Tuesday, July 31 2018

AM

The plaster-rich deposit of Locus 19 remains only in the northern 50cm of the current section we are working in. Therefore, we bagan working in the remaining Locus 19 deposit, trying to remove the last of the plaster-rich deposit and expose the underlying dark-grey, charcoal rich deposit, which we have revealed throughout the rest of the section. We began excavating Locus 19 using trowels and hand picks, sorting soil by hand in the trench. We screened soil through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We recovered exceptionally high quantities of plaster, along with large amounts of pottery and moderate quantities of bone and slag. We also recovered a flange (Find #142), 5 fragments of plaster with reed impressions (Finds #143, 144, 147, 148, 149), and two crucible fragments (Finds #145, 150).

We simultaneously worked to clean up the section walls and define the stones of EPOC4’s S wall, which appear in the southern section wall. These are being cleaned in preparation for the drawing of stratigraphic sections. While working along EPOC4’s S wall, we recovered a crucible fragment (Find #146).

As we worked in Locus 19, we realized that the plaster-rich deposit is much deeper in the northern 50cm of the sounding than elsewhere. Here, we have begun to find the underlying charcoal-rich deposit, but it is app. 7cm deeper than elsewhere, creating a shelf of the charcoal-rich deposit that was infilled by plaster. Here, in the low-lying plaster deposit, we uncovered a large, rectangular charcoal fragment that is surrounded by dense, compressed, compacted plaster. We collected the upper surface of the charcoal as sample #8, but then realized that the rectangularly-shaped charcoal continues downward. We currently are wondering whether the charcoal is a preserved burnt beam that was sunk into the plaster-rich beaten earth floor. We photographed the charcoal in situ, then decided to leave the charcoal and surrounding compressed plaster in situ, while removing the surrounding looser plaster and exposing the underlying charcoal-rich deposit. While working in Locus 19, we continued to recover high quantities of pottery, but less bone and slag. We also recovered two more pieces of plaster with reed impressions (Finds #151, 152) and a bucchero rim with a carination (Find #153).

After identifying the possible post and surrounding compressed plaster, we removed the last of the loose plaster and plaster-rich deposit of Locus 19, exposing an underlying dark grey, charcoal-rich, burnt deposit. It is not clear whether this burnt deposit is the same uncovered throughout the rest of the section, at a higher elevation. Therefore, we will close Locus 19 and open Locus 20 to the south of the depression where charcoal sample #8 and the compressed plaster were found, to see if the two charcoal rich deposits are the same or are different. Closing photos and elevations for Locus 19 were taken.

Closing Elevations: Locus 19

• NW corner (106.50E/44.75S): 26.30m A.E.
• NE corner (107.20E/44.73S): 26.39m A.E.
• 107.20E/45.80S: 26.29m A.E.
• 108.10E/45.80S: 26.29m A.E.
• SE corner (108.10E/47S): 26.19m A.E.
• SW corner (106.50E/47S): 26.16m A.E.

Locus 20 was opened immediately to the S of charcoal sample #8 - the potential post hole - and the compressed surrounding plaster. It will be located where the higher charcoal-rich deposit is located, to determine if the two charcoal-rich deposits are the same. Opening photos and elevations for Locus 20 were taken.

Opening Elevations: Locus 20

• NW corner (106.50E/45.50S): 26.39m A.E.
• NE corner (107.20E/45.50S): 26.38m A.E.
• SE corner (107.20E/45.80S): 26.29m A.E.
• SW corner (106.50E/45.80S): 26.35m A.E.

The soil of Locus 20 is dark greyish-brown, with many charcoal inclusions. The deposit also is claylike in texture. We are excavating using trowels and handpicks, then screening soil through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. Soil contains high quantities of coarseware pottery, many of which are large sherds, along with slag.

