| Entry: | Hottest day so far apparently, though didn’t feel it so badly in my strangely angled hole in trench 6. The Selcat team had exposed a mudbrick burial cut extending into the profile, with a layer of collapsed (or possible grave cover?) mudbricks haphazardly covering the skeleton. Problem one. The bricks had to a large extent attached themselves to the fragile skeleton beneath and so uncovering her became a big problem around the thorax region resulting in broken ribs and fragile clavicles. Problem two. Because of the nature of the trench, the burial is going in at a slight angle, and exposing the left shoulder, femur and radius and ulna will be a problem. Option of cutting into the profile but reluctant to do so; the skeleton being delicate enough without cascading compact earth falling on her head. Problem three. This is the first fully articulated skeleton I have uncovered solo, and I'm having serious issues about breaking her. Initial reaction is always to apologise to her, even though she cant hear me, when I break her, or a sticky mudbrick knocks something out of place.
I just don’t feel I'm doing a terribly good job, and it isnt helped by the weird position of the grave making movement restricted.
Worse still, we have 4 digging days left, several Byzantine burials to uncover, and a bone lab that simply cant accommodate all of them. Feeling a little frustrated that we havent got them out sooner, and that it will require a full team effort to lift them in the time we have left. Undoubtedly the Chalcolithic aim will have to be abandoned to some extent.
Last day for JL and CDG; we will miss their guidance and general support. It's been very reassuring to have them close by, especially considering their experience in the area and we know from them that somewhere, someday, the Chalcolithic will appear.Entered By: HSL |
