Excavation of test pit 9 began during the summer of 2005.
Ljupka (Republic of Macedonia in foreground) and Heather (USA in background)
cleaned the excavation unit and discovered a prepared Medieval plaster surface. Two additional excavation
units were excavated to trace the evidence for timbers impressions in the plaster surface.
Final photograph of test pit 9, 23 and 24 showing the Medieval plaster surface
with timber impressions.
Impressions of wooden sills found in test pits 9, 23 and 24.
In situ photograph of the Ribbed Industrial Ware found in
test pits 9, 23 and 24.
Final photograph showing the interior surface of the castle wall that defined
the castle keep. Bedrock is visible in the bottom of the excavation unit.
South profile of Test Pit 10 showing the organic rich soil (Locus 1) against
the stone and mortar wall and above the thick mortar surface that was deposited in the Medieval period.
Victor helps Professor Michael Fuller get into Test Pit 10 to study,
draw, and analyze the profiles exposed by two seasons of excavation.
The stone and mortar wall rests directly upon bedrock.
Test pit 10 began during summer 2005 and stopped once the mortar
surface was encountered. Stephanie began to deepen test pit 10 during the first week of 2006. Several other
students help deepen the test pit until it reached bedrock.
Damjan discusses excavation strategy with Matt and Chris
on the first day of clearing vegetation within the North Cistern of the castle of King Marko.
Professor Neathery Fuller does a stone-for-stone drawing of the
rocks on the surface of test pits 13, 14, 21, and 22. Matt and Chris help with measuring.
Fragments of roof tiles discovered 10 cm. beneath the surface in test pit 13.
Matt is confused when finding modern tar paper intermixed in the same layer
as broken roof tiles.
Final photograph of test pits 13, 14, and 21 which were situated
along the north edge of the largest cistern in the castle of King Marko. The plaster lining is well
preserved from below the level of the soil surface.
Plaster lining of the cistern is clearly visible in test pit 13.
Professor Michael Fuller is holding the metric stadia rod.
Amira Fuller assist Professor Neathery Fuller in drawing of profiles
of test pit 13 inside the largest cistern in the castle of King Marko.
Soil and stones just beneath the surface (10 cm.) in test pit 13.
Final photograph of test pit 13 taken before conservation of the
plaster liner. The test pit was backfilled at the end of the 2006 field season.
South profile of test pit 13 showing organically rich loci
dating from the Ottoman Period on top of stone and plaster rubble from the Medieval collapse of the
cistern roof and upper walls.
Stone and soil just below the surface in test pit 14. The pattern of the stones
was random.
Test pit 14 excavated to a depth of 30 cm and showing the preserved portion
of plaster lining. The organic soil contained broken rooftiles, a few sherds, and 2 Ottoman Period copper coins.
Final photograph of Square 14 (foreground) and Square 13 (background).
Final photograph of Square 15.
Second day of excavation in Square 25. It adjoined Square 16.
Square 16 on the second day of excavation.
Final photograph of Square 16 (right) and Square 25 (left). Only the south half
of Square 25 was excavated.
Second day of excavation in Square 17.
Final photograph of Square 17 with bedrock exposed. Excavation was stopped
when it became apparent that east half of the square had only a few centimeters of soil covering bedrock.
Final photograph of Square 19 with stone and mortar wall stub (Locus 7) exposed.
Final photograph of Square 19 with stone and mortar wall stub (Locus 7) exposed.
Webpage created 27 November 2006