DAILY LOGS

Mon 10 July 2023

We began the day with a renewed sense of optimism as we continued scraping and noticed a soil color change defining the bottom of Locus 1 (the clayey soil became lighter in color with fewer organic inclusions as we descended). We decided to focus on the south half of the trench, because the exposed bedrock and tree roots in the north half of the trench made further excavation of the northern half impractical (in the case of the rooty NE quadrant) or impossible (in the case of the bedrock slabs in the NW quadrant). We continued pick-passes on only the southern 2mX3M half, with the intention of concluding Locus 1 and assessing the potential value of continuing excavation in a more narrowly defined locus 2.  In the morning we finished removal of the Locus 1 organic-rich topsoil, finding a total of 13 small and heavily worn terracotta tile fragments measuring less than 5% of a pail by volume. In addition, we found one large coarse ware jug handle fragment, and one impasto rim sherd very near the boundary between loci.  This tantalizing fragment made us hopeful that the less disturbed soil of Locus 2 might contain more informative deposits.

Closing Measurements for Locus 1:

NW: 27.51 A.E. (unchanged from closing Friday 7 July 2023)

NE: 27.49 A.E. (unchanged from closing Friday 7 July 2023)

SE: 27.26 A.E. (unchanged from closing Friday 7 July 2023)

SW: 27.34 A.E.

Opening Measurements for Locus 2:

NW (44 E, 18 S): 27.39

NE (47 E, 18 S): 27.29

SE (47 E, 20 S): 27.26

SW (44 E, 20 S): 27.34

In the afternoon we drew the plan drawing of Locus 2, and then did two or three pickpasses and scraped the floor and bulkwalls of the trench with trowels, removing approximately five cm uniform depth from the majority of Locus 2. We found seven small pieces of heavily weathered terracotta constituting no more than 2% of a pail by volume.  And we found two pieces of heavily worn courseware or impasto body sherds.  The result of this moderate investigation of locus two dampened our enthusiasm for the investigation of this locus based on the observation of diminishing returns.  The soil appeared to be starkly trending toward greater sterility, with deeper strata yielding fewer artifacts than shallower strata.  This prompted a reevaluation of the excavation by senior staff (especially Dr. Tuck), resulting in the decision to close the trench immediately.  We therefore took closing measurements and planned to take closing photographs and drawings the next morning (11 July 2023).

Closing Measurements for Locus 2:

NW (44 E, 18 S): 27.31

NE (47 E, 18 S): 27.24

SE (47 E, 20 S): 27.24

SW (44 E, 20 S): 27.31

Terracotta summary, 10 July 2023

Pottery summary, 10 July 2023