24 July 2018

AM

A pick pass was made in Locus 6 beginning in the center of the trench from where the first pick pass left off yesterday, peeling 2M towards the east.

Special find #49: slag

27.31 m.AE

46.84 S / 168.49 E

Locus 6

Special find #50: bronze

27.28 m.AE

46.56 S / 169.51 E

Locus 6

Locus 6: A claylike soil with inclusions of rock, plaster, and charcoal. This locus contains a lot of small rocks and has more of a grayish tint to the soil. The soil clumps are hard to break apart, however, could be a result of baking out from the previous day.

Special find #51: bronze

27.21 m.AE

47.19 S / 170.08 E

Locus 6

Due to the amount discovered throughout the trench, any bronze fragments with no recognizable form will be bulk collected.

A pick pass was made in the eastern most 2M, avoiding the area displaying the abnormal charcoal fragment.

Special find #52: Stamped rocchetto

27.26 m.AE

47.01 S / 168.91 E

Locus 6

While picking in locus 6 in the eastern half of the trench, a stamped rocchetto was discovered. It is hard to discern exactly what is stamped onto the artifact, however, once sent to conservation, should be more visible. A best attempt at drawing the stamp will be made.

While cleaning this pick pass, a thin bronze shaft was discovered.

Special find #53: bronze shaft

27.21 m.AE

47.16 S / 169.33 E

Locus 6

One side appears to be wider than the other. Two of the pieces fit together in the center.

Special find #54: Iron

27.29 m.AE

46.48 S / 168.83 E

Locus 6

PM

A pick pass was thrown along the eastern section of the trench, peeling back the soil from east to west. The charcoal was then fully removed and excavation continued. Points and elevation were taken for the charcoal as follows:

[Charcoal sample:]

27.24 m.AE

47.55 S / 170.63 E

While sorting the soil, an iron nail was discovered. It is about 2.3 cm in length and about 0.9cm in diameter at the head; the tip is preserved.

Special find #55: Iron nail

27.16 m.AE

47.34 S / 170.27 E

Another piece of iron was also recovered but has no distinct shape. This fragment will be recorded as a special find, but, going forward, only fragments with a definitive shape will be recorded as special finds, all others will be bulked.

Special find #56: Iron fragment

27.24 m.AE

46.41 S / 170.81 E

Hand sorting of this pick pass revealed more pieces of plaster. In addition, a bone bead was recovered.

Special find #57: bone bead

27.17 m.AE

47.25 S / 170.45 E

The bead appears to be split and is approximately 2cm from break-point to break-point.

An additional pick pass focused on knocking in the southern and eastern baulk walls. Trowels and handpicks were then used to sort the loose soil and tidy the trench.

Two additional finds from the afternoon’s first pick pass will be recorded:

Special find #58: Possible pithos rim (drawing on following page)

27.14 m.AE

47.04 S / 170.49 E

The possible pithos rim joins in three large fragments, with several other small fragments. The opposite face contains modern breaks, potentially as a result of the pick pass. Unfortunately, the full profile could not be recovered.

Special find #59: Trumpet vessel fragments (10)

27.23 m.AE

46.33 S / 170.46 E

Ten fragments of a trumpet vessel were recovered; there are two joins among four of the fragments.

While sorting through pottery at the end of the day, a piece of slipped pottery was discovered and sent to conservation as a supplemental find. A range of coordinates and elevations were supplied.

Supplemental find #60: Slipped pottery

Aprx.: 27.18 – 27.29 m.AE

Aprx.: 46.00-47.81 S / 168-171 E

Locus 6

End of day totals:

Locus 6:

Pottery – 218 pieces

Bone – 115 pieces

Tile – 1.5 bowls

Bronze – 1 piece