RB at Gegharot.
We are starting the excavations of an EBA site on the hill of Gegharot. First of all we set up two new trenches adjoining T2 (to be excavated by IL). On the western slope of the hill on the lowest terrace we set up 2 trenches - T05 (southern) and T06 (northern). First we put 2 trenches 4 x 2m. As just below the topsoil traces of a wall were uncovered, T05 was expanded on 1m - slope up. Thus we have a trench 5x2m.
PA and ATS at Tsakahovit.
Morning: Set out trench on North slope to look for EBA level. NS1 is a 3x2m sounding at the base of the hill. Belinda is supervising with 3 workers from Ian\'s trench.
WT1: Yesterday uncovered a stone basin with 2 hitching posts within the LBA floor level of WT2. This provides us with strong supporting evidence that such features across the site are LBA constructions. Just adjacent are fragments of poorly fired ceramic that look like oven fragments. Finally, next to the oven are several pithos fragments, perhaps part of one of our 1998 vessels.
NT1: Continuing removal of balk and excavation of area C. Numerous burned deposits in C have produced a handful of wood sticks completely preserved. These burned remains appear to be almost .50m above floor in B.
C5: Down now below fortification wall. Way blocked by large stones but material still coming out it seems. Impact of late rebuilds significant here due to thinner deposits separating levels.
C3: In area A I think we are on a clay floor with a pit in it. Material is LBA. In C, we are well below the stone floor in the west side but still above a floor. Grey ashy deposit is continuing down.
Afternoon: Rain at 2:30 with small funnel cloud near.