Daily Log

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June 19, 1990

A.M.

the pit in meters H-I/11-12 was cleaned down with a mestalina and brush to a maximum depth of ca. 90cm.  Cleaning of the eastern balk also revealed the apparent extension of the pit into meters J/11-12.  The northern, western and southern boundaries of the pit are clearly delimited by a reddish strain of ca. 5cm in width.  The area thus far delimited can best be described as elliptical in shape.  Beginning at a depth of ca. 80cm, the soil became mottled red in color and contained a high concentration of charcoal and disentegrated plaster.  In addition, the soil became increasingly mottled and had greater concentrations of

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artefacts as its depth increased.  The two large fragments of pithos rim previously encountered in meter I/12 at a depth of ca. 88cm were swept down and cleaned.  Cleaning revelaed a layer of black burn soil below and around these gragmetns.  This rid will be left in situ since further cleaning may reveal more information about their context.  The amount of material removed from teh pit was relatively small.  One quarter of a box of impasto, including a few burned pieces, a few small pieces of tile, and two pieces of bone were removed.

The trench was extended southeast into meter J/15.  Four 10cm. cuts were taken in this meter.  The soil throughout these cuts remained dark brown in color and contained a large amount of small roots and rocks.  The dark brown soil

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contained a high concentration of carbon and in some areas was blackened by burn.  In addition, much of the pottery, tile and bone removed from the area was blackened by burn.  Moreover, a large amount of slag, over 15 small chunks, were discovered in meter J/15. ( 19900034

, photograph )  In total, one and a half boxes of pottery, consisting primarily of impasto sherds, one quarter of a box of bone and one qaurter of a box of tile were recovered in this meter.  A 10cm. cut was also taken in meter J/16.  The soil at the base of the cut began to turn grey-yellow in color and had the appearance of near galestra.  Above this grey-yellow layer the soil was dark brown in color and contained high concentration of carbon and burned impasto sherds.  In addition,

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several small pieces of slag were also recovered. ( 19900037

, photograph )  In order to establish an accurate system of depth measurement in the northern end of the trench, a second datum reference point was fixed at the southwest corner of meter J715.  this point is situated ca. 24cm above ground level and lies ca. 44 cm below the datum point previously established in the southwest corner of meter H711.  All subsequent measurements in the northern half of the trench will be taken from the point in meter J/15.  The current depth of the trench, therefore, in meters J/15-16 is ca. 73cm.  In addition, the soil change from dark brown to grey-yellow noted in J/16 occurs at a depth of ca. 70cm.

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Finally, a large stump located in the southern corner of meter I/15 was removed.  The soil under the stump was dark brown in color and contained a high conentration of carbon and burned pottery (one half of a box).  In additional several pieces of slag, including one very large fragmetn, and a number of pieces of vitrified tile were discovered under the stump.

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P.M.

The cut begun this morning in J/15 was completed to a depth of ca. 65-70cm.  The soil in the cut was dark brown in color with many small rocks and roots.  The soil in this meter also continued to contain a high concentration of carbonized wood and charcoal and in sporadic spots at deeper levels was also blackened by burn.  The soil in this meter also once again produced a large amount of slag and small pieces of vitrified tile.  Over 30 fragments of slag, including a few large pieces, were discovered.  In addition, at least one possible crucible fragment was also found.  A large amount of impasto and coarseware fragments (one and one half boxes), including many burned pieces, and several pieces of burned bone were recovered,

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much of it in blackened soil.  Finally, a small amount of tile and plaster (one quarter of a cassetta) was recovered.  Notably, none of the larger tile fragments displayed traces of burning.  The area beneath a second large stump located in meter I/15 was also cleaned down with a mestalina.  The soil beneath the stump was dark brown in color and likewise exhibited a high concentration of carbon and areas of soil blackened by burn.  Several small fragments of slag ( 19900032

, photograph ) and a few pieces of burned impasto pottery were removed from the soil beneath the stump.

The notably large amount of slag and small pieces of vitrified tile in combination with the other evidence of burning in this area in the form of

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carbonized wood, burned pottery and blackened soil would appear to indicate that a metal prodcution area may be nearby.

19900009

• Find 1
• J/15
• depth of 65 cm.
• bronze ring
  • drawing
  • photograph