In SLT14, locus 5 (clay layer in south side of trench) today we collected five radiocarbon samples embedded in a compact level of the clay
(Ar/Ts.SLT14.5.c14.1-5). Still lot of bones coming out that appear to be a orange-red tint as if oxidized somehow, though Belinda says bones turn white when burned, not red. Anyway, the compactness of the clay suggests were nearing a floor so I'm trying to level it off first and will then measure for a new locus. Locus 5 is very gravely/cobbly making it difficult to level off. In any case, these c14 samples should help clarify the construction sequence of this area, especially if it's a floor. I've been considering this locus to be the same as locus 6 in SLT 10, which was a deep clay locus containing tons of bones that Hannah analyzed for her MA. But there was no discernible floor in the middle of the locus like there is here. We'll keep leveling it off and sweeping to get a good view.
In SLT14, I've been having a worker spending time each day cleaning off the wall stones in the baulk between SLT 9 and 14. Before lunch, one of them found a dark red Achaemenid fiala, a small flat serving bowl. It was almost complete, and he found a few more little pieces before the end of the day. This doesn't really have a locus number since it's between the stones that were covered with backdirt, but the fiala seemed to be in situ resting on a flat stone just behind one of the upper wall stones. Very odd since there is not a huge Achaemenid sherd count in either operation. But I point provenience it using the datum from SLT9 which was just a few meters away, and sketched its location in my notebook.
In SLT13, we're leaving a 1m baulk in locus 2 to give a buffer to the locus 5 basin area, since Roman wants to see if there are enough interesting materials to warrant further samples around the feature. So we're focusing on the northern portion of the locus for now.
Got rained out about an hour after lunch.