July 4, 2004

Area D, Trench 8

Melissa Eppihimer, Emily Ogle

Daily Plan

Our first task today is to restring the trench now that we know the corners according to the grid. This results in a 4 x 8 m trench. We have made it this size in order to allow sufficient baulks, especially on the N edge.

Because the trench was restrung, the edges of Locus 1 were no longer square with the strings so we designated the remaining soil along the N and W strings as Locus 2. The workers are removing this soil down to the level of the bottom of Locus 1. We have designated the subsoil below L1 as Locus 3 and the section that may be a wall as Locus 4.

Locus 5 is the next area of top soil downslope. It includes both the NE and SW corners of the trench, but excludes the area in the extreme SE, which will later become a locus on its own.

The concentration of stones in Locus 1 along the W string line extends W into Locus 2. It currently appears to resemble tumble rather than a wall, but some large sherds lying flat may suggest otherwise.

Locus 4 was designated as a feature, while the men were digging Locus 5. We removed locus 4 stone by stone. The stones were large, measuring approx. 30 cm wide. Under these stones was a layer of mud brick. The bricks were not clearly defined, they existed in an area roughly 20 x 30 cm. There was also a strain of soft white unfired clay which ran back into the balk. This substance was very fine, almost silt or talc. After breakfast we got another workman. After removing Locus 4, it became clear that there was a path and across the top of Locus 3. Bradley suggested it was a pit. After Locus 5 is cleaned and we return to the highest step of the trench, we will excavate it as 3 locii. Locus 3 will be the NW corner, Locus 6 the "pit" (continuation of cobbles from Locus 4 feature) and Locus 7 the southern part.