2015 Field Season Day 15

There is a saying amongst archaeologists that the most spectacular finds come on the last day of excavation, often at the last possible minute. That proved to be the case today, in Grid 25, as we are done excavating. Our goal was to assess the occupational sequence in this area and establish how it relates to the cardo, the classical city's major north-south oriented street. What's the answer? Well, we didn't find the cardo. In fact, we didn't find anything under the Islamic period occupation except two meters of clean sand. It's back to the drawing board as we continue to hunt for the cardo or any of the site's major streets.

Of course, about the same time we realized excavation would be ending, we found seven coins which were, by far, the most interesting material culture to come out of Grid 25 this year.

Coins found in Grid 25

Coins found in Grid 25

After breakfast, it was time to clean. 

Sweeping for final photos

Sweeping for final photos

Tomorrow, Grid 25 will have it's final photo and then it will be on to new projects.

Work continues in Grid 16 and 51, however.

Grid 16 moves some big dirt

Grid 16 moves some big dirt

Excavating a possible pit line in Grid 51

Excavating a possible pit line in Grid 51

Check back for more updates as our season continues.

2015 Field Season Day 14

It's another wonderful morning in Ashkelon. Today is all about sleeping in and catching up on some rest, three great meals in the hotel, and relaxing at the pool, beach or in the quiet of the hotel room. 

Some pictures of various excavation areas to enjoy today:

Digging a large constructional fill in Grid 25

Digging a large constructional fill in Grid 25

Sweeping off a stone wall in Grid 16

Sweeping off a stone wall in Grid 16

Discussing an artifact in Grid 51

Discussing an artifact in Grid 51

2015 Field Season Day 13

Today was a pottery compound day which means the entire expedition, staff and volunteers, was in the pottery compound working on a single project. Bright and early this morning, we opened container 6B and started pulling pottery crates from Grid 38. What made these crates so important was that they had not been assigned a phase. Today's project was about identifying the pottery in those crates so it could be given to the appropriate specialist. Pottery from the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic and Crusader periods was identified, sorted and restored until it is time to examine them. When we finished Grid 38, it was on to Grid 50.

Co-director Daniel Master identifies a sherd

Co-director Daniel Master identifies a sherd

Robyn identifies a bag of pottery

Robyn identifies a bag of pottery

Everyone was treated to popsicles at fruit break and then, a few hours later, off for the weekend. It's been a very productive two weeks. Check back next week for pictures of the progress in each grid.

2015 Field Season Day 12

A field season isn't just about excavation. It's also about research projects, material culture processing and assorted processes. Lots of activity in the pottery compound on a daily basis.

Examining Roman pottery

Examining Roman pottery

Pottery laid out for research

Pottery laid out for research

Work also continues in the field. In Grid 16 it's all about moving dirt in the hunt for more mudbrick rampart.

Smiles after dumping some dirt

Smiles after dumping some dirt

Grid 51 keeps excavating the last of the Persian period and inching closer and closer to the full exposure of 604.

Which to use? Patiche or trowel?

Which to use? Patiche or trowel?

In Grid 25 there is only one question; where is the cardo? The Islamic period, the 11th c. to be precise, has been exposed. What lies underneath? Right now, sand. Almost a meter deep and virtually empty of material culture, the sand comes as a complete surprise. Will we find the cardo? Next week should tell the tale.

Excavating sand constructional fill under Islamic period walls

Excavating sand constructional fill under Islamic period walls


2015 Field Season Day 11

The season is cruising right along and every excavation area is making great progress. Grid 51 continues to move closer and closer to full exposure of 604. Grid 16 has exposed a mudbrick rampart, the date of which has real implications (potentially) for understanding the Middle Bronze Age settlement. And in Grid 25, excavation continues to uncover more Islamic period occupation.

Excavating a fallen capital

Excavating a fallen capital

In the first week and a half of excavation in Grid 25, work has uncovered a long north-south oriented wall containing several doorways, with thresholds and door sockets, a staircase, a drain with a subsidiary channel, and destruction or collapse debris. In other words, we have good context and are doing all sorts of work.

Sifting an ashy layer of collapse or destruction debris

Sifting an ashy layer of collapse or destruction debris

It isn't all fine work. There has also been a lot of heavy work.

Swinging the big pick

Swinging the big pick

What has all the hard work uncovered?

Doorway with destruction or collapse debris in front

Doorway with destruction or collapse debris in front

Excavation has uncovered some beautiful stone architecture. Next up? Well, we are hoping for the cardo.

2015 Field Season Day 10

Grid 16 not only fine grided today (broke a surface down into 1 x 1 meter areas for excavation) but also excavated almost 20 postholes, as well as a fire box and several small pits, cut into the plaster surface of a courtyard.

Excavating the courtyard floor found in Grid 16

Excavating the courtyard floor found in Grid 16

View of the courtyard floor in Grid 16

View of the courtyard floor in Grid 16

After exposing the full extent of the floor and carefully excavating the postholes and pits, it was time to photograph the floor, flot it (send in sediment samples for archaeobotanists to examine) and then excavate it.

Inspecting the dirt

Inspecting the dirt

It was a great day of excavation in Grid 16.

2015 Field Season Day 8

Look who dug a big  hole.

Emily standing on top of newly exposed rampart

Emily standing on top of newly exposed rampart

Grid 16 is well on its way to answering their fundamental research question which is to understand the sequence of fortifications on the North Tell. 

It was a good day all around. More pictures coming soon. (Right now, the internet connection is not cooperating.)

 

Preseason Day 12

Walked through the old neighborhood yesterday and there were a lot of familiar sights. The Dan Gardens Hotel, home to the expedition from 1986 until mid-season 2014, still stands. It's empty right now but will soon, it is believed, undergo a major renovation.

Dan Gardens Hotel in Ashkelon

Dan Gardens Hotel in Ashkelon

Bigger changes are afoot at the old Ashkelon Excavations Lab which is clearly already in the midst of a major renovation. 

Old Ashkelon Lab.

Old Ashkelon Lab.

Today we opened Grid 32, expanded Grid 16, repaired the fence in Grid 51, and continued making progress sorting and analyzing pottery. Tomorrow is the annual tool draft, the final organization of the pottery compound and preparation for the arrival of volunteers on Saturday. Our first 4:30 am morning rapidly approaches and with it the official start of our season.

Preseason Day 10

It was more of the same today as staff worked on various projects.

Matching drawings with sherds

Matching drawings with sherds

Several members of the staff worked on checking pottery drawings against the actual sherds/vessels that were drawn. If the drawing was deemed accurate, it got checked off and the drawn item was put in the "to be filed away," pile. If there were any concerns with a drawing, the staff put it aside to confer later with co-director Daniel Master on the best way to fix the problem.

"Typing" pottery

"Typing" pottery

Kate worked on identifying pottery types as she continued to refine the Hellenistic period ceramic typology.

Staff members are arriving daily-- several today and four more tomorrow. We are only days away from the start of the 2015 field season!