Daily Log

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June 27, 1988

A.M.

Removal of the fill over the area between the stump in H 90-91 and the 1987 balk in F-G 90-91 was accomplished using hammer and mestaline. (This area was not covered with protective plastic after the 1987 season.) The brown fill overlay a clear orange plaster layer, underneath which in G 91 can be seen several tile fragments. Work on the balks also revealed corresponding levels of plaster and tile. Once this plaster is uncovered, it will be left in place until the stump is removed and the currently unexcavated portions of the trench are brought down to the same level. At this point the plaster wil be examined, drawn in full, and lifted, in order to understand the stratigraphy of the area and to discover if the Southeast Building's floor extends north into this area.

The backfil in meter G89 was removed down to the protective plastic - approximately 40 cm below the surface of the remaining fill, and approximately 70 cm below current ground surface.

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photos

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The pan tile noted (in general) in the roots of the stump in it 90-91 was photographed. It lies above a large amount of plaster.

The cut through G-J 96-97 was continued, in an effort to bring the level of these meters to that of the floor of the Southeast Building. At 25-30 cm, a formation of rocks aligned roughly east/west was found in it 96-97 (the largest rock, which is also the fone furthest to the west, had been uncovered by the 1987 excavation team and left in place because it appeared to be on line with the northernmost row of Southeast Building column bases. The current appearance of the rocks indicates that they angle to the south of that line.). They were left in place, swept, and photographed. There were no other concentrations of rock at this level, nor did there appear to be any change in stratigraphy between the north and south sides of the formation. The brown, rooty topsoil gives way to crumbly yellow soil.

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with rocks and few tile fragments in the upper portion and several large pieces of tile in the lower portion. (The majority of the tiles recovered appeared to have been burnt, although the soil showed no corresponding signs of burning or high heat.) The yellow soil lies above a layer of near galestra (not as flaky as true galestra,but having most of its other qualities- shale type rocks, high clay content, yellow color). Because several of the larger pieces of tile were found between the yellow soil and the near galestra it is possible that the near galestra represents ancient ground level.

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P.M.

The cut in meters G-J 96-97 was completed, bringing the trench floor to the aproximate depth of the floor in the Southeast Building (about 45 cm below ground level in

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the north end of the cut ["above" the rocks] and about 40 cm below ground level south of the rocks. (The difference in depths reflects the slope of the hill.) In the north end, the cut skimmed the top of an apparent burn layer (clearly seen in teh 1987 balk slightly west of this area, in G 94-95) and yielded pieces of burnt terra cotta and pottery. The eastern and southern balks of this area were cleared in preparation for a section drawing.

The balk in G 93-97 was also cleared and partly set up for a section drawing.

Some of the 1987 backfill in areas J-K 93-95 and I-J 89-90 was removed in preparation for the eventual lifting of the protective plastic, revealing the 1987 tile fal and Southeast Building floor level as reference points.

Work was stopped at 4:15 because of rain.

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