.bk A14
.fl O704jw.j
.fd daily journal O704, descriptions f217-219, a17
.ei jw
.ed O704
.rd O704
.ri jw

-wk 24 reported for work.

-sf jo joined the field staff.  The initial plan is for him to spend the first half of the morning on site and be available for occasional tasks in the afternoon.  The balance of his day will be spent in ceramics analysis.  gm worked at home for the second part of the morning.  mb temporarily joined the team and will work the first half of the morning.  jw sole staff member on site for the second half of the morning.

-eq still short of wheelbarrows.  Had to relinquish one of four to A18.

-wk continuing to excavate topsoil in k23.  Excavating in k15 to reach the current level of k25 (el=8061), where we see a N-S line of small stones, which may define the S end of the precinct.  Removed the N baulk of k4 in preparation for excavating the entire locus to the level of the pise floor, f213, (el=8190) seen as a result of excavating the far N baulk moving from N to S.  Attempting to resolve the intersection of a number of features under the gully wash in k14.  This includes pits in three corners (a15, a16, a17) and a surface that hints of human activity, f216.

-sg gb, fab, jo, gm, mb, and jw met on site to discuss possible alterations in the current approach to this season's excavations, which is to seek to define the sacral precinct by searching for a western boundary or approach and moving E toward the entrance to the abi.  Two alternatives were discussed.  jo suggested that we focus first on the loci closer to the abi (k1, k2, k12, k22) where we would be more likely to find evidence of use near the current surface since it did not have the deep cover of gully wash seen in the western loci (k15, k14, k24, k25).  fab suggested that since a E-W line of stones defines the north side of the abi precinct, a similar line defining the south side may found in the "30" line of squares, where the modern tell increases sharply in elevation and the surface soil shows signs of covering architectural features.  jw preliminarily evaluated current resources as insufficient to add this task, but gb indicated that more workmen could be hired.  In the end, we decided to stick with the current strategy for the remainer of the week, then reconsider when jo had been fully integrated into the team.

k 15
dy accumulation more gray, uniform and contains fewer inclusions (stones and sherds).  Will designate as a new feature for the first pick run O705. It will be a level layer which effectively seals the material below.

k 4
dy began to remove N baulk.  Encountered what may possibly be a doorway into a late-period room.  Will study it tomorrow.

k 23
dy continued to clear the gully wash from the entire locus.  At the end of the day it was level.  It is in the deepest part of the gully and according to the assistant guard is in an area where we have had spoils piles in the past.  Will declare a new feature for the first pick run in the morning.

k 14
dy continued to dig and clean around a hard-packed region of accumulation with a hard surface and many sherds and small stones showing on the surface, f216.  Will define evaluate features after cleaning, including pits in three of four corners, a15,a16,a17, and patches of reddish accumulation, f205.

f 217
df fi
ds fill of pit in SW corner of k14.  Fully excavated. Bottom about 75 cm below surface of f205.
P1 O704.

f 218
df cut
ds cut of pit a17.  Quarter section in k14.  Difficult to see in section.

f 219
df a
ds grayish accumulation in the NE corner of k14.  Does not seem to be associated with a pit.