Daily Log

155

July 19, 1978

Morning

First, a new area was designated as a logical extension of Tesoro 23.  A grid system was established to mark this area and to place it in relation to the rest of Tesoro 23.  The new extension uses the already designated numerical coordinates 8 and 9

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as its width.  The new extension, which is perpendicular to ABC/0-10, is 3 meters in length -- alphabetical coordinates D-F will mark this length.

See sketch of new area.

Once DEF/8-9 was cleared of its topsoil, the dar kbrown layer was excavated.  This level produced very little -- sporadic pottery finds and one spindle whorl.  Next, work continued by beginning the red layer cut in D/8-9.  Ivory and bronze were immediately found.  As in meters ABC/8-9, it continues to be the case that where there is ivory in Tesoro 23, there is also bronze.  The ivory found today is very similar in shape, size, and decoration to the ivory found in ABC/8-9 -- rectangles, triangles with linear incision.

The bronze is also similar to that found in ABC/8-9.  One complete bronze nail and several fragments of bronze sheet and slag were found.  However, D-9 produced one notable find -- and it is the first of its kind in Tesoro 23 -- a bronze tack which preserves a silver head.

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With the exception of the silver-headed tack, very little was found in D-9.  The material (all of it ivory) was found in D-8.  It comes from the middle of the red layer where tile is heavily concentrated and pottery is scarce.

19780137

• Find #1
• F-8
• Brown layer / depth of 20 cm
• Terracota spindle whorl; two fragments join
  • drawing
  • photo

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19780125

• Find #6
• D-9
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Complete silver-headed bronze tack; perfectly preserved
  • drawing
  • photo

19780129

• Find #7
• D-8
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Complete bronze nail; bent
  • drawing
  • photo

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19780284

• Find #8
• D-8
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Fragment of worked black ivory; four worked edges
  • drawing
  • photo

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Afternoon

Work began by continuing the Red layer cut in D-8.  As expected, ivory and bronze were found immediately.

Several incised fragments of burned ivory were excavated.  The most notable ivory find of this afternoon is a fragment of a carved ivory woman.  This is the first carved figure to be found in Tesoro 23.  The figure is identified by long, braided hair, which falls to each side of her shoulders -- she is in profile.

A few more bronze tacks were found as well as a second silver-headed tack.  This afternoon's silver-headed tack is considerably larger than this morning's.

Tile continues to be frequent in this chunky, reddish soil, while pottery is scarce.

Tile: 1 cassetta

Pottery: 1/4 box

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19780127

• Find #4
• D-8
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Complete bronze tack, slightly bent
  • drawing
  • photo

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19780130

• Find #11
• D-8
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Complete bronze tack, small round head, badly worn
  • drawing
  • photo

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19780227

• Find #14
• D-8
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Fragment of a carved black ivory woman; her entire torso is preserved with entire arm and long braided hair falling to each side of her shoulder
• On July 20 (see p. 195, Find #26 ), a fragment of the woman's head was found; it is a perfect join; the continuation of her braided hair, her chin, and part of her nose are preserved
  • drawing
  • photo

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19780240

• Find #18
• D-8
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Blue-green glass; fragile
  • drawing
  • photo

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19780124

• Find #23
• D-8
• Red layer / depth of 70 cm
• Complete silver-headed bronze tack; perfectly preserved
  • drawing
  • photo