Daily Logs

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21 July 2011

AM:

The day began where yesterday left off. Baulk walls continued to be trimmed and the rock feature spanning the surface of the trench was further defined. Trowels were used to pick at the dirt surrounding the rocks, the best efforts were given to keeping the rocks in situ within Locus 2 . More rocks are appearing but with no discernable pattern. We will continue toweling around the rocks, trying to level the surface and find the extend of the feature.

The rock feature is becoming most clear within the SW corner, though rocks are slowly surfacing across the entire trench. As of now the SE corner seems to be yielding the least rock, although it appears to be higher than the western portion of the trench. To level this area a light pick pass was thrown in the eastern \xbd of the southern meter, in hopes of uncovering more of the feature. While picking a piece of rounded, worked stone was discovered (special find #1). Coordinates and elevations were taken prior to sorting.

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Special find #1: worked round stone

Locus 2

Elevation: 29.60mAE

Coordinates: .12W/32.54S

(drawing)

The soil lifted in this pass was sorted into buckets, terracotta was found, very little pottery. Some rocks were uncovered in this pick pass, they and the others across the trench will continue to be defined.

While defining large amounts of terracotta are being uncovered within the rock feature, particularly in the SW corner. Many of the fragments are as large as the rocks (20-5CM diameter\x97fist size). The rocks and the terracotta seem to be tightly compact within the Locus 2 soil of the SW corner\x97as we continue defining outward from this corner we will look for the density of these materials to see the extent of the feature. The soil being excavated remains olive/brown and claylike, confirming that we are still in Locus 2 .

Defining outward from the SW corner has revealed a continuous rock feature, yet its directionality remains unknown. Traveling both north and east seems to provide additional material, both rock and

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terracotta. Approximately 1M along the eastern baulk wall remains higher/untroweled, we will continue into this meter defining the feature and leveling the Locus 2 soil where material lacks.

PM:

Troweling continues into the eastern most meter. After digging through a few cm of soil it is obvious the feature extends to the eastern wall. Rocks remain compact and fist sized, with fragments of terracotta throughout. Well will continue this method until the extend of the feature in CB 46 is defined. The rock feature will be declared a new locus. As troweling continues the precise extend of the feature remains uncertain. Along the southern wall the rock/terracotta material is dense, compact, and its definition is clear. Along the northern and eastern walls rocks and terracotta are present but are less compact. The feature seems to wane from the SW concentration in these areas, because of this an exact well defined ending point is difficult to ascertain. The feature appears as a scattering. The rock/terracotta essentially extends throughout the entirety of the trench. Troweling will continue to define material and clarify the boundaries

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of the Locus. During this time the large stump in the NW corner was removed using the destruction end of the pick axe, this should help shed light on the extend of the feature.

Underneath the stump additional rocks were present, some a bit larger. The area will need to be troweled down to the level of the feature before opening photos tomorrow. The day ended with brushing the surface of the trench to expose the rock/terracotta and remove excess dirt. Roots were clipped.

Locus 2 terracotta: 2 and 2/3 bowls

Locus 2 pottery: 28 pieces

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