.bk A12 .fl N805jl.j .fd view descriptions and journals .ed N805 .ei jl .ri jl .rd N805 v 232 ds This view shows the newly created loci within A12, k29 (the inner circle) and k30 (the outer circle). They were created because gb was afraid that millenia of rainwater pouring into the fissure had contaminated the accumulation along the outside of the circle with later material. Therefore, in order to ensure that a sample of the material collected would remain uncontaminated by the fissure material, we separated k27 into two loci, the outer a ring with a width of one meter, and the inner consisting of the rest of the circle. We assigned new feature numbers to the features within these two loci as we excavated them; so in this photo, f408 is still applied to the black seed layers in both k29 and k30, but a new number will be applied as soon as we begin to excavate it. Meanwhile, both f413 and f414 are equivalent to the older feature f405. v232a is a wider, overhead view of the whole circle. v 233 ds This picture shows the successive layers of laminations f413 continuing underneath the brown material f415. This proves that the brown material is later than the laminations. It is unlikely that the brown material is melted soil deposited by the rains over the past winter, since very little water got in this year. It is possible that it is ancient fissure melt, although the process would have needed to have happened regularly to explain both the vertical and horizontal layering of f415. In that vein, it is possible that f415 is the result of multiple events, like the individual laminations themselves, but in this case, we cannot perceive the layers, due to the nature of the accumulation. v233a is a closeup of the layers themselves. nd After continuing to excavate the layers revealed in this view, we discovered that they only continued for a few centimeters before disappearing again, leaving the relative ages of f413 and f415 in doubt once again. The process of multiple events within f415 is still tempting, since it would adequately explain both the horizontal layering and vertical juxtaposition which we have observed. v 234 ds This view shows more of the white laminations appearing as we excavate f415 (see v233). As in the last case, the layers soon disappeared, returning to the brown of f415. It seems certain at this point that we are indeed looking at multiple events: as the laminations built up, the brown of f415 also built up. Then, new layers of laminations and new layers of brown material rose on top of them. The only question left unanswered is, which feature came first, relatively speaking? That is, did the first brown layer precede the first lamination, or vice versa? v234a is a closeup of the layers themselves. v 235 ds This is a detail photo of the black line noticed today in the north-eastern corner of the circle. This black line is very similar to the black line which was observed in the south-east of the circle (see v226b), which first marked the black seed layer, f408. I believe that it signals the same thing here, that the black seed layer is just below the layers of red laminations at this point. For that reason, we will remove the rest of the laminations tomorrow, as we continue to uncover the seed layer. v235a is a context shot, showing f408 approaching the area in which the main view was taken (next to the north arrow). v 236 ds This view shows the newly uncovered black seed layer in the north of the circle. As in the south-east, the seeds lean against a ledge of earth f423, stopping a few centimeters from the walls of the structure, as if this ledge had existed before the seeds were deposited within the structure. This could possibly mean that f423 represents the cut of a pit, not a small pit as previously hypothesized, but a pit almost as large as the circle, into which the offerings of the ritual (in this case, burned seed) were dropped. It also shows the distinction between the very dark seed layer, f419, which I presume to represent the initial deposit of the seeds in the structure, and the light black seed layer, f416, on top of it, which I interpret as the result of later accumulation mixing with the black seeds. This distinction was not originally made if f408, but it is now clear to me that they are two separate events. Also visible is the last remaining area of f413, the laminations. v 237 ds This view shows the entire circle before excavations today, in order to document visually the somewhat confusing assignment of features within A12 at this point. A combination of the two loci (k29 and k30) and the distinction between strong black seed layers (f419, f424) and weak black seed layers (f416, f421, f422, and f425) has resulted in a plethora of features. Along the eastern edge of the circle is f423, the mud "ledge". At this point, it is only clear along the eastern half of the circle; although the diggers have left a ledge along the western half as well, its existence has not been proven by a layer of black seeds sloping against it. At this point, we intend to excavate f422, to try to follow the strong black layer of f424, to see if we in fact find a ledge or if the black layer dwindles in strength and clarity in the western half of the circle. .rd N722 -dy Today, we removed the red, bricky layer f406 on the north-west of k27. It lay directly on top of the laminations f405 over most of the area. gb unveiled the latest version of his hypothesis for the existence of the laminations, divided into five phases: first, deposition of material in the circle; second, light rain creates laminations; third, small pit dug into laminations for performance of ritual; fourth, dirt of different colors is put over the whole area to cover up the evidence of the ritual; and fifth, heavy rain melts the covering dirt, which mixes (explaining the merging red and brown boundary) and falls into the fissure created by the shrinkage of the accumulation within the circle. -sg We will remove the brown, f407, in the eastern and southern parts of the circle, in order to see if it also covers the laminations. Then, after photography, we will remove the laminations, in order to find the layer underneath. .rd N723 -dy As we removed the brown layer f407, we discoverd that it didn't cover the laminations, but instead f408, a layer of charred black seeds sloping down sharply to the north. We uncovered the layer up to the laminations, and discovered that it was the cause of the black line which we had observed in f405 (v226b) in the south-eastern part of the circle. -sg Since this black seed layer f408 slopes underneath the laminations, we presume that it predates them. Therefore, after photography/filming sessions, we will remove the layers and then excavate the black. .rd N724 -dy We did little digging today, since fab and jjj wanted to film a series of