Monday, June 25, 2012

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AM

Leveling done throughout the trench in order to find the lighter brown-yellowish soil over the whole trench. Special attention given to areas around tree stumps, and as many roots as possible clipped. Soil sorted and cleaned from the trench. No artifacts found in cleaning. Baulk walling begun around the north, east, and south walls; no baulk wall will be established along the western wall, where CB 52 adjoins CB 53. Any finds from the baulks will be collected as Locus 1 . One piece of terra cotta found in the western end of the northern wall. Photographs taken and Locus 2 declared open over the whole area of the trench. Opening elevations for Locus 2 taken:

NW Corner: 26.23m A.E.

NE Corner: 26.42m A.E.

SE Corner: 25.83m A.E.

SW Corner: 25.83m A.E.

Locus 2 is a loosely packed and crumbly medium brown and yellowish soil. First pick pass done along the northern one meter by

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four meter strip. Soil consistent with Locus 2 soil, a medium brown and yellowish soil loosely packed, sandy, and crumbling. Soil sorted and cleaned from the trench. No artifacts found. Pick pass done through the middle two by four meter area of the trench. Soil consistent with Locus 2 , sorted and cleaned from the trench. No artifacts recovered during cleaning. Final southern meter by four meter area picked. Soil sorted and cleaned from the trench, consistent with Locus 2 soil type--still more loosely packed, easily broken up, and somewhat sandy in consistency. In the southeast corner the soil is coming up in large clumps at a time, often an indication that sterile soil will soon be encountered. There are some very small concentrations of light yellow and grey particles, but it is still too early to determine whether there is indeed a soil change, and additionally too early to say if it is sterile. It will be observed as we dig through it further. The soil throughout the trench is also becoming more chalky than sandy. Picking done in the northwest corner. Soil consistent with Locus 2 , sorted and cleaned from the trench. No artifacts

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found during cleaning. Several large roots removed using the axe. Roots clipped over the entire area of the trench.

PM

Rest of the northern meter by four meter area pick axed, sorted, and cleaned. Soil consistent with Locus 2 . Soil in the roots system of the stump in the upper northeastern corner troweled out. No artifacts recovered during cleaning. Some pockets of clay uncovered within the root system of the stump in the northeast corner, which is the same light brown color as Locus 2 soil. Pick pass done in the second meter by four meter strip from the north wall. Soil consistent with Locus 2 , very fine, dusty, and chalky. Soil sorted and removed from the trench. One small stump from the western half of that meter strip removed. One small fragment of ceramic found. Below the cleaned soil in the second meter by four meter strip from the north harder packed soil is being uncovered, seemingly the same color as Locus 2 , but with included flecks of terra cotta/pottery (orange) and white flecks. Pick axed the northern meter by four meter area in order to level the trench.

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Soil sorted and cleaned from the trench, remaining consistent with Locus 2 soil. Soil continuing to be more chalky in consistency, but still medium brown and yellowish in color. No artifacts found. Beneath much of the northern meter to meter and a half by four meters packed soil with orange and white inclusions in medium brown soil being found. Pick axing abandoned as we pull back from the already uncovered packed soil towards the south using trowels and brushes. The packed soil is revealed over the whole trench, with included flecks of white and orange as well as in a few places ten centimeter by ten centimeter rocks. On the next work day roots will be clipped and quick sweeping done in order to take Locus 3 opening photographs. Therefore, today's End of Day Elevations will also be considered the Locus 3 Opening Elevations:

NW Corner: 26.14m A.E.

NE Corner: 26.28m A.E.

SE Corner: 25.78m A.E.

SW Corner: 25.81m A.E.

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Daily Totals:

Locus 1 :

Terra cotta: 1 piece

Pottery: 0 pieces

Bone: 0 pieces

Locus 2 :

Terra cotta: 0 pieces

Pottery: 1 piece

Bone: 0 pieces

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