This web site has become my personal Blog.  It wasn't intended to be this way, but it has.  I am not the excavation "reporter".  I am a volunteer in charge of the daily log for an area ( usually A east outside the outer city gate), which includes doing the log sheet, daily maps, registering special finds & I do the elevations for all of the areas of the excavation at the end of the day or during the morning if I am called for special finds.  Consequently, I don't have time to wander around the site to be on hand to record & photograph each special find as they surface.  There are times when I will be able to record special finds in areas other than "my own", but typically, I will be reporting only A east.  Now for the news.

Dr. Aaron Gale brought 11 people, including administrators, from the University of West Virginia.  Professor Mark Appold brought 16 people from Truman State University.  Dr. Elizabeth McNamer from Rocky Mountain College also brought 11 people & last but not least Rami brought a small group from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.  This made for a good size group of eager diggers & much work was accomplished during the week after orientation & setup of areas with netting for sun shading.

A west (inside & west of the city gate) directed by Dr. Kate Rafael-  A large quantity of Roman pottery was found on 1 of the floors.  This was probably do to a collapse.  There are probably enough pieces of individual vessels for restoration.  A prominent structure was uncovered under a mound with very thick walls.  Was this a part of the palace complex or something monumental?

In area "C" Elizabeth's group continued to excavate structures in the Roman period housing complex. This is an area that Elizabeth & Dr. Nicolae Roddy have extensively worked at for many years.

In A east the collapse of the iron age city walls collapse was again attacked & a portion was removed.  This revealed a plaza leading up to the city outer gate ~9 meters (~30 feet) .