2004 TRENCHES PF 5, 6, 9, & 14 Robert Belanger, Field Supervisor Brad Schneider, Assistant Field Supervisor Week 6: Field Students: Krishawna Brown Virginia Lewis Ludo Zywczak Vounteer: Giuseppina Marras Standing: Krishawna Brown and Ludo Zywczak. Seated, left to right: Robet Belanger, Bradley Schneider, and Virginia Lewis. Excavation in the Podere Funghi moved quickly over the past week, on account of the growing skill of my excavation crew and the near-perfect excavation conditions caused by a blissful streak of cool mornings, cloudy afternoons, and rainy evenings. Although the work which was accomplished during this time was not nearly as rich in material finds as in previous weeks, the information garnered from it was of inestimable value towards understanding the larger issues surrounding the Podere Funghi. Brad Schneider, Krishawna Brown, Robert Belanger, and Virginia Lewis. The excavation of Kiln 2 was completed early on in the week, reaching a shallow bottom after only three short passes through the interior soil. The thin, degraded kiln walls were heated in accordance with the same firing characteristics as in Kiln 1, with a vitrified blue-colored lower level capped by a higher pink-colored upper level. While Kiln 1 showed evidence of this lower blue burn level with a substantial amount of the pink layer intact, Kiln 2 encountered the blue level almost immediately. The burn patterning, finds, and construction methods of these two kilns indicate their similarity in use and design, and coupled with the eventual stratigraphic elevation, show Kiln 2's construction further downhill from Kiln 1. This provenience subjected it more to the plow, which unfortunately seems to have destroyed the vast majority of its undoubtedly eroded upper portion. These factors permitted a quick and fruitful excavation of the interior space to accompany the data for Kiln 1 in the MVAP Podere Funghi archives. Excavation of Kiln 2 in progress in the Podere Funghi.   Excavation of Podere Funghi Kiln 2 Flue Level 1.   PF Kilns 1 and 2 from the south. The remainder of the work in the Podere Funghi concentrated on the completion of excavating the lower stone feature in Trenches PF 6, 9, and 14. In the northwest quadrant of Locus 1 in Trench PF 14, the central earth channel between the two northeasterly running linear stone formations was excavated into to reach the lowest level. Although stratigraphically sound in this location between the packed stones of the northernmost extremity, the more southern levels in Trench PF 9 were not nearly as conclusive. Here a lower course of stones was detected beneath the presently exposed ones and a deep trough of earth was begun, with no end in sight for reaching the same level as the north. Next week's excavation should hopefully reach the lowest level, and determine finally whether or not the lower stone feature is an earlier foundation wall or the drainage channel it appears to be. View from the southwest corner of Robert Belanger's Podere Funghi trenches.   Brad Schneider, Ludo Zywczak, and Giuseppina Marras.   Lower stone feature of Trenches PF 6 and 9. Overall it has been a good week in the field, and one which has again been made possible by the continued hard work and enthusiasm of my excavation crew. With the final week approaching, it is my hope that new discoveries will answer some of our longstanding questions about the excavation trenches open this year, as well as about the form and function of the hillcrest structure in the Podere Funghi on the whole. Hearth in Trench PF 5.   Robert Belanger's team working in his Podere Funghi trenches.   Krishawna Brown (left) and Virginia Lewis excavating Kiln 2.   Robert Belanger explains the true use of cover tile to Virginia Lewis and Krishawna Brown.   Circolo aftermath: Abby Christofferson and Ludo Zywczak.   Standing: Ludo Zywczak. Seated: Robet Belanger, Bradley Schneider, Virginia Lewis and Krishawna Brown.     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