Daily Journal

Area D, Trench 9

July 17, 2004

M. Eppihimer

The portion of ashy soil of L16 is being removed from the same area of L14 (above it). In the west, the soil is becoming very moist and an orange brown color – to the east it is becoming more bricklike. The orange-brown color seems to extend under the mudbricks that ring the oven. At the W-most part of the Locus a thin line of bricks marks the baulk of D5.

Starting from the N side of the platform in the trench, we are following the 2nd line of pebbles in the baulk and it does slope downhill to the NE.

Several mudbricks are being removed from L10 around the oven – in one case measuring 25 by 25 by 20 cm covering one course where 2 courses were found nearby. In some places there are bricks and in others packed mud – a mixed construction. Therefore we are taking it all down to the current elevation of the area around the oven and will reevaluate. After removing L 10, the ashy soil inside the oven (L8) has reappeared along the E edge of the oven hole – perhaps we misjudged the shape or we have a beehive shaped oven. This new ashy area is L20.

Next to the area of pebbles, to the E, appears a circular ring ~ 1.05 diameter of soft brown soil. Inside it is significantly harder and denser brick material. To the E of the edge of the working platform it is ashy. The ashy area (L18) has been removed to the lowest elevation in the trench. The circular area is being cut off first about 10 cm, keeping in mind that in the NW the pebble layer L17 may continue within it. After removing 10 cm and sectioning the circle, it is without stratigraphy so we removed it completely, thinking perhaps that the circle of loose soil was an animal hole.