Our work today focused on both the completion of the EB excavations in trench East and the further definition of our LB wall and undefined cist in trench West. We also continued our mapping of Aragatsi Berd "rooms" on the southern second terrace.
The completion of the locus 29 EB floor excavations followed many of the same patterns as the work in loci 15 and 19-21 just to the north: a mottled clay layer with high frequencies of ceramic materials sitting atop a fragmented, sterile, layer of bedrock fragments and sand. Also similarly, the easternmost portion of the floor trended more deeply (with the slope) than its corresponding western portions. Final photos and measurements taken.
In locus 30 we worked to define an evolving line of wall stones that appears to constitute the curvilinear wall extension to locus 4 that was expected when the trench was originally laid out. West of this line of stones it remains unclear if we are dealing with bedrock outcrop or additional occupation space.
To the east, at trench center, loci 24 and 30 are being pulled back to expose the western boundary of the cist burial identified in northern locus 24. It appears to comprise a stone oval overlain by 3 or 4 capstones. The ring of stones extends under rockfall in locus 30, so we will need to pull wall fall and work east to west AROUND the cist in order to define it completely prior to opening.
To this end, locus 31 was opened at the trench center boundary between 2008 and 2014 excavations. Shovel work is clearing this silty layer of post-occupational fill moving westward towards the LB wall and downwards towards the paved floor.
Mapping activities recorded three additional room spaces on the second terrace (southeast sector) from benchmark 13. That benchmark will be useful for several more room mapping efforts on the south side of the terrace/hill.