06 AGOSTO 2018  

Area 3000

Continua la rimozione del riempimento US  3830 a matrice argillosa all’interno della fossa sepolcrale US – 3830, orientata S-N lungo la facciata originaria della chiesa di XI secolo, di cui rimane solamente la fossa di spoliazione. 

Today we continued to define the grave cut feature, attempting to keep the level of the fill even as we continued to lower the fill level. The cranium was further exposed and more teeth were found. We also exposed the scapula, clavicle, pelvis, femur, and a calcaneus; this was difficult as the bones found have extremely poor preservation due to the nature of the clay. Excavation has been slow as the clay has multiple layers in which are is very compacted. Multiple bone framents and the left femoral head were removed and stored properly since they were already loose within the fill.

Area 5000

Today, team members troweled and cleaned section D. Two areas East to the center were investigated (leveled down to analyze the stratigraphy) with no significant findings as of now.

Area 6000

Today in area 6000 we removed the remaining scapula of skeleton 6238 and started looking for the cut of the grave. We also cleaned the areas just north and south of the grave so pictures can be taken before removing the fills that appear to be covering two more burials. When searching for the cut of the burial we found a skull, with the mandible still holding teeth. This could be a burial that was intercepted by the cut for the burial of skeleton 6238. After removing more of the fill from around skeleton 6238, the wall of the lithic tomb just north of the burial seems like it could possibly have been under the skeleton, so we are working to figure out if the lithic tomb cut into the burial as we first thought or if the tomb was present before skeleton 6238 was interred.

(group 3000) today more of fill 6551 was removed. An intact and articulated left tibia and fibula were revealed at the same level  and in the same orientation as the right leg previously revealed, though a later grave cut removed the rest of the right side of the individual, it is not yet determined if there is an associated cranium, but unlikely. The unassociated scapula was further revealed, and the fill was removed around the proximal head of the femur of the afforementioned right leg. Remains of the right os coxa were revealed and the femoral head was found to be fully articulated with the acitabulum of said pelvic bone. The parietal region of a cranium was found, possibly in connection with other cranial bones not yet fully revealed including what may be the inferior margin of a nasal apperture. Near the cranium, several longbones were further revealed and a small pottery fragment was uncovered. Also found in the fill were a green nugget of metal, most likely bronze, two to three milimeters in diameter near the newly revealed left tibia, and a slightly larger piece of what might be lead with what looks like blackened, burnt stone near the right hand of the partial articulated skeleton. Both metal samples were placed in tubes for further analysis. 

Area 7000

Team members continued to trowel down and clean the rock (context 7008) and slate (context 7014). The entire area was troweled and cleaned in preparation for the closing of the area for the season.