2004 TRENCHES PC 24 & 26 Josh Moran, Field Supervisor Aaron Bartels, Assistant Field Supervisor Week 2: Josh Moran guiding excavation in Trenches PC 24 and 26. Even though we have only been excavating in PC 24 and PC 26 for about 5 days, we have accomplished a good bit. Due to rotation of students, most if not all participants have had a chance to excavate in these trenches at this point. We are fortunate to begin excavation in an actual archaeological layer, Stratum 3. After excavation last season, we are operating under the assumption that this particular layer of soil represents the destruction of the site/building on top of the hill. This is mainly because of the large amount of debris we find in this layer. Many pieces of roof tile, ceramic vessels, mudbrick and stone are found in this stratum. The pottery pieces are generally quite large and are oftentimes associated with each other (i.e. were originally part of the same vessel). Coarseware rim sherd and associated body fragments. Last season, a significant portion of a large coarseware vessel was discovered in Trench PC 26. It appeared to be still in its original position as it was when the building was destroyed sometime around the beginning of the 2nd Century B.C.E. As we excavated further, we were rather disappointed by the fact that it did not seem to be very intact any more and that perhaps we would not gain much information from it. However, this season's excavation has uncovered that at a slightly lower level, we are beginning to see a lot more of this vessel in its original context. This can be a very helpful piece of information in that it may be able to show us approximately where the floor was when the building was in use by the Etruscans. Since this was a large vessel (likely used for long term storage of some sort) it likely would have rested on or slightly within the ground. If the vessel is truly in its original place, we can excavate the soil from around half of it to see where the bottom rests in relation to everything else in the trench. Coarseware base outline and fragments. Another interesting development in PC26 is the discovery of a small cluster of stones in the eastern portion. This small cluster was found in the top portion of Stratum 3. Generally stone formations are considered important finds, however this one is a bit different. Sometimes archaeological layers can be disturbed by natural process such as erosion, plant growth and animal activity. In this case, these stones were discovered immediately beneath where a large tree stump used to reside. When growing, tree roots have this nasty habit of pushing stones around even while they are underground. Because of the fact that these stones were immediately beneath a stump and that they are centered between four large portions of its root structure, it would seem that this tree has pushed these stones into their current positions as we see them now. Even though it looks like a person could have just as easily piled these stones here, it seems unlikely at this point. Only further excavation will reveal the true nature of these stones and everything else happening in our trenches. We are very much looking forward to the next few weeks of excavation. Stones clustered as a result of tree roots. Olivia Spradlin, Liz Bair, and Marie Hall.   Assistant Field Supervisor Aaron Bartels taking a pass.   Field Supervisor Josh Moran contemplating progress in his trench. 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