On the platform a large but undecorated block that had been reused in the foundation must be removed. Franck and his crew assist by drilling into the sandstone and breaking the weakened rock. The removal will allow us to clear away the rubble on the platform floor and continue to locate the early decorated and inscribed blocks in the foundations.

In the Second Court we continue to prepare for the newly discovered inscribed blocks to be moved from the platform. Workers are building new mastabas for this purpose, and they will be filled with sand and then plastered over. Early in the day they build the outlines with brick and cement, and later we see them place a single layer of brick in the bottom. Fast work!

Elaine's southwest rooms continue to multiply with walls. Here she has a scatter of pottery on the floor. We hope that she'll soon be able to identify the western and southern limits of the building. It's quite large, and she has a great deal of material now for analysis.

The "sandstone triage" center is active all day long now, with Hiroko and Kent applying consolidant treatments to the sandstone blocks. These parts of square pillars of Thutmose III will soon be transported to the new mastabas being built, but Kent and Hiroko will not allow that to happen until they have done all they can to strengthen the rock surfaces.

The courtyard of Beit Canada after lunch. Everyone doing something! Kent and Hiroko work on the bronze vessel, Violaine separate organic material from flotation, and Elizabeth and Dina classify pottery. And, of course, Jay snaps photos.. always...