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Thursday, July 7 2022

AM

Trench was strung, in preparation for re-opening T90 in 2022. As work will concentrate in the central and eastern meters of the trench, the northernmost 2 meters of the trench (38-40S) and the westernmost meters of the trench (103-104E) were not de-backfilled. Additionally, while the trench boundaries still will run from 103-110E/38-48S, a northern line along 40S was strung, in order to locate loci and materials in the areas in which we are working. Once the trench was strung, we established our datum at the same nail as in 2019, in a tree approximately 5 meters to the W of T90’s NW corner, at an absolute elevation of 27.75m A.E. Following that, opening photos of the trench were taken.

At the end of 2019, we had conducted a roughly 4 x 0.85 m sounding just to the E of Loci 30 and 31, in order to determine if the curvilinear line of stones of Locus 30 extended E. However, rain prevented us from completing this section. Therefore, we will start this season by expanding 2019’s section, to the N and E, in order to more fully reveal any features underlying EPOC4 and to recover datable materials associated with EPOC4’s construction. The first deposit in this expanded section will be excavated as Locus 32. Opening photos and elevations were taken and a plan was drawn of Locus 32.

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Sketch of T90 at start of 2022 season

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Opening Elevations: Locus 32

● NW corner (109.05E/41.55S): 26.75m A.E.

● NE corner (109.81E/41.92S): 26.72m A.E.

● SE corner (109.62E/47S): 26.35m A.E.

● SW corner (108E/47S): 26.43m A.E.

● 108.06E/46S: 26.62m A.E.

● 109E/46S: 26.51m A.E.

Magnetometry survey conducted in T90, in EPOC4’s porch. This survey revealed a heavy magnetic concentration along exposed portions of EPOC4’s plastered floor, especially in the SW corner of the 2019 sounding.

PM

Work began in Locus 32. This deposit was excavated using hand picks and trowels. Soil was hand-sorted in the trench then sieved through a 1cm and a 2mm gauge sieve. Soil is a light brown color but also has been bleached and baked by the sun. The soil also is claylike and compacted. Moderate quantities of tile, plaster, pottery, and bone were found, along with higher quantities of slag and vitrified terracotta. In addition, we recovered crucible fragments (Finds #1, 2), slag fragments that may preserve the curvature of the crucible (Find #3), two additional crucible fragments (Finds #4, 5), and a tile fragment with adhered slag (Find #6). All of these finds are associated with metallurgy and were recovered from the northernmost meters of the locus. Additionally, another crucible fragment was found in the sieve (Find #7).

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Special Finds

1.

● Locus 32

● 109.16E/43.36S

● 26.65m A.E.

● Crucible fragment

2.

● Locus 32

● 1098.17E/44.38S

● 26.59m A.E.

● Crucible fragments

3.

● Locus 32

● 109.17E/43.58S

● 26.62m A.E.

● Slag fragments with preserved curve

4.

● Locus 32

● 109.17E/43.58S

● 26.62m A.E.

● Tile with adhered slag

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5.

● Locus 32

● 109.08E/45.37S

● 26.50m A.E.

● Crucible fragments

6.

● Locus 32

● 109.07E/43.63S

● 26.70m A.E.

● Tile with adhered slag

7.

● Locus 32

● Sieve find

● App. 109.25E/42.78S

● App. 26.65m A.E.

● Crucible fragment

Locus 32:

● Tile and Plaster: 1/10 bowl

● Pottery: 22 sherds

● Bone: 6 fragments

● Slag: 16 fragments

● Vitrified terracotta: 12 fragments

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