Shortly after we began excavating, we uncovered a compressed and compacted plaster deposit that is a continuation of the plaster surrounding charcoal sample #8. This indicates that we have two charcoal-rich deposits; one overlying the compressed plaster and one underlying the plaster deposit.

Special Finds:

• Find #142
• Locus 19
• 107.05E/44.76S
• 26.34m A.E.
• Flange

• Find #143
• Locus 19
• 106.68E/45.21S
• 26.35m A.E.
• Plaster w/ reed impressions

• Find #144
• Locus 19
• 107.05E/44.66S
• 26.37m A.E.
• Plaster with reed impressions and flat profile

• Find #145
• Locus 19
• 106.77E/45.04S
• 26.38m A.E.
• Crucible fragment

• Find #146
• Locus 19
• 106.89E/46.27S
• 26.26m A.E.
• Crucible fragment

• Find #147
• Locus 19
• 107.03E/42.02S
• 26.34m A.E.
• Plaster with reed impressions and flat profile

• Find #148
• Locus 19
• 106.88E/44.95S
• 26.34m A.A.
• Plaster w/ reed impressions and flat profile

• Find #149
• Locus 19
• 106.76E/44.95S
• 26.35m A.E.
• Plaster w/ reed impressions and curved profile

• Find #150
• Locus 19
• 106.75E/45.40S
• 26.38m A.E.
• Crucible fragment

• Find #151
• Locus 19
• 106.97E/45.20S
• 26.34m A.E.
• Plaster w/ reed impressions

• Find #152
• Locus 19
• 107.03E/45.13S
• 26.28m A.E.
• Plaster w/ reed impressions

• Find #153
• Locus 19
• 106.96E/44.84S
• 26.27m A.E.
• Bucchero rim w/ carination

• Find #154
• Locus 19
• 106.92E/44.95S
• 26.25m A.E.
• Plaster with reed impressions and flat profile

• Find #155
• Locus 19
• 106.53E/44.89S
• 26.29m A.E.
• Large plaster fragment with flat surface

PM

We continued working in Locus 20, using trowels to excavate the charcoal rich deposit of Locus 20. We quickly realized that the compressed plaster surrounding charcoal sample #8 continues to the S, and so we removed the Locus 20 deposit from around the compressed plaster. While exposing the plaster, we recovered high quantities of pottery and slag. Additionally, we recovered a possible piece of coil-made pottery (Find #157), a crucible fragment (Find #158), a large iron fragment (Find #159), and a crucible fragment (Find #156).

We also trimmed the western baulk wall, in preparation for stratigraphic drawings. Section drawings of the western and S wall of the sounding were made by RISD students.

While RISD students drew the sections, we swept down all of T90, in preparation for a final round of drone photos and photogrammetry.

Once sections were drawn, we closed Locus 20. Closing photos and elevations were taken.

Closing Elevations: Locus 20

• NW corner (106.50E/45.50S):
• NE corner (107.20E/45.50S):
• SE corner (107.20E/45.80S):
• SW corner (106.50E/45.80S):

Closing photos of T90 were taken and T90 was closed for 2018.

Locus 19:

• Tile + plaster: 2 bowls
• Pottery: 38 sherds
• Bone: 7 fragments
• Slag: 16 fragments
• Vitrified terracotta: 2 fragments

Locus 20:

• Tile + plaster: 1/6 bowl
• Pottery: 31 sherds
• Bone: 0 fragments
• Slag: 10 fragments
• Vitrified terracotta: 1 fragment
• Bronze: 2 fragments

Special Finds:

• Find #156
• Locus 20
• 106.86E/45.58S
• 26.39m A.E.
• Crucible fragment

• Find #157
• Locus 20
• 106.77E/45.61S
• 26.37m A.E.
• Possible coil-made pottery

• Find #158
• Locus 20
• 106.56E/45.59S
• 26.36m A.E.
• Crucible fragment

• Find #159
• Locus 20
• 106.92E/45.55S
• 26.38m A.E.
• Large iron fragment