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Group shot
2003’s first team photo. Today Christina and Sandra are leaving us, so we’re doing the group picture. See Christina sitting on Sandra’s lap.
Excavation at the Thutmose III gateway
At the Gateway of Thutmose III this shot shows the enclosure wall extending south from the gate and its extension eastward as well. The profile of the gateway excavation didn’t tell us this enclosure was so thick, but it does have soil colored the same as brick. We might have guessed.
Discussing the plans for the day
An early morning confab behind the lake with Violaine (Field Director) talking to Fatma and Maria about the plans for the day.
Locating the end of the wall
Between Elaine’s squares from last year and her new one north of them is a baulk, or unexcavated area that serves to provide a profile look at the soil layers. Today we scraped and troweled this baulk area to raise the brick wall we found last year – which doesn’t continue into Elaine’s new square. We were looking for the northern edge of this east-west wall, and, thanks to the work you see being done here, we found it.
Elaine's northern trench   Elaine displaying later 18th Dynasty sherd
In Elaine’s northern trench, the absence of walls has not deterred our working stratigraphically. Today good later 18th Dynasty pottery emerged (ca. 1360 B.C.), and underneath it, early 18th. Elaine is holding a beautifully painted later 18th Dynasty sherd. We were very happy.
Elizabeth with stamp seal   Close view of stamp seal
Elizabeth found a stamp seal in her trench next to the Thutmoside gateway. The seal was found in an area where the extended mud brick enclosure had been cut into.
Maria removes a complete pot
A gleeful and excited Maria removes a fine complete pot from Scott’s upper trench. This is a New Kingdom dropper vessel, often used to serve drinks or offer libations.
Wendy's trench
Wendy’s gufti works to distinguish bricks in the northern end of her trench. A hard packed and quasi-burned surface occurs above the brick, and we are worried whether to include the surface with the bricks or separate them. This is archaeology – it’s rocket science (assuming they have the same calculation problems we do.)
Sandra supervising work
Sandra Fischetti is supervising work at the central northern trench behind the lake this morning, but, sad for us, she’s leaving today. Christina and Sandra have gone back to London and we can only say “we miss you”.

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