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Code
AFG.08.16
Season
2008
Narrative

Ominous clouds in the morning didn't bode well for work at Tsaghkahovit and Gegharot, but at Aragatsi-Berd we were able to work until 3PM without any major disturbances. While Ruben mapped the northern slope with the robotic total station I supervised excavation in AB1 and 2.In AB2 we continued to clean the locus 11 clayey silt matrix from flattened bedrock north from the locus 9 wall fall platform. Material densities continued to be low, but when we reached the northern third of the trench, the distinct line of a circular feature became apparent--a pit cut into the andesite bedrock. We changed to locus 12 for this pit fill and began to screen the contents as well. Material frequencies are high in the pit, but ceramics are still mixed. We took one soil sample and will take another from a deeper location. Is it perhaps a LB pit cut into EB? But what EB context then?In AB1 we continued to clean the locus 12 wall fall and it appears that the matrix runs deeper and deeper into the northwest trench corner, perhaps indicating another pit as well. We won't be able to say until we begin pulling the fall and defining the floor more closely. However, it is already clear that the wall fall locus (it will be 15) contains numerous astragali, generally high material densities, and a possible complete cup. Conditions were damp and windy at the end of the day, so pictures were taken without the photo board. In the morning, we plan to take formal photos of AB1 and then begin pulling wall fall.We set up a third benchmark on the 2nd north terrace (east of AB3) and mapped the north slope from there. We almost finished the slope, but low battery power on the data collector forced us to finish slightly early.