25 July 2022

AM

Opening Elevations:

NW: 28.35 m. A.E.

NE: 28.35 m. A.E.

SE: 28.37 m. A.E.

SW: 28.33 m. A.E.

The focus of excavation this morning will be the removal of the southern portion of the terra cotta pipe. The northern portion is very fragmentary and only partially intact so for now will remain in-situ. A field drawing done in a scratch book has been done in order to chart out the various fragments and their coordinating number. Photographs have also been taken. Because a soil sample of all soil within the pipe will be sent down, this area including the pipe and soil within will be declared a new locus, Locus 7.

While troweling around the tile pieces in an effort to loosen them safely, a fragment of diagnostic bone (Special Find #7) was found within the soil present underneath the convex upper portion of the pipe.

Special Find #7: Diagnostic Bone

Coordinates: 170.45 E/ 40.66 S

Elevation: 28.15 m. A.E.

Work continues on the excavation and lifting of the top portion of the piping. As each fragment is lifted, the soil underneath is put into a designated bucket and put into a soil sample bag to be sent down for floatation. There is little to no materials present within this locus outside of a few bone fragments and pottery sherds. Just before the lunch break, the last fragments of the upper portion of the pipe was excavated out and post-lunch work will be focused on taking out the remaining soil present within the pipe and the uncovering of the bottom portion of the pipe. This entire top portion of the pipe will be a special find.

Special Find #8: Terra cotta pipe fragments

Coordinates: 169.92 E- 169.30 E/ 40.07 S- 40.90 S

Elevation: 28.30 m. A.E.- 28.19 m. A.E.

PM

Excavation of the interior of the terra cotta pipe continued post-lunch. At this stage, the sides of the pipe that have been left in-situ are beginning to show a curve upward which is an indication of the start of the concave bottom. Compared to before, there is more material present including pottery sherds and bone fragments. While excavating, a diagnostic bone fragment (Special Find #9) was found.

Special Find #9: Diagnostic bone

Coordinates: 170.49 E/ 40.39 S

Elevation: 28.00 m. A.E.

Shortly after, another piece of diagnostic bone (Special Find #10) was found.

Special Find #10: Diagnostic bone

Coordinates: 170.38 E/ 40.59 S

Elevation: 28.00 m. A.E.

As troweling continues, it seems as if there is a large quantity of terra cotta present in a jumbled manner directly where the downward curve of the pipe is. It is unclear at this moment if this is part of the pipe (if it was broken in antiquity) or if this is debris associated with the pipe that settled here in antiquity. For now, excavation will continue, but extra care will be taken to leave these pieces in-situ in case they become relevant.

Closing Elevations:

NW: 27.97 m. A.E.

NE: 27.96 m. A.E.

SE: 27.93 m. A.E.

SW: 27.95 m. A.E.

Daily Totals:

Terra cotta: 1/20 bowl

Pottery: 26 sherds

Bone: 11 fragments

Supplemental Find #11: Terra cotta drain fragments

Coordinates: 169 E- 172 E/ 40 S- 42 S

Elevation: 28.28 m. A.E.- 28.18 m. A.E.