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Wednesday, July 13 2022

AM

Yesterday, we completed removing the medium-brown soil of Locus 32, fully exposing the new reddish, plaster-rich deposit of EPOC4’s S wall collapse and the concentration of small stones and debris, which has been identified as EPOC4’s subfloor. Therefore, we decided to close Locus 32 and open Locus 33 in the southern meters of the locus, in the plaster-rich deposit, as this is positioned stratigraphically above the concentration of small stones and debris. Closing photos and elevations of Locus 32/Opening photos and elevations of Locus 33 were taken and we drew plans of the closing of Locus 32 and the opening of Locus 33.

Closing 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): 26.34m A.E.
• SW Corner (108E/47S): 26.38m A.E.
• 108.06E/46S: 26.33m A.E.
• 109E/46S: 26.42m A.E.

Opening Elevations: Locus 33

• NW Corner (109E/43.80S): 26.57m A.E.
• NE Corner (109.39E/43.80S): 26.55m A.E.
• SE Corner (108.97E/47S): 26.36m A.E.
• SW Corner (108E/47S): 26.38m A.E.
• 108.06E/46S: 26.33m A.E.
• 109E/46S: 26.42m A.E.

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Sketch of Locus 33 in reference to other deposits and features of trench

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We began excavating in Locus 33. Soil is reddish-brown, with pockets of charcoal inclusions, is claylike in texture, and is rich in plaster. The deposit also contains relatively high quantities of small rocks. We are excavating using handpicks and trowels, hand-sorting soil in the trench, then screening soil through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We are recovering high quantities of plaster and moderate quantities of tile, but little pottery, bone, slag, or vitrified terracotta. We did find a large charcoal fragment, which was collected as Charcoal Sample #1.

Charcoal Samples:

Sample #1

• Locus 33
• 108.25E/46.86S
• 26.38m A.E.

PM

We continued working in Locus 33, excavating the reddish-orange, plaster-rich deposit; as this deposit visibly overlies preserved portions of EPOC4’s floor, we believe this deposit to be the collapse of EPOC4’s S wall. we continue to excavate with handpicks and trowels and screen soil through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We continue to find high quantities of plaster and charcoal inclusions interspersed among the soil. Aside from plaster, we are finding only small quantities of other materials. We recovered a second charcoal sample (Charcoal Sample #2). Additionally, we recovered fragments of a pan tile with a notched flange (Find #36) and a plaster fragment with reed

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impressions and a curving surface (Find #37)

Special Finds

Find #36

• Locus 33
• 108.06E/46.57S
• 26.35m A.E.
• Pan tile fragments with notched flange

Find #37

• Locus 33
• 108.69E/46.86S
• 26.43m A.E.
• Plaster fragment with reed impressions and curving surface

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Charcoal Samples

Sample #2

• Locus 33
• 108.32E/46.68S
• 26.38m A.E.

Locus 33

• Tile and plaster: 1/8 bowl
• Pottery: 14 sherds
• Bone: 13 fragments
• Slag: 4 fragments
• Vitrified terracotta: 0 fragments

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