.bk A12
.fl N816jl.j
.fd journal entries
.ed N816
.ei jl

.ri jl
.rd N816

v 242
ds This view was taken from the iron roof over the api, to show the first completely exposed layer of ash across the whole circle.  f428 was not apparently a part of this layer, however, as we never observed a physical connection between it and the other black layers, as is visible in this photo.

v 247
ds This daily view shows the individual loci and features within our new trench.  v247a is a tight shot of the outlined trench itself.  The purpose of the trench was threefold: first, to give us a physical southern section, rather than relying on a virtual section which we created and updated; second, to allow us to dig deeper faster, since we have been greatly slowed down this season trying to follow all of the different laminations and layers within the circle; and third, to serve as a guide for excavations in the rest of the circle, thereby allowing us to excavate more quickly and accurately there, as well.

v 246
ds This daily photo shows the black layer f426/f427 half excavated.  Underneath it was a layer of regular brown accumulation with bricky red, black and white inclusions, as we have observed before in the circle.  We spent the day excavating the rest of the black seeds, in order to have a clear, homogenous surface before laying out the trench in which we will be digging from this point on.

v 248
ds This daily photo shows the exposed black seed layer f434/435 within the trench.  The layer was absent from k31, appearing in the western half of k32 and all of k33.  k33 is numbered as both f433 and f435 because, although the black seed layer f435 is visible in many places, there was still a thin layer of brown soil over much of it, and it is impossible to really distinguish the two layers in this template.  v248a is a tight shot, looking down the trench at the black layers.  It includes a picture of a large sherd which we originally believed was embedded in the black layer, but turned out to be embedded in the layer of brown soil beneath the black.  Today, we finished clearing the brown on top of the black layer, removed the black layer, and continued down in the whole trench.  We also removed f428, the patch of black seeds in the south-west.

v 249
ds This view shows the result of our excavation of the mud ledge f423 along the edge of the trench in k33.  Within the lowest part of the ledge, it is possible to see faintly (in vertical section) the series of layers, almost like vertical laminations, which coat the accumulation within the circle.  There are at least five layers visible.

v 250
ds This view shows one of our discoveries while excavating the mud ledge f423 along the edge of the trench in k33, a series of white patches, presumably decayed plant material (samples were taken for expert analysis).  It is interesting that the white layers seem to slope in the opposite direction as the layers within the mud ledge.  In this case, it is almost certain that we are still digging accumulation against the mud ledge, rather than the ledge itself, since the workmen habitually left a layer of accumulation against the ledge, rather than trying to expose it (a difficult task, given the sloping layers).  Further north along the surface of f423, it is possible to see a few of the exposed faces of the mud ledge layers themselves.  Note how they slope towards the outside of the circle, as if they were applied to the sides of the accumulation, rather than the stone wall.

v 251
ds This daily photo shows the progress of excavations within the trench in the circle.  Underneath the black layer f434/f435 was another layer of brown soil with bricky red, black and white inclusions, f436/f437/f438.  Today, we excavated downwards within that accumulation.  We also removed the mud ledge, f423, along the eastern side of the trench in k31.  At the end of the

v 252
ds This view shows the patches of white plant material found during excavation of the mud ledge f423 along the edge of k31.  Note how the white layers slope opposite the slope of the layers within the mud ledge.  This suggests that the white layers are actually in the accumulation pressed up against the mud ledge, left by the workmen as they dug downwards.  However, one must then ask why we have only observed the white at the very edge of the circle, and not in the middle.  Could the ledge have two slopes?  Also visible is the fissure between the accumulation within the circle and the stone wall of the structure, which (at this level) still seems to continue for over a meter, suggesting that we still have at least a meter of excavation.

v 253
ds This photo shows the developing white layer in k31.  This lends support to the hypothesis that the white layers which had previously been observed only during excavation of the mud ledge f423 were in fact accumulation pressed up against the ledge, rather than a part of the ledge itself.  The white material seems to be decayed plant material.

v 254
ds This view shows the section of the mud ledge f423 in k31 after most of it had been excavated and it had been given time to dry.  Although it is difficult to see in the photograph, it is possible to distinguish the separate layers as they dry out and flake apart from the other layers, exposing their faces.  It is also clear that the white material is not a part of the mud ledge, but abuts it.

v 255
ds The developing white layer in k31.  The layer continues to expand and descend.  However, it is still only found within k31.

v 256
ds This daily shows the trench, including the white layer f440.  We excavated somewhat within the trench today; upon examining f440, however, gb decided that it would be useful to see this layer across the whole circle, rather than just a patch within the trench, and given as we have excavated 50cm in the trench already, we will turn back to the rest of the circle and excavate within k29 and k30, using our excavations within the trench to guide us.