.bk A12 .fl N812jl.j .fd journal and log entries .ed N812 .ei jl .ri jl .rd N812 -dy Today, we isolated the new black seed layer within the trench (k32 and k33) and, after determining that it did not continue across the locus, we removed it. Then, we excavated another layer of the accumulation underneath. We also investigated the nature of the mud ledge, f423. gb and fab came down, and we decided to stop after every 50cm and dig the northern half of the circle, to keep the levels even. i 172 436 31 1073 si 1.5 2.9 2.7 to mkb .rd N811 q 1065 pi 431 31 wk m3097 72 148 10 1066 pi 432 32 wk m3097 72 148 10 1067 pi 433 33 wk m3097 69 148 10 .rd N812 1068 pi 428 30 r805 76s 115w m3097 76 150 2 1069 p 432 32 r806 75s 60w m3097 63 150 2 1070 p 433 33 wk m3097 57 150 2 1071 p 434 32 r807 75s 60w m3097 62 150 2 elevation approximated since recorded elevation was incorrect 1072 pi 435 33 r808 70w 75n m3097 37 130 2 1073 pb 436 31 wk m3097 60 148 5 1074 p 437 32 wk m3097 62 148 5 1075 pbi 438 33 wk m3097 58 148 5 1076 pi 423 33 wf m3095 98 149 33 removal of mud ledge in k33 .rd N809 f 426 ds This layer of black seeds is the first layer which we have clearly identified across the circle. Previous layers were broken and unclear. It equals f427. =l f427 =l f419 f 427 ds This layer of black seeds is the first layer which we have clearly identified across the circle. Previous layers were broken and unclear. It equals f426. =l f426 =l f419 .rd N812 f 420 ds This is the first example of the black seeds along the western edge of the circle, under f415. It is a weak black seed patch, rather than a strong one. It is generally colored brown, with occasional black seeds. =l f408 =l f416 =l f421 =l f422 =l f417 =l f425 .rd N802 f 408 nd This black seed layer in fact seems to be multiple layers. As far as I can currently tell, the layers seem to be distinguished by the amount of seeds: a brown layer with relatively few seeds overlays a very black layer with many seeds. I am using the creation of k29 and k30 (and with them, new feature numbers) as an opportunity to distinguish between these two layers with new, separate feature numbers. .rd N812 f 421 ds This is the brown layer with occasional black seeds under f414, in the inner circle. It is the same feature as f417, which was accidentally created and then never used. =l f408 =l f416 =l f420 =l f422 =l f417 =l f425 f 422 ds This is the brown layer with occasional black seeds in the south-west quadrant. It overlaid f428. This was one area of the locus where we could not clearly find f426/f427, the strong black seed layer. Given the clear curve and slope of the strong black seeds up to the edge of f422, it seems clear that the seeds did not cover this area with the same thickness (if at all) that they covered the rest of the circle. Perhaps this is evidence of gb and mkb's proposed small pits, which were dug for the performance of the ritual, and the seeds were only scattered within the area of the pit. We will have to see more layers of seeds to know for certain if this trend continues. =l f408 =l f416 =l f420 =l f421 =l f417 =l f425 i 172 ds seal impression P99 to mkb f 423 ds This is the "ledge" that surrounds the circle. It equals f326 and f346. We have seen it in past years, but never completely understood it. It is composed of a series of almost- vertical layers (see v249) which reveal rough faces when exposed (see v250). However, instead of sloping into the circle, the layers slope down towards the outside of the circle, giving one the distinct impression while excavating them that one is excavating them from underneath. In other words, it is as if, rather than being a plaster or layer applied to the stone wall in successive layers (as we originally believed), they were applied around and against the accumulation within the circle, along its outside edge. This has led gb to hypothsize that these are the successive layers of rain sedimentation within the fissure around the circle, created either by soil falling into the fissure and then being melted by rainwater or by rainwater itself transporting the mud into the fissure, down the sides of the accumulation. .rd N721 -dy Today, following gb's instructions of the day before, we began to follow the red layer f406 more closely, to see of the laminations f405 lay underneath it. In fact, the whole area underneath was laminated; the red lay on top of a brown layer, which lay on top of a smooth lamination. We borrowed three diggers from A14 today, since one of our diggers left to join the German team at Tell Badr, and two were helping to dig J1. -sg Tomorrow, we will continue removing the red layer, f406, in order to see if the brown underneath it is an extension of the brown around the circumference of the circle or a separate feature. This will help us determine whether to dig the brown, f407, or the laminations, f405, first.