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2008 TRENCH PC 33
Field Supervisor: Katherine Boller, University of Virginia
Field Supervisor Katherine
Boller (left)
Opening
Report:
The season looks
to be a promising one for the team working in PC 33, which is
comprised of Mindy Lang, Casey Rauth, Isabel St. Clair, Alex
Till, and Mona Williams. PC 33 is a bit of a wildcard, as very
little excavation has occurred on the south side of the arx before
this point. Because we have evidence of both terracing walls
and magazines on the northern side of the arx, we are hoping
to see if a parallel arrangement exists to the south. So far,
the students have uncovered what look to be two parallel walls
running in an east-west direction in the trench, the function
of which we hope to determine as the season progresses. Among
the finds so far this year are a variety of metal objects of
iron, lead, and bronze, perhaps relating to the construction
of the walls. The other key find is a terracotta spindle whorl.
A large concentration of weaving implements was found last year
in a nearby trench. If the students continue to find similar
material in PC 33, it may well speak to the practice of either
ritual or economic activities on the south side of the arx.
PC 33 team
at work during Week 2
View from the north of Trench PC 33 in Week 2
Left: Katherine
Boller instructs students on excavation technique in Trench PC
33.
Right: Wall running east-west in PC 33 exposed in Week 2.
 
Left: Mindy Lang in Trench PC 33. Right: Right: Casey Rauth.
Midseason
Report
Field Supervisor Katherine Boller writing in her field notebook
The season thus far in
PC 33 has been an interesting one. In addition to an East-West
wall, we have recently uncovered a small North-South wall that
appears to be part of a buttressing system. The precise function
of these two walls is yet to be determined, but it seems likely
that it is part of a terracing system that is mirrored on the
north side of the citadel.
View from the west of Trench PC 33 during Week 4
Possible
column base in the scarp of Trench PC 33 during Week 5
One of the most exciting
recent discoveries is a column base, which may be related to
an earlier phase of architecture on the citadel. Our trench team
continues to hone their excavation skills and we have been able
to make excellent progress as the season draws to an end.
Trench
PC 33 Team: Isa, Mona, Alex, Mindy, and Casey
Trench PC 33 team at work during Week 4
Assistant Field Supervisor Megan Walker
Katherine Boller and Isa St. Clair at work in PC 33
Mona Williams in Trench PC 33
Alex Till excavating in Trench PC 33
Isa St. Clair in Trench PC 33
Mindy Lang holds the prism pole to survey the location of a find
Casey, Mona, and Megan in PC 33, Week 4, view from northwest
Casey, Mona, Megan, and Mindy in PC 33
Final
Report
Katherine Boller photographs a completed pass in PC 33
Mindy Lang, Casey Rauth,
Isa St. Clair, Alex Till, and Mona Williams successfully honed
their archaeological skills as they completed a season of excavation
in PC33, a trench of considerable architectural complexity. In
addition to the concentration of stones the NW corner of the
trench and the E-W wall and accompanying N-S buttress that the
students discovered earlier in the season, they also successfully
identified our fourth stratum, which seems to be an occupation
level associated with the architectural remains: Alex Till uncovered
a number of metal finds sitting on top of this stratum, including
fragments of bronze and ferrous slag left over from bronze working.
Isa St. Clair's work was also crucial in the identification of
the occupation level: she found lumps of iron and a concentration
of tile and ceramic to the terracing wall that strongly indicates
a surface level. Mona Williams and Casey Rauth successfully detailed
the architecture in the trench, showing that the two-course stone
terracing wall likely is associated with the occupation level.
Mindy Lang was responsible for excavating our most exciting find:
a large sandstone column base that was located within the fourth
stratum. Column bases have been found outside their original
context across the site of Poggio Colla, giving valuable evidence
for the possibile ritual burial of earlier phases of architecture.
With further excavation, PC33 will undoubtedly provide information
about this phenomenon, as well as the architecture at Poggio
Colla as a whole.
Column base in PC 33 viewed from the south at the end of the
season
View from the east of Trench PC 33 at the end of the 2008 field
season
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