August 16, 2001

The plan of attack for today is very ambitious. The plan basically is to expose all existing surfaces to understand their stratigraphic relations to the walls and then to take out the great wall, 2048 as the coup de grace. Things started out as expected with the continued excavation of surface 2095, and the taking down of 2091 and 2096. Not all of 2096 was taken down, just a small square sounding. The northern edge of 2088 was examined for further courses or surfaces. In the southeast corner there seems to be traces of a mudbrick wall, possibly the continuation of 2080. To the west of the mudbrick the soil became very ashy. A new pit, 2101, was uncovered and taken out. Carbon and soil samples were taken from the pit. It looks like the ashy soil continues underneath 2088.

Below pit 2083, the surface defined as 2095 stopped at a slightly higher level than the rest of the surface. An interesting discovery was that of a broken line of plaster oriented east-west. The area north of the plaster line below 2083 was dug and yielded more of 2097, which looks to be part of 2095.

Breakfast was skipped in favor of consultation with Bradley, Lynn, and Andy. Our interpretation is that 2099 was used at least partly contemporaneously with 2088 and 2048 as both walls appear to have been founded on 2099. The surface was used and garbage accumulated, eventually to the point where it reached the level of 2095. The younger surface extends to the west baulk and was cut by two pits, 2084 and 2083. By this point wall 2048 had gone out of use as suggested by the extension of surface 2095 over 2048. A set of stones which had overlaid pit 2083 could represent a remnant of architecture associated with the upper surface.

In the northwest quadrant of the trench it is possible that we have two fire pits, 2078 and 2100 in an area bounded on the north by 2048 and on the south by 2080, a mudbrick wall which could have been used as a fire shield.

Because of these interpretations it was determined that 2048 would be left in place. It seemed logical to stop digging at this point now that the stratigraphy is more clear. It also gives a good starting point to whoever continues the excavation of this trench in the future.