2004 TRENCHES PF 5, 6, 9, & 14 Robert Belanger, Field Supervisor Brad Schneider, Assistant Field Supervisor Week 3: Field Students: Krishawna Brown Virginia Lewis Ludo Zywczak Vounteer: Giuseppina Marras Excavation over the past few weeks has yielded several new and provocative discoveries, many of which will help to better understand the form and function of the hillcrest structure in the Podere Funghi. These discoveries are directly related to the enthusiasm and hard work of my permanent excavation crew - Krishawna Brown, Virginia Lewis, and Ludo Zywczak - who since their assignment on Monday have worked efficiently and expediently to complete their many assigned tasks. Finally, I must acknowledge the excellent work of my assistant, Bradley Schneider, whose excavation and administrative skills have been absolutely integral since excavation began. Assistant Field Supervisor Brad Schneider. Upon completing the passes in Trench PF 6, attention was shifted towards resuming excavation in Kiln 1 and the interior space of Trench PF 5. In Kiln 1, the unexcavated southern half has revealed some interesting deviant diagnostic pottery, and also a second vertical mud brick. This mud brick and the interior burn patterns on the kiln walls seem to suggest that the two vertical mud bricks, plus a third equidistant (though more severely degraded) vertical brick, served as the supports for a clay firing shelf. This shelf would have supported the weight of the ceramics being fired in the kiln from the stoked fires beneath it. Several more passes may reveal further information about the full dimensions and original surface level through this kiln, which may be completed as early as the end of this week. Krishawna Brown excavating Kiln 1 in the Podere Funghi. Podere Funghi Kiln 1 Level 1. Podere Funghi Kiln 1 Level 8 with vertical mud brick. In Trench PF 5, excavation of the sub-hearth level begun last season has revealed several startling discoveries. Aside from the high yield of fineware, coarseware, and tile fragments amid packing stones and larger tiles, a number of diagnostically important black glaze sherds have emerged alongside smaller bone and bucchero fragments. These wares point towards the wide knowledge of ceramic design and technique by the artisans of the Etruscan Podere Funghi, identified through pottery analysis at least to wares manufactured in Volterra discovered in this area. Finally a recent development of only this morning was the discovery of the foundation trench for the southern foundation wall. This find has identified the original floor level for the presently exposed foundation walls, and in doing so, has proven that at least two phases of occupation of the site exist. With this information in mind, excavation over the next few weeks will prove to be fascinating both in terms of material and architectural discoveries, widening our knowledge of the Etruscan occupation of the Podere Funghi, and the function of the satellite fields of Poggio Colla in the process. Robert Belanger, Giuseppina Marras, Virginia Lewis, and Ludo Zywczak in PF 5.   Virginia Lewis and Ludo Zywczak display their finds from Robert Belanger's trench.   Giuseppina Marras shows her find from Robert Belanger's trench. Robert "Base" Belanger, Field Supervisor, right with vessel profile.   Bradley Schneider and Krishawna Brown excavating Kiln 1.     Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 - Final Report Director, Gregory Warden gwarden@mail.smu.edu Director, Michael Thomas michael.thomas@tufts.edu While the team is in Italy during the summer field season, send e-mail to: mvap3@dada.it To email an individual on the team, enter the person's last name in the subject heading. Excavation house phone: 055-844-9834, or, when calling from the US: 011-39-55-844-9834. Introduction | 2004 Field Season | Poggio Colla Field School | What’s New | Staff | Students Site History | Directors' Diaries | Student Diaries | Excavation Friends | Facilities | Conservation | Surveys Robert Belanger | Katherine Blanchard | Josh Moran | Caitlin Vacanti | Ivo van der Graaff | Robert Vander Poppen QuickTime VR | Site Set-Up | Dig Daily Life | Excavation Process | Field Manual | Lectures | Season's End Archives | Finds | Research Projects | Publications | Bibliography | Mugello Area | Home