17th
An end to the wall
After having worked for several days on a steep slope, we moved down to the present-day surface level of the tell to see if the large brick wall we’ve been investigating continues below the level of the mound of fill and further to the east. Cleaning away the dry surface dust (mainly composed of powdered brick from the wall) revealed what appears to be the eastern end of the wall, very well preserved and apparently intact (ie: not cut by later pitting). Against the face is some undisturbed broken pottery and it was very encouraging to find intact archaeological deposits so close to the surface of the tell as we had expected it to be more disturbed and pitted. It is very promising for more detailed excavation next year.
Eastern end of the large brick wall
There’s been no break yet in the very hot weather. Unfortunately there is almost no shade on the site so we really appreciate getting out of the sun for our ‘second breakfast’, at around 11am each day. We retreat for half an hour to an unfinished flat owned by the site guard, in a house on the western edge of the tell. After we’ve eaten the food we’ve brought with us, someone always makes tea which, even in this heat, is greatly appreciated. The site guard is often accompanied to our work by his dog, who has one upright and one floppy ear, but seems to have little memory as he barks at us when we arrive as if he’s never met us before, then he calms down, accepts us and is placid for the rest of the day, until he sees us again the next morning….
The site guard’s dog
