| Entry: | Work in Mellaart's area of excavation started today by clearing the overgrowth that had erupted across the areas of excavation since last season. Erosion in the area had been expected but the overgrowth was a surprise and had damaged considerably the horizons at which we'd left off. In future we'll have to cover areas with sacking and backfill, not canvas because it rots.
Roddy and Mary had cleared the vegetation from Space 105 (Mellaart's Courtyard 15), the previous day and today spent time cleaning the space and its associated walls to familiarise themselves. Unit (1049) was allocated to the unstratified finds from this excersize, the same as unit (1019) from last season. By the end of the day they had decided on their strategy for the excavation. Ian had wanted them to work in tandem at either end of the space but this idea was abandoned as the horizon was quite clearly at dffernt phases.
Spaces 106, 107, 108 (Mellaat's Houses 16, 2 and 12 respectively), were trowelled and cleaned in preparation for excavation whilst the workmen cleared the backfill from Shrines 1 and 8 that had been used to support the canvas protection over the plastered wall faces last season. Although the plaster had more or less remained intact it had been blackened by the rotting canvas and the wall had also suffered by the stretched canvas.
Discussions on various recording methods filled the day, on the finds and sampling numbering system and the flotation sample procedure, I just hope I remember it all!Entered By: Shahina Fahrid |
