July 30, 2001

The first part of the day was spent working on the cluster of ovens (L5033, 5036, 5048) in the central-E, trying to figure out their associations. First, we pulled all their pottery linings out, to avoid contaminating them when we brought their pedestals down.

L5028, which abuts wall L039 and L5036 is cut into, was brought down so that it was flush with L5039. It looks like there might be a surface association between this lower part of L5028 with wall L5039 and surface L5034. The wall may lay upon the surface somewhat and divide it. Either way, the oven is cutting down into it from a later surface.

L5033 is less clear, as the part of E-baulk hugging L5022, is simply fill.

L5048, on the other hand, clearly cuts wall L5039.

My guess is that the three ovens are contemporary as their style is similar (round, pottery-lined) and they all have the same approximate bottom level. Unfortunately, they were not all caught at the same level, so comparing top levels isn't feasible. Hopefully the pottery reading of their linings will show all to be similar.

The latter part of the day was spent trying to find the continuation of S, SW-NE wall L5045, by removing much of the fill in the southern part of the trench (L5044). No dice, unfortunately, even after spraying.

Also, work was done to remove NW wall L5037 now that it's thoroughly documented to see what other data we can pull out of it. The far NW area, which was to ridden with animal burrows to trace the mudbrick in, came off in very nice mudbrick pieces, which affirmed the assessment of the wall. Notably, the wall does not appear to go any deeper than surface L5034, but is not all built upon the ash layer L5047 which is under L5034.

The final portions of southern SW-NE wall L5008 were also removed.