Locus 32 is a J-shaped deposit of soil located in the eastern meters of T90, directly to the east and south of deposits excavated at the end of 2019 (Loci 28, 29). The deposit measures roughly 4.5 meters in length and nearly 2m in width, at its widest point, in the south of the locus. Locus 32 was excavated using handpicks and trowels and soil was sieved through 1cm and 2mm gauge sieves. We did not collect soil samples for flotation.

The soil of Locus 32 was medium-brown in color, claylike in texture, and was slightly compacted. As we excavated deeper into the deposit, the soil also started to contain charcoal inclusions, giving it a darker color; the presence of charcoal likely resulted from the underlying deposits. Locus 32 also contained scatterings of small stones (maximum dimension of 20cm).

Moderate quantities of material culture were recovered from Locus 32. The vast majority of material culture recovered was tile, plaster, and coarseware ceramics, but we also recovered a number of materials associated with metallurgy, such as crucible fragments, slag, or tiles with adhered slag. These finds suggest that the processing and refining of metallic ores occurred in this area.

Stratigraphically, Locus 32 overlaid Loci 33 and 36 (EPOC4’s wall collapse and subfloor, respectively) and is equivalent to Loci 6, 11, 18, and 21; therefore, Locus 32 postdates the occupation and abandonment of EPOC4 and likely is associated with the small, rectilinear hut built over EPOC4’s porch in the second half of the 7

century (Loci 2, 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 25).