Morning Rounds:
WT3: We have expanded the trench to the north with a 2x3m extension that opens the NW corner. We are hoping to get a better sense of the architecture in the area. At the moment it is difficult to understand the construction.
NT3: Nearing bedrock but clay deposit continuing in S end of trench. I presume we will be able to define it throughout the trench soon.
NT1: We are expanding the trench with a 2.5 x 2.5m extension to the southeast corner. We are hoping to catch a larger section of the curving wall that we have a portion of against the southeastern balk. Clearing now underway as we also continue in northern section (area A). In this area we are now coming down upon an are of jumbled rocks that looks very much like wall fall. But it is difficult at the moment to establish any sort of architecture.
C4: We thought that we would be completing this trench this morning as it seemed that the consensus was that the orange clay layer visible in all 4 corners was the bedrock. However, it seems that the pit that contained the complete vessel pulled out two days ago was substantially larger than we had thought and now occupies the central portions of the trench. The matrix is a soft clay and contains a moderate amount of bone and other assorted materials. One piece of burnt bone was bagged as a radiocarbon sample. But the ceramics continue to indicate that this pit is a very late intrusion. Armine continues the excavation of the pit.
C3: Architectural stones now emerging in both the A and C areas (though in C at significantly greater depth. Area A is difficult to understand due to copious wall fall--indeed it is exceedingly difficult to find a promising spot to dig. And the matrix alternates between a cement-like hard-pack to a soft sand. We will continue in both areas and attempt to define the stones and remove the fall.
Afternoon rounds:
C3: Continues to define stones--slow work.
C4: Continues to excavate pit but is almost finished.
NT3: Strangely, the wall that we hoped to catch as it curved through the SE extension has not cooperated and we have not located a single structural stone in the extension. This is rather funny since we assumed this was a no brainer. The site has not cooperated and so we are a bit at a loss. We will continue down in hopes of catching it. Material densities high.
NT1: Completed excavation--or at least what is possible for us to excavate. Trench is now occupied by bedrock or natural stone throughout. Will draw sections tomorrow, close the operation so Belinda can concentrate on the bones.
WT3: Working hard to define stones as fall and remove them as appropriate. By the end of the day, we had made substantial progress removing wall fall, though I can't say that we now understand the architectural situation. But it does seem that we still have a substantial level to dig through.