0 pcs

Closing totals Locus 28: 90: Terracotta - 0 91: Plaster - ⅛ bowl 92: Pottery - 45 pcs 93: Plaster with reed impressions - 0 94: Vitrified plaster - 0 95: Vitrified terracotta - 0 96: Bone - 0 97: Burnt bone - 0

Closing totals Locus 29: 98: Terracotta - 1 ½ bowls 99: Plaster - 3 bowls 100: Pottery - 18 pcs 101: Plaster with reed impressions - 1 pc 102: Vitrified plaster - 0 103: Vitrified terracotta - 0 104: Bone - 0 105: Burnt bone - 0