.bk J02
.fl T815cJC
.fd daily, loci, feature descriptions, strategy
.ei cJC
.ed T815
.en Edited by cJC on T901

.rd T813
.ri cJC

-dy Today we first cleaned the area and took a few photos of the overall area showing the extent of f359 and then we removed f359 in k110, excavated the feature underneath, f377 and exposed f379 and removed a portion of f379 to reveal f381 with an animal pawprint in it. 

-sg For the rest of the season we intend to go down in only k110 following the layers in the west section of k100 so we can find the first floor associated with the construction of the apron (f131) and the second staircase (f130). If there is time we would like to go down enough to expose the western extent of the first staircase (f380). 

k 110
dy Today we began removing f359 in k110. Now that we have exposed f359 in k110, k5 and k15 we are going to make a sounding in all of k110. We began by removing f359 in k110. mKB and hQ came during our daily meeting with gB and fAB and said that although we did not have enough sherds to be conclusive the sherds we collected from f359 are provisionally from the EDIII period. This confirms our suspicions that f359 is not the floor associated with the construction of the apron (f131). We excavated the layers by first examining the west section of k100 and using the layers there as a starting point for exploring the features across k110 from east to west. Under f359 in section was a gray layer which we named f377. It appeared to be thick in section but as it moved southwest across the locus it became apparent that there was a difference, with f377 becoming thinner in the south portion of the locus overlaying a very thick red layer with ash in it which we called f379. Some of f379 was removed before we understood the differences in the layers from north to south and under f379 we exposed a mud surface f381 which had the paw print of a dog in it. We photographed the pawprint normally and then experimented with filling it with powder to make it show up better in pictures. 
H99 The accumulations (beginning with f359 but including f377 and f379) are thicker in the southern portion of k110 than in the northern portion closer to the apron. This may be due to water flowing away from the apron (f131) or due to heavy use of the area immediately in front of the apron (f131). 

k 15
dy We are finished excavating in this locus. It will be backfilled at the end of the season. 

k 5
dy We are finished excavating in this locus. It will be backfilled at the end of the season. 

f 359
dy Today we removed this feature in k110. It was very hard and when picked it came off in chunks. We did not recover that many sherds. At 7:30 in the morning mKB and hQ came to review our pottery and they said that it appears from the few sherds we have that probably a provisional date of EDIII can be suggested for f359. 
ar It is likely that f359 is not the first floor associated with the construction of the apron (f131) for two reasons. First, there are accumulations underneath (f369, f378) that slope up to the bottom stones of the apron which could not happen if they were cut to place the apron. Second, mKB provisionally dated the materials in the floor to EDIII and we expect an EDII date for the construction. 
tc co f377

f 377
ds Gray layer with an uneven surface. The matrix is soft and fine although the surface is hard. It separates easily like a flake from the accumulation underneath. This feature is thin in the northern portion of k110 and easily damaged by the pick, while in the southern portion it is thicker and separates easily from the other features. 
pr This feature was only excavated using only the pick and brush. 
dy We relayed the northern edge of this feature. It extends from the relayed line all the way to the south of k110 covering the whole square. 
nr When first exposing this feature we thought that it had a subsurface of ashy material but instead we came to understand that was a separate feature that we now call f379. Therefore, q-lots associated with f377 may include some material from f379. 
tc co f379

f 379
tc co f381
ds Dark gray (ashy) and red mix. The red portions are hard and seem to come apart in chunks where the darker gray parts are softer and ashy. We also found some pieces of charcoal inside the feature. There were some friable kiln waste of a green color that was not collected as it disintegrated to dust while excavating. The reddish yellow chunks correspond to 7.5YR8/6. A portion of f379 in the center of k110 appears to be damaged and is very red and granular. 
pr This feature was excavated with the pick and the brush
nr When first exposing f377 we thought that it had a subsurface of ashy material but instead we came to understand that was a separate feature that we now call f379. Therefore, q-lots associated with f377 may include some material from f379. 
;c# 5YR7/6
co Reddish Yellow
tc ov f381
ad This feature may be the same as f348 in k15 although we have no direct contact between the features. I suggest this because it looks very similar in the damaged area, with a reddish granular matrix. When we brush it with the whisk brush it looks almost exactly the same. 

f 381
;df mud
ds Hard gray surface. It has impressions in it implying it was a muddy wet surface that allowed pawprints to be imprinted in it. It is a level surface, with a slight slope down from the north near to the apron (f131) towards the south. The surface is relatively uneven with impressions and slight rises in it. 
dy We found a pawprint of what is probably a dog in this feature. We photographed it as we found it and also after filling it in with powder to see if it would photograph better. 

.rd T815
.ri cJC

-dy Today we continued working in k110. We started by removing the remaing portion of f379. In the process of removing this feature we uncovered more impressions in f381 which is immediately below. Some of the prints appear to be of human feet so we decided to stop, clean, photograph and make plaster casts of the impressions. Then, before breakfast gB and fAB came and we discussed leaving the footprints to be excavated next season instead of doing it this year. gB thought we should pedestal the south portion of k110 and only work in north k110 but I would rather not as the area is very small. At breakfast there was a strategy meeting between pC, fAB, gB and cJC to discuss how to proceed. After discussing several options (excavating north k110, working in k13, cutting a trench in front of the apron, excavating down in J6k84, and making a sounding in k100) we decided to work in k100. We will remove the backfill and then go down to see if we can find the bottom of the first staircase (f380) and get enough ceramic material for a solid date of construction. After breakfast we began removing the backfill of k100. We will continue tomorrow. 

-sg Because today we found human footprints in f381 in k110 gB suggested we stop in south k110 for this season to leave the footprints to be excavated next year. He suggested we make a sounding in only north k110. I suggested that instead of doing this we work in another area as north k110 is very small and it would be difficult next year to exactly correlate the features of the sounding with south k110. gB, fAB, pC and cJC had a strategy meeting at breakfast to discuss how to proceed. After discussing several options (excavating north k110, working in k13, cutting a trench in front of the apron, excavating down in J6k84, and making a sounding in k100) we decided to work in k100. We will remove the backfill and then go down to see if we can find the bottom of the first staircase (f380) and get enough ceramic material for a solid date of construction. We have three full days of excavation left so we should be able to go down a substantial amount as k100 is very narrow. 

k 100
ds This year k100 is defined in the east by J6k106 and J2k110 in the west. In the north this locus is bounded by the lower staircase f380. The south section is defined by markers along the site-wide grid. 
dy Today we decided to remove the backfill in this area and go down and see if we can find enough material to date the construction of the lower staircase (f380). We started removing the backfill which was pretty deep. We found lots of garbage and plastic in the backfill. 

f 381
dy After discovering human footprints in this feature we have decided not to excavate it. We photographed the impressions and then decided with fAB to make plaster casts of the prints. After trying several different combinations we settled on a process using a wood frame, baby powder covering the dirt and then filling the frame with gypsum plaster. We tested the process and it seems to work fine to we took a cast of one print. We are still awaiting the final results but the initial result was a clear print. We may have a problem with the baby powder clinging to the dirt in the excavation area.