Entry: | I began today by excvating unit 15359, a step of room fill in room 342, along the western edge, that was remaining from 2009 excavations. This unit was excavated in 10 cm arbitrary levels and was approximately halfway completed. During excavation of 15359, PFB advised that the existing profile walls of room 342 should be freshly cut to allow for a better view. Unit 15359 was put on hiatus to cut the profile of room 342 in all directions. The west and north walls were cut today, removing up to 10cm in some places.The soil from the profile work was dumped without sieving, due to the decontextualized nature of the finds. However a few exceptional finds were saved for IF and SO and included in unit 16800. After cutting the western profile, a bench [feature 3311] (?) was clearly visible near the base of the northwestern corner. A large (~15-20cm) flat stone with bone under it was found next to and slightly above 3311. It was orignially thought that the stone rested on 3311, but it now appears to be adjacent to and above 3311 rather than resting on 3311. A new pit feature was also visible in the west/northwest of room 342, highly regular with straight edges and a flat base. This pit was not recognized in previous years' excavations and does not yet have unit numbers assigned to it. The recognition of the pit may redefine the nature of feature 3311, as it no longer appears to be a bench at the base but rather a structural component that was cut and obscured by this new pit. Over the next couple of days, I will continue to recut the profile walls in order to get a better understanding of what is happening in room 342. Additionally, it is my goal to get a better understanding of the interaction between the new pit and feature 3311. |