Daily Trench Journal

Area D

Trench 5

August 19, 2002

I went to the field today to close down the trench and answer some final questions. Specifically, I wanted to again check in on the nature of the thought-to-be S wall of the mudbrick structure, L5104. After mostly removing it, it is clear in the section that there is a cut-out part of the wall abutting against N-S wall L5139 and continuing some 50 cm to the E until the wall begins again. This is so clear due to a layer of grain, similar to that on the N of the structure (L5098) which can be seen filling this gap. There is mudbrick above that layer, but it appears to be melt from the two walls around the doorway/step.

The other major question was the nature of the hard surface (L5148) to the N of the structure and their relation. We were able to trace the surface, some areas of which are plastered, to near the wall (though below its footing) and abutting against WSW oven/floor-reuse L5149. Thus, the final conclusion (for this season) is that the grain surface is contemporary with the structure but that the WSW oven (when used as an oven) and floor L5148 predate the structure.

Also of note, when removing flat-laying pottery in N-central Ubaid surface locus L5138 I uncovered an extensive pot smash which would certainly lend itself well to reconstruction (KT 5138.2).

As final activities, I had my workers clean the sections for drawing and took closing elevations.