141

19 July 2022

AM

The trench was prepared for photos and swept.  The extension nails were strung with trench line.  Opening photos and opening elevations were taken.

Opening elevations Locus 16:

NW: 26.82m AE

SW: 26.72m AE

SE: 26.74m AE

NE: 26.81m AE

Opening coordinates Locus 16:

NW: 174E/71S

SW: 174E/73S

SE: 177E/73S

NE: 177E/71S

Opening elevation Locus 17:

26.77m AE

Opening coordinates Locus 17:

NW: 175.44E/71S

SW: 175.48E/71.42S

SE: 176.28E/71.44S

NE: 176.26E/70.97S

Opening elevation Locus 18:

26.84m AE

Opening coordinates Locus 18:

NW: 171.98E/67.38S

SW: 172.5E/67.40S

SE: 172.50E/68.70S

NE: 171.78E/66.71S

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In addition to opening Loci 16, 17, and 18, Locus 2 was extended to incorporate the plaster floor in the western extent.  The opening elevations and coordinates in the new extensions of Locus 2 are:

Opening coordinates Locus 2 extensions:

NW: 173.5E/68S

SW: 173.5E/71[?]S

SE: 174E/71S

NE: 174E/68S

Opening elevations Locus 2 extensions:

NW: 26.81m AE

SW: 26.82m AE

SE: 26.72m AE

NE: 26.74m AE

Munsell designation Locus 6: Plaster - 7.5YR 8/3 Pink, 7.5YR 6/2 Pinkish Gray

Munsell designation Locus 17: 7.5YR 8/2 Pinkish White

Munsell designation Locus 18: 7.5YR 6/2d Pinkish Gray

Munsell designation Locus 2 extension: 7.5YR 7/3 Pink

Locus 16 is a 2m x 3m extension to the south of the trench. The extension will explore the continuation of the cut in the floor (Locus 3) and the preserved extent of the plaster floor surface.  The locus is uneven and the soil that is possibly covering floor surface is very compacted.

Locus 17 is a 0.44m x 0.82m rectangular piece of worked limestone that functioned as a stone column pad.  Locus 17 abuts the floor surface made of plaster and is also abutted by Locus 3 in the north.

Locus 18 is a 0.60m x 0.85m fragment of worked limestone.

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Of the 0.85m length of the stone, 0.69m is included in the trench. The worked stone functioned as a stone column pad and abuts the plaster floor surface of Locus 2.

Locus 2 was extended 1.5m to the west and represents the continuation of the plaster floor surface.  Soil covers elements of Locus 2 but is included in the locus.  It appears that a curvilinear cut may exist in the surface of Locus 2 but further clarification is needed to determine its extent.

Excavation began in Locus 16, the extension of Locus 2, and in Locus 14.  In Locus 2 and in Locus 16 hand picks and trowels are being used to pull back from the exposed plaster floor and remove soil covering the surface.  In Locus 2 the edges of a possible curvilinear cut in the floor were defined on the northern edge.

  Hand picks and trowels were used to lower the level of the plaster and soil mix of Locus 14.  A possible full width cover tile placed upsidedown was removed along the northern baulk wall.  While sorting by hand into buckets a shell bead (Special Find #64) was found.  Close by, a fragment of highly vitrified pottery (Special Find #65) was found.

Special Find #64

Locus 14

174.40m E

64.52m S

26.80m AE

Shell bead

PC20220030

149

Special Find #65

Locus 14

175.12m E

64.26m S

26.75m AE

Vitrified Pottery

PM

Excavation continued in Locus 16 and the extension of Locus 2.  Hand picks, trowels, and brushes are being used to lower the soil in both extensions.  Pieces of decaying tarp, trench line, and a piece of yarn were found on the surface of Locus 16, evidence of the 1980s backfill.

In the northern extent of Locus 14 tiles continue to be revealed.  A flat lying cover tile was found in the NE corner of the trench.  Defining of the tile and lowering the soil in the northern extent was completed.

Closing elevations Locus 2:

NW: 26.77m AE

SW: 26.70m AE

SE: 26.72m AE

NE: 26.78m AE

Closing elevations Locus 16:

NW: 26.74m AE

SW: 26.70m AE

SE: 26.61m AE

NE: 26.68m AE

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Closing elevations Locus 14:

W: 26.79m AE

E: 26.69m AE

Closing Totals:

Locus 2:

Pottery: 11 pcs

Vitrified terracotta: 3 pcs

Plaster with reed impressions: 1 pc

Plaster: 1/8 bowl

Locus 14:

Pottery: 24 pcs

Bone: 8 pcs

Vitrified terracotta: 3 pcs

Vitrified plaster: 21 pcs

Plaster with reed impressions: 10 pcs

Plaster: 2 bowl

Tile: 1 bowl

Locus 16:

Pottery: 2 pcs

Bone: 1 pc

Plaster: 1/8 bowl

Tile: 1/8 bowl