.bk J02
.fl O630mH.j
.fd daily journal O630
.ei mH
.ed O630

.rd O630
.ri mH

-wk I got one more workman. Now I have 6 (k4 or k100) +6 (k5) +5 (k14).

k 14
dy Since we discovered a tannur feature f9 yesterday in the southern half of the unit, I divided the unit into two q-lots, q25 and q26, at the start of the day. In the southern half we dug with a small pick looking for a possible floor associated with the tannur f9. In the northern half we went once with a big pick and the same material f7 continued there. During these two q-lots I kept the feature f7 the same since the soil matrix had not changed from what we had earlier. It was still a combination of harder and softer patches and is clearly natural. After ca. 7 cm we found a hard, compacted layer west of the tannur and extending about 150 cm north. This layer did not contain any sherds embedded in it, nor did it include any other kinds of larger inclusions. In compactness it definitely differed from what was above it (f7) and next to it in the north (f7). I made this layer into f12. At this time we excavated the inside of the tannur to get an impression of where a floor level should be. Since the top of f12 was clearly much higher than the bottom of the tannur and since it did not seem to be a deliberate floor, I decided to go through it in search for a better floor. At the bottom of f12 we ran into sherds that had been embedded into it. Since these sherds were not horizontal but tilted, it became more obvious that f12 was not a real floor (intentional and constructed) but perhaps a "working floor", which had formed due to higher foot traffic around the tannur when it was used. We took pictures of this part of f12 and the tannur f9. This are v2 and v2a. After taking the pictures we cleared the remains of the working floor in order to see whether another floor would be under it. Under it, however, was the same kind of soil as had been above and around it in the whole unit. Starting from below f12 I made this layer in to f15. It covers the whole unit and is essentially the same type of material as f7. The working floor f12 was thus quite ephemeral; it does not even show up in the section.
sg Tomorrow, after I have drawn the large stone in the northern half of the unit (f13) and the tannur (f9) in the southern half of the unit, we will remove them and continue down with a big pick. We should reach the level of the German trench tomorrow.

k 100
dy In the morning we tried to use the elevator and continue to clear soil from roughly in the middle of the unit. The machine, however, worked roughly two minutes at a time. While it would always restart again, we were not able to make a lot of progress. After a while we abandoned the elevator only to return to it after breakfast. By that time the switch protecting the motor had been removed and we tried to use it again. After a short amount of time the machine got stuck and we were not able to use it.

k 4
dy The workmen assigned to this unit also work in k100 and thus they went between the two units all day and not a lot of progress was made here. Despite the fact that the soil matrix here did not change from yesterday I changed the feature here into f11 in order to keep better track of the q-lots. The soil matrix, however, is the same as in f5. 
sg Depending on the condition of the elevator, we will continue here with a big pick. At the end of the day today we were roughly 50 cm above today's ending level of k5, where there is clearly something going on. Tomorrow we will try to reach this level. 

k 5
dy In k5 we continued clearing the whole unit one big pick full at a time. The feature continued as f8, which means that the soil was a mixture of harder and softer patches. It is clearly natural accumulation. Towards the end of the day we run into a line of stones running south from the large stone close to the middle of the northern baulk (f14). These stones are quite small but since they are clearly in a line they must be the result of human activity. To the east of this line two such stones are slightly visible on the surface. More of these stones are located to the west of the line. In case these stones delineate a working area or the like, I made the area 300 cm east and 400 cm south of m3604 into f16, which I termed a (accumulation). This area includes also the two stones visible to the east of the stone line. I had the workmen pick with a small pick to the west of the stone line (q31). As of now there does not seem to be any associated floor surface, but this will be determined tomorrow. Interestingly, it now seems that the large stone (f14) in the north is resting on another large stone. If this is indeed the case, it would seem that this stone is not an isolated stone but perhaps a part of a feature. 
sg We will carefully clean the area excavated last today (q31) and excavate the rest of the unit with small pick looking for a floor or the like. Outside f16 I will still use f8 until it becomes necessary to change it. The stones are quite small and after we have excavated the rest of the unit, they are on the surface of the unit. At this point we will take a picture of the situation and if no clear floor level has emerged we will remove the stones and continue down with a different feature number in the whole unit.

f 11
df ly
ds This is directly below f5 in k4, it covers the whole unit and is essentially the same as f4: The matrix is a mixture of soft and hard patches. It is clearly natural deposition. 
pr I separated this from f5 in order to better keep track of q-lots. 

f 12
ad ab
ds This a hard, compacted layer to the west of tannur f9 in k14 and extending north. It extends 200cm north and 150cm east of m3599. At the top of this layer there were no sherds or other inclusion in it which would have made this feature into a constructed floor. At the bottom of it there were some large sherds embedded in it. These sherds were not horizontal but tilted any which way. This feature is probably a working floor associated with the tannur f9. Perhaps it was formed due to higher foot traffic around the tannur f9.

f 13
df stone
ds A large stone near the northwest corner of k14. Seems to be isolated. Perhaps it has eroded from the temple terrace to the north. 

f 14
df stone
ds A large stone near the middle of the northern baulk of k5. Originally I thought it was an isolated stone, which has eroded from the temple terrace above but it seems to sit on another stone possibly thus implying some sort of construction. 

f 15
df ly
ds Under f12 and f7 in k14. Natural soil matrix consisting of patches of harder and softer soil. 

f 16
ad a
ds Associated with a line of small stones running south from f14 in k5. These small stones and this feature are lower in elevation than f14. The feature contains the line of stones, stones slightly to the east of the line as well as more stones to the west of it. It extends roughly 350cm east and 400cm south of m3604. While the soil matrix is not different from f8 above it and to the east of it, I made it into a separate feature in anticipation of a floor possibly associated with the stones.