short movies of the laminations being excavated. However, the layers which they chose were too wet to really provide the evidence which they wanted. What excavation we did focused on defining the boundary and relationship between f409 and f410, the laminations and the brown. .rd N726 -dy We did little digging today, since fab, jjj and gb wanted to continue filming, in hopes of getting a better movie of the laminations being excavated. I also contributed some filming, as did rah with his video camera. What little actual excavation we did focused on exploring the boundaries of the laminations. .rd N727 -dy We did little digging today, since we were waiting to finish the sequence of movies made by fab and jjj of the workmen digging the laminations. What excavation we did focused on exploring the boundaries of the laminations. .rd N728 -dy Today, we dug the last remaining area of laminations f405 and found an unlaminated material, f412, underneath them, separating them from the next apparent laminations. We also found a possible distinction between the outer ring of brown soil f410 and the inner brown f411 underneath the laminations, which has a lot of small rocks. In the afternoon, mkb called a team meeting to show us many Phase 3 sherds in our q-lots, possibly contamination through the fissure. -sg In order to better control contamination, we will divide k27 into two loci, k29 and k30. k29 will be the ring of material within a meter of the stone walls; k30 will be the circle inside of this ring, which we are fairly certain is uncontaminated. We will have separate feature numbers for each locus, to identify the pottery in the sherd yard. .rd N729 f 404 ds This was the top few centimeters of soil in k27 at the beginning of season N. It had been contaminated by rain and mud during the winter (although far less that previous seasons), so we dug it as its own feature. f 405 ds This is the red layer of laminations in the north-western quadrant of k27. It is equal to f371 and f372. Although f404 lay on top of part of it, f405 has a higher top elevation because it slopes upward to the north-east, and this higher portion was spared the contamination of the winter. It is also equal to f409. =l f409 =l f371 =l f372 f 406 ds reddish, bricky soil without laminations. As the laminations f405 spread south, they gradually became less and less distinct, until they disappeared entirely, becoming a mass of undifferentiated red material (this feature). It is possible that they were simply too wet to be seen as we excavated, or that the laminations were destroyed by later water damage. It is also possible that this red is the result of later fill in the small pit dug to perform the ritual associated with the api (see -dy, N722), and therefore cuts f405. f 407 ds Brown soil with tiny black, white and red inclusions. Equal to f369. It merges with f406, so that it is difficult to find an exact boundary. This may be fill (mixed in with f406) of the hypothetical small pits used in performance of the ritual associated with the api (see -dy, N722). It lies directly on top of f408 in the south half of the locus. =l f369 f 408 ds This is a layer of charred black seeds in a brown soil matrix. It seems to slope downward from south to north. A sample was taken in q1030, f407, since the soil from this q-lot flaked off the surface of f408 and retained traces of the seed on its face. f 409 ds red laminations. Due to a confusion in numbering, this feature is exactly the same as f405. It equals f405 and f371. =l f405 =l f371 .rd N803 -dy We focused on digging in the western half of k30 today, trying to see if the "ledge" f423 continued around the whole circle, or just the eastern half. Ultimately, it is still inconclusive, because we did not clearly find the black seed layer sloping up against any ledge. After breakfast, I felt very ill, so I returned to the house to rest, and let rd2 run things in the excavation. -sg Because of my illness and dc's injury, I think that we will take tomorrow off from field work. After we return, the focus will still be on trying to follow the ledge f423 and excavating k29, since it is becoming pedestalled. .rd N804 -dy Because of my illness, we did not excavate today. Instead, we stayed at the house and worked on data entry and object descriptions. .rd N805 f 410 ds Around the northwestern edge of k27 was a brown band of soil, clearly distinct from the redder f405 next to it. Within this brown band were at least three large, fallen stones. gb has theorized (see -dy, N722) that this is the surface of k27 before the cut of the shallow pit for the api-ritual and the dumping of f405 as fill. However, excavations into the black f408 suggest that it could be of the same time as the rest of the soil in k27, since the seeds continue directly underneath it, and because it seems to layer alternately with the laminations. In this case, it is possibly fill within a shallow pit into which the seeds were (apparently) dumped as part of the ritual. Or, it could be melting resulting from rainwater filling the fissure between it and the stone wall, although then one wonders why the seeds are still present underneath in (so far) small quantities. See f407 description. f 411 ds This feature was discovered under the western part of f405. At its higher levels, it is unlaminated and dirty, at least compared to f405, in the sense that many pieces of pottery and and round stones are within it. At its lower levels, however, the laminations reappear. This makes me believe that it is the same as f412, that is, a layer of thicker material in between layers of laminations, and is therefore really just a part of the extended f405 sequence. =l f412 =l f409 =l f405 =l f418 f 412 ds When first observed under f405 in the north-east of the locus, we believed that f412 marked the end of the laminations (f405). However, we soon found more laminations in its lower layers. Therefore, I now consider this layer to be just a very thick lamination, a part of f405. =l f411 =l f409 =l f405 =l f418 f 405 nd The excavation of f411 and f412 has forced us to amend our definition of f405. These features reveal that the development of the laminations was irregular, and it was apparently also linked to the development of f410. The laminations are much thicker, and more varied in size and contents, than we originally expected. -dy Today, we tried to clear the question of the mud ledge in the west half of the circle by following the black seed layer in the south-east f424 along the western wall, through f422. The results are still inconclusive. Also, we excavated all of k29 together, trying to reach through the accumulation f421 to the black seeds below. -sg We will continue to expose the strong black seed layer f424 and follow the ledge around the circle, if it indeed continues around the circle.