.bk A9
.fl L724jlw.j
.fd daily journal for L724
.ei jlw
.ed L724
.rd L724
.ri jlw

-sg in a meeting between gb and jlw, it was decided that since we have reached the objectives of the MZ14 excavation season in A9, the unit will be closed tomorrow.  We will deploy to a southern extension of A15 where, for the next two weeks, we will assist in searching for the entrance to the AK palace.

-wk 7 picks and 16 in support reported for work. Abdel Rahman transferred to A9 from A10.

k 24
dy finally reached a pebble and sherd level surface, f336, beneath the accumlation, f319.  This helps to explain the laminations and hard surface seen and reported above it. The floor would have served as a barrier to normal percolation of water. We can clearly see in section of the north baulk a buildup of accumulation against the cement wall, f   , in the northeast corner.  A very large stone vessel, i153, was found resting on the floor, f336. It resembles a door socket in some ways, but it also possibly could have been used for grinding or de-husking a cereal product, since the hole in the stone is conical rather than cylindrical.

k 41
dy excavated below the bricks in the grave, a37. No evidence of bones or artifacts were found. Cut sections on the north and west faces of the north baulk to look for traces of brickwork.  Instead, found bands of light and dark accumulation, the dark having an ashy component that may have come from the large kiln excavated in A7 several seasons ago. At the end of the day, removed the baulk. At the end of the day, found evidence of a living accumulation, f337 between the grave, a37, and the north baulk.

k 52
dy better defined the nature of the possible room on the eastern edge of the locus.  It appears to be an amalgam of phases of occupation. For example, there appears to be an inferior addition to N-S wall, f322, built onto the south face.  We further clarified the north face of E-W wall, f330, which appears to extend into the east baulk. In the SE corner we found at least one double row of bricks that may be the southern boundary of accumulation, f331.

f 335
df a
ds accumulation near burial, a37 in the middle of k41. It is soft, indicating that either the grave was previously excavated in MZ6 or that it was robbed at some time in antiquity. 
P2 L724

f 336
df pv
ds pebble and sherd floor in the middle of k24. It possibly extends in all directions, a factor that we will explore as time permits.  Many more pebbles than sherds. Pebbles are a bit smaller than fist-size. The existence of this surface helps to explain the hard, crusty accumulation above it, since it would form a relatively impermeable surface that would help to pond water and trap sediment that flowed onto it, particularly if it was contained by walls, such as f325 in the NE corner of the locus.

f 337
df ab
ds hard, dense, fine grained, grayish accumulation containing small chunks of charcoal in the NW quarter of k41. In other A9 loci, we have seen this typed of accumulation above floor surfaces. We will not be able to explore this in MZ14.

f 338
df w
ds two lines of light brown mudbricks along the south baulk in the SE corner of k52. It may be the southern boundary of space enclosed by walls, f330 and f322.