Daily Trench Journal

Area D

Trench 8

June 2, 2007

Recorder: Mila Hover (a.k.a. Melek hanim, MH)  
Workers: Cengis, Necat, Sadik (Biraz hizli, lutfen!)

Today, the goal is to finish cleaning D8, thus work proceeded in loci L123 (former L114), L124 (former L113), L125, (former L110), L126 (former L111), L127 (former L115), L128 (former L103), L129 (former L104), and L132 (former L108). There are, however, two more loci assigned in the trench which are associated with the wall structures, i.e., L130 (former 65) and L131 (former L99 and L102). Under the instruction of the field director, these will be the last to work on due to some preservation and context consideration.

In L125, within the context of the floor, Necat observed a white pseduomorphic matter (possibly reed or grass mat) which extends mostly over the south third of the cell room floor. Along the west wall of the room, a small amount of grain pseudomporhs were also observed which was located under a large cobble. Portions of both have been photographed. Soil sample has been taken for floatation. Various cultural deposits are mixed into the floor matrix, i.e., lithics (including obsidian), bone, pottery sherds, and shell. Soil appears dark brown with no large inclusions.

In L132, also a variety of cultural debris has been collected, i.e. lithics (including obsidian and ground stone frags), ceramics, and shell. Soil sample was taken, as well as carbon sample. Note: the soil appears very dark and ashy in the NW corner. No big inclusions present. Two more ashy stains became apparent on the floor surface as cleaning proceeded. Their dimensions are similar (approx. 1m x 1.25m) and all are oval in shape. Later, a third ash stain was located in the SE corner of the trench. Its dimensions are bigger: 1.30m x 2.30m. Next to the ash stain in the center of L132 was observed a stain of orange-brown clay-like stain.

In L124, a 0.5m x 0.5m window was marked and a HAPP sample was collected. The sample includes fragments of an Ubaid painted vessel, some animal/bird bones, and portion of the carbon present was taken as a sample. The entire surface of the cell room is covered by a similar white pseudomorphic layer found in the adjacent room, L125.     

In L125, work on removal of floor in room cell continues. Ground stone implement was collected from surface and assigned a KT#6.

L132: Floor is cleaned and overall appears to have patches of different colors. Those are due to several ashy and a single orange-brown stain scattered over the courtyard surface. For the moment, this locus is on hold until all cell rooms in the trench are closed. We will return to L132 when the walls (L131 and L130) are removed.

10:20am: Work for the day continues by opening the new L127 (former L115), L123 (former L114), and L126 (former L111).

The goal for these loci is same as for the ones described above: to remove the top 5cm layer in order to establish and examine the contents of the floor context.

At the end of the work day, all cell room loci were closed, photographed, and artifacts recovered from them recorded and collected. Closing elevations were taken.