Well, we finished the 3 week first session, but before I get on the 3rd week results I have some news that pertains to finds from the 2nd week. We reported that a bronze coin was found that probably depicted Julia on the obverse. Rami send pics to a coin curator & he reported back that the coin is a bronze of Octacilia (wife of Philip Sr, 244-249 CE), minted in Damascus. Three coins were found that were believed to be silver & Rami let me take them home for a preliminary cleaning, which showed that they were not silver at all, but 3 quite worn bronze coins (see the pic of the reverse on 1 of them below). It may be a Tiberius or a Pontius Pilate coin based on the wreath on the reverse side.
Now for 3rd week results. In A east just to the east of the iron age road the volunteers continued to remove lots of dirt & big boulders from the destruction of the city. Good work guys!
In A west Kate had many, many loci going cleaning out around the Roman Hellenistic structures. A beautiful ostracon, the Greek word for a piece of pottery (see below) was uncovered. Pottery pieces had many uses such as for writing upon, voting etc. It seems that the word ostracize comes from it, as in ancient Greece, pottery sherds were used to ballet if someone would be exiled, or banished. On the next to last day for Denny Clark's group, a Roman iron axe head was found (see pic on right) near a corner of one of the rooms being uncovered. It's very similar & more complete than the iron axe head that was found 2 years ago in the same basic area. Excellent work!!
One click on any picture will greatly enlarge it -------------------
Link to all the pictures I took this season - CLICK HERE
Note : Interesting archaeology blog - http://archaeologydigs.blogspot.com/
Human interest - http://www.communitycorrespondent.com/kptm/, search for Judith Schwartz top right