July 3, 2001

We excavated loci 2017, 2018 and 2019 today, bringing the level of the entire western half of the trench roughly flush. L2017 (SW corner, 2m x 3.50m) and L2019 (north-center 2m x 2m) still contained some residual topsoil from L2015, whereas L2018 (western edge 2m x .6m) , as evidenced by the red baulk line from last season uncovered underneath it, was simply topsoil and baulk collapse from the previous season. The "rock feature" which was in it now appears to have been random deposit from said erosion.

Scattered animal bones and ash deposits, along with some mudbrick (collapse?) began to appear across the entirety of L2017. Whether this change is consistent across 2018 and 2019 is unclear at this time. The new area (which will be L2023) may also extend under the cobble surface of L2016 (in the center of the trench 2.5m x 1m), so the new loci assignments wait until after the removal of L2016 (probably tomorrow). Hopefully I will be able to get the whole trench level by midday tomorrow with the exception of the plaster (floors?) of L2022 in the SE corner of the trench.

The photos (as mentioned in yesterday's notes) were indeed mislabeled and have been reshot. There is no soil sample from L2018, because I forgot, though I prefer to think of it as me trying to save Cathryn time, as it was only topsoil and she already has plenty samples of that.

There also may be some contamination of KT 2113, as I noticed a workman putting a bone L2018 (rather than L2016) in it.