12 July 2018

AM

Opening elevations were taken:

NW (46 S / 168 E) – 27.74 m.AE

NE (46 S / 171 E) – 27.78 m.AE

NE2 (47.81 S / 171 E) – 27.68 m.AE

SW3 (46.82 S / 168 E) – 27.52 m.AE

40 litres (about 5 buckets) of dirt, set aside yesterday, was obtained for flotation for an archaeobotanical record of locus 3.

Due to what appears to be a heavier concentration of architectural terracotta along the baulk and appearing not just among the root concentration, but along the southern edge of the trench, we will be declaring a new locus for stratigraphic control of the material.

Using clippers and trowels, baulk walls were cleaned and brushes were used to remove fine particles for better exposure of the surface.

Locus 4 opening elevations / locus 3 closing elevations:

NW (46 S / 168 E) – 27.74 m.AE

NE (46 S / 171 E) – 27.78 m.AE

NE2 (47.81 S / 171 E) – 27.68 m.AE

SW3 (46.82 S / 168 E) – 27.52 m.AE

A pick pass was made in locus 4, peeling from the southern baulk towards the north.

Special find #17:  Cover tile

26.69 m.AE

46.48 S / 170.64 E

Locus 4

A cover tile about 17cm-20cm in length and at its widest, 12 cm was discovered just south of the system of roots dancing along the northeastern baulks of the trench. Two circular 1.5 cm impressions are visible about 2.5cm-3cm apart from each other. These impressions, presumably finger impressions are in the center of what remains of a side.

Locus 4: a lighter-brown/grey soil, very sandy, which crumbles easily and emerges in the soil in smaller clumps. It feels dryer than locus 3 and contains a heavier concentration of architectural terracotta pieces. We don’t seem to be discovering as much pottery, however.

A bucchero handle was discovered along the northwestern-most quadrant of the locus. The handle preserves ancient breakage on both sides of the handle and is finely cut into a pentagon-like shape. It does seem as though more of the intact tiles we are recovering are cover tiles.

Special find #18: bucchero handle

27.60 m.AE

46.48 S / 169.09 E

Locus 4

PM

A pick pass was made in Locus 4, focusing on the regions at a higher elevation within the trench.

While cleaning the pick pass, a few artifacts were uncovered.

Special find #19: small diagnostic bone

27.57 m.AE

47.12 S / 169.76 E

Locus 4

Special find #20: bronze fragment

27.63 m.AE

46.26 S / 168.64 E

Locus 4

Special find #21: stamped rocchetto

27.55 m.AE

46.47 S / 169.15 E

Locus 4

20180009

Closing elevations were taken for the day:

NW (46 S / 168 E) – 27.60 m.AE

NE (46 S / 171 E) – 27.65 m.AE

NE2 (47.81 S / 171 E) – 27.56 m.AE

SW3 (46.82 S / 168 E) – 27.44 m.AE

12 July 2018 End of day totals:

Locus 3:

Pottery – 10 pieces

Tile – 26 pieces

Locus 4:

Pottery – 82 pieces

Bone – 70 pieces

Tile – 2 bowls