August 28, 2001

Today's Goals: Continue with the profile mapping of the south and top trenches on Mound A, and continue excavation of the north trench. Repairing water damage from yesterday's storm occupied some time.
Water damage in the southern end of the south step trench. SEAC crew member Rachel Horlings looks at water damage in the southern end of the south step trench. Fortunately, the unit had been cleaned and mapped prior to the storm.
Water damage in the north step trench. Water damage in the northern step trench caused by yesterday's storm. Protecting units from water damage is a continuing effort. Yesterday's storm came up suddenly, and we were forced to evacuate the site amid lightning strikes, before units could be thoroughly covered.
Profiling the east wall of the south step trench. SEAC archaeologist Guy Prentice profiling the east wall of the south step trench.
Close up of the south end of the gray clay platform atop Mound A. Close up of the south end of the gray clay platform atop Mound A, and the red clay cap over it. We are currently photogrphing and mapping (drawing) all of the excavation units still open.
Close up of the red clay cap covering the northern end of the platform atop Mound A. Close up of the red clay cap (near bottom of profile) covering the northern end (so far) of the platform atop Mound A. The clay cap and underlying gray clay fill was truncated in this unit at the northern end, suggesting an intrusion, or an end to the platform, possibly at a wall line.
Interior stages are showing up in a number of units on the northern side of the mound. Interior stages are showing up in a number of units on the northern side of the mound. In unit N63E181, shown here, a homogeneous fill with a sharp face/contact is shown at the southern end of the unit.
Close up of the west wall profile of N37E180 in the southern step trench. Close up of the west wall profile of N37E180 in the southern step trench, showing the gray clay cap over the red, gray, and white clay mottled fill of a major construction episode we have followed up the mound. Great care went into the selection and mixing of colored soils used in the fill and to cover this mound stage.
Close up of the west wall profile of N36E180 in the southern step trench. Close up of the west wall profile of N36E180 in the southern step trench, showing multiple filling episodes. The major filling episode described above (the mottle red, gray, and white clay stage with the gray cap) pinched out in this excavation unit. It was underlain by successive brown, red, and light brown soil layers/filling episodes.

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