It is hard to believe that we are halfway through the internship, as I feel both that I am a novice discovering new information every day and that I am becoming more interested in the answers to the next level of questions about our findings and the work itself. Everyday, I am feeling more and more this evolution into a deeper, more focused engagement with the work itself, a change facilitated by moving into deeper undisturbed layers of earth.
When it comes to unit 8b, my theories are abounding. Initially, we expected a relatively clean subdivision of the structure with newer walls, but in uncovering the central wall, we’ve found that its main corner is not as well defined as previously thought, and various ash layers have proven that fires played a role in the development of the space. In the end, the only theory that I feel confident in is that the space was used in different ways by different inhabitants. Furthermore, as we begin the second half of the excavation, I’ll be focused on a few key questions: Can we find datable artifacts to pinpoint when the structure was in use? As we expose more of the walls and new doorway, can we understand more about the space’s purpose? And how does our unit connect to the adjacent parts of structure, including its flooring type and level?
Lastly, I have found that glass artifacts have been the piece of the excavation most interesting to me. Something about the variety of sizes, colors, and shapes of the fragments being found drives me to both be more meticulous about how I am sorting through findings and take extra care to examine small pieces to gain a greater understanding. I look forward to what the rest of this experience will hold and some answers to the mystery that is our unit.