| Entry: | I started the day today trying to clean and level the current base level of the pit (U.15355) and I still have not really quite finished. I only removed a few wheelbarrows of soil today since the ground is extremely compact, I had a large backlog of finds to sort, and we soon realised that the stripey ground towards the southern edge of the pit was lying above orange Byzantine mud bricks, which continue in a line into the walls on the South, West and East sides. It seems that these mudbricks are characteristic of Byzantine burials and it is possible that this is a layer of bricks above a skeleton. However, as JFB points out, it may be possible that the mudbricks were actually lining the base of the burial and the skeleton has since shifted, potentially being the male that was partially discovered in the other half of the pit (F.3331) last year. Also, in finding the burial, the cut of F.3331 has also become much clearer at this level. This may make it easier for me to excavate over the next few days, though I imagine that depends on a decision about excavating the possible burial. |
