2 August 2010

AM:

Started this morning by troweling along the northern wall because we had not found the yellow flaky soil that was discovered throughout the rest of the trench. We removed some rocks and larger chunks of terra cotta that were embedded on the surface. We also removed another stump. Next we did a pick pass along the northern meter to find a soil change. The pick pass appears to show a transition in soil color but not so much texture. Also the pick pass has turned up a larger amount of terra cotta and pottery than the rest of the trench. Two pieces of highly vitrified terra cotta were found in the northwest corner (special find # 1 and #2).

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Special find #1:

• Locus 1
• Coordinates- 104.55mS/41.4mW
• Elevation- 28.87m AE
• Vitrified terra cotta

(drawing)

Special find #2:

• Locus 1
• Coordinates-104.77mS/41.49mW
• Elevation- 28.88m AE
• Vitrified terra cotta

(drawing)

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We completed a pick pass along the eastern wall because the yellow flaky soil was not found their yet and the southeast corner is higher than the rest of the trench with a high concentration of thick roots. Found some yellow soil in the pick pass but will need to keep excavating to find out if it exists throughout the entire trench. Less material was found in this eastern meter than in the northern meter. We are still finding pottery and terra cotta throughout the meter. The soil seems to be lightening in color and becoming more yellowish to whitish than brown. We removed another stump in the southeast corner. We spent the rest of the morning scrapping and troweling down the northern meter. While troweling we found a small incised pottery sherd (special find #3). Also it should be noted that some of the terra cotta found in the northern meter was burnt and blackened but not quite vitrified.

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Special find #3:

• Locus 1
• Coordinates- 104.63mS/41.11mW
• Elevation- 28.85mAE
• Incised pottery

( drawing)

PM:

The afternoon continued just as the morning. We picked the most northern meter with a pick axe and hand sorted and troweled to find soil change. The soil seems to be in a transitional stage; gradually getting closer to the yellow flakey soil of the soon o be new locus. After one complete pick pass of the northern meter, a piece of iron slag was found in the northwest corner (special find #4).

Special find # 4

• Locus 1
• Coordinates- 104.48mS/41.31mW
• Elevation- 29.84mAE
• Iron slag fragment
• Catalogue: 20100072
  20100072

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After sorting of the first pick pass was finished a second pick pass was completed, again one in the northern most meter and a simultaneous pass in the eastern most meter. During sorting and scrapping with trowels an additional fragment of iron slag was discovered in the northwestern corner. Coordinates and elevation were taken.

Special find #5:

Locus 1

Coordinates- 104.61mS/41.40mW

Elevation- 29.73mAE

Iron Slag fragment

(drawing)

The northern meter was then picked for the third time, the eastern meter for the second time, still attempting to explore the yellow flaky locus that covers the remaining majority of he trench. In the northeast corner, during sorting, a fragment of a fenestrated vessel was found (special find #6).

Special find # 6

• Locus 1
• Coordinates- 104.65mS/38.29mW
• Elevations- 29.64mAE
• Fenestrated vessel fragment
• Catalogue #- 20100063
  20100063

( drawing)

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The day ended with a final pick pass of the northern most meter and eastern most meter. The yellow flakey soil was most visible in the northwest corner until this point yet after sorting through the lifted soil, it is clear that the remaining soil within the two passes that was in transition has finally come to be uniform and the entire trench will so be declared locus 2 . Not only has the soil changed in color and texture, but the amount of material within the new soil has dropped noticeably when compared to that of locus 1 . We will wait until tomorrow to officially declare the new locus and take opening photos.

Closing Elevations:

NW- 29.7mAE

SE- 29.66mAE

SW- 29.78mAE

Center- 29.79mAE

(drawing)

Locus 1 :

• Terra cotta and plaster- bowl
• Pottery- 70 sherds
• Bone- none
• Special finds- 6

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