Today Maureen and Levon worked at Kurgan 2 with me. Our objective today was to finish exposing the situation in the central chamber (Loci 102 and 104), so we can photograph it and then remove the skeleton. Given the slow pace of work, we weren’t able to complete this and will remove the skeleton tomorrow.
In the central chamber, there is a chalk stone underneath the innominate, which is similar to the one sitting on the knees of the skeleton (under the belt). Maureen says that is likely a male skeleton, given the size of the mastoid process and chin, as well as the appearance of the sciatic notch. Also, since belts in the LBA are only found with men. We found a small set of beads just south (10 cm) of the toes of the skeleton, at a depth of 2010.563 masl. The set consists of two large carnelian bead (Ar/Ge.K2.104.L.01-02), four small blue paste beads (Ar/Ge.K2.104.P.01-04), and a white paste bead (Ar/Ge.K2.104.P.05). These were found at a level lower than the body, and so may be from a different context. We also exposed more of the medium mammal legs in the SW corner of the chamber, extending towards Locus 27.
In the western chamber, we continued to clean, opening up the western side of the chamber. In the southwest corner of the pit, we found the edge of the pit and exposed of the side of the large sherd (Locus 26). South of Locus 26, we uncovered a crushed small bovid skull (probably a sheep or goat), as well as an medium mammal articulated scapula and proximal humerus, and what appears to be a medium mammal metapodial and carpals/tarsals. The third bone on top of Locus 105 is a medium mammal humerus.
As per Adam’s request, we photographed the situation in the eastern half of the W chamber, to show the relationship between the black censer (Locus 25) and the walnut-shaped vessel (Locus 105). We then removed the top portion of Locus 25, which has a lovely punctuated design. The large sherd we found near Locus 24 is part of Locus 25.