Daily Log: July 4, 2016

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Monday, July 4, 2016

Locus 2

AM

Work begins with two light pick passes in the eastern half of the trench in order to find the soil change noted on Friday end of day, in the westernmost meters of the trench. Stratigraphy of the baulk walls on the western portion of the trench reveals a clear soil color change, from the light medium brown of Locus 2 to a dark medium brown that is now being exposed. After the two light pick passes, work continues with baulk walling in order that the stratigraphy of this soil color change is apparent throughout the trench. Finds include terracotta, ranging in size from approximately 2cm to palm-sized, and some small sherds of pottery. There are also several more stones than in previous pick passes, averaging about palm-size. Baulk wall

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material is separated from that of the trench for sorting and counting. Soil is hand-sorted into buckets and dumped into a wheelbarrow.

While baulk walling, work also continues to level the trench floor to fully expose the soil color change.

Tree roots cut cleanly on either end are still being found in the eastern half of the trench, demonstrating that the soil so far is not in a securely stratified deposit.

After the leveling of the trench floor and the baulk walling, it became clear that the new dark medium brown soil follows the entirety of the trench. In addition, material remains seem consistent throughout this soil\x94 large fragments of terracotta averaging the size of half a hand, little pottery, no bone, and many small-to-medium-sized stones. Tree debris is becoming smaller and sparser,

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although cut marks still indicate a manmade intervention. In this Locus 2 also emerged more of the three tree stumps from topsoil in the southeastern corner of the trench, which now appear to be part of the same, longer stump. In addition, two small stumps have emerged in the north-central and northwestern half of the trench.

Because of these changes in soil color and composition, locus 3 has been opened throughout the trench. Locus 2 is now closed. Photos and elevations were taken.

Locus 3 Opening Elevations:

- NE corner: 23.83 mAE

- NW corner: 23.82 mAE

- SW corner: 23.91 mAE

- SE corner: 23.79 mAE

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A pick pass was conducted in the eastern half of Locus 3 . The soil of Locus 3 is denser and more compacted than that of Locus 2 . The soil color is dark medium brown with many medium-to-large-sized stones. Soil is hand-sorted into buckets and dumped into a wheelbarrow. While sorting the soil from this pick pass, a fragment of slag (Special Find #1) was found.

Special Find #1:

- Locus 3

- 56.35E/72.23S

- 23.80 mAE

- slag fragment

- Drawing

PM

Work continues in the afternoon with a pick pass through the central meters of the trench. Soil remains a compacted dark medium brown with much more terracotta and pottery than has previously been exposed in

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either Locus 1 or Locus 2 . While sorting, a fragment of slag (Special Find #2) was found.

Special Find #2 :

- Locus 3

- 55.30E/73.51S

- 23.83 mAE

- slag fragment

- Drawing

Another pick pass was made through the central-western section of the trench. Material remains are limited to medium-sized terracotta fragments and pottery, without any bone fragments. Soil is hand-sorted into buckets and dumped into a wheelbarrow.

A final pick pass was conducted in the Western section of the trench. Soil color and fabric remains relatively consistent, but the chunks of terracotta present here are larger than before. No bone has been found in this pass, and no special finds have been recovered. Soil in the Northwest corner continues to

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be distinctly loose.

Locus 3 closing elevations:

- NE corner: 23.87 mAE

- NW corner: 23.76 mAE

- SW corner: 23.9 mAE

- SE corner: 23.74 mAE

Locus 2 finds:

- Tile: \xbd bowl

- Pottery: 7 sherds

- Bone: 0 fragments

Locus 3 finds:

- Tile: 1 bowl

- Pottery: 28 sherds

- Bone: 0 fragments

Baulk Trim:

- Tile: 1/10 bowl

- Pottery: 10 sherds

- Bone: 0 fragments

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