Unit Book A16

A16---I

Processed on 2023-12-09

Date	Author	Record
2001-06-07	lR	Yesterday we had a short meeting with gB to discuss the overall strategy for A16 during MZ 14. The focus of the excavation this year pertains to three parts: (1) the definition of the post-Palace settlement and its presumed extent to the east, (2) the location of the projected palace walls in AF on both the north and eastern sides, and (3) the excavation of courtyard H3. Initially six loci were proposed for excavation but after fAB measured the northern H1 wall it was suggested that two more squares be added on the eastern side so that the probability of encountering the eastern AF wall is increased if it is assumed that the doorway found in A13 last season is centered in the South wall of the courtyard. The walls of the courtyard are not expected to be walls external to the palace, since in almost all cases courtyards are surrounded by rooms. Often courtyards are not excavated in their entirety; we have decided to excavate H3, however, seeing the two important finds from the area, the Tar'am-Agade seal impressions and the "scorpion vase". Therefore a total of eight squares will be excavated this season, numbered loci 1-4 from west-east on the north, and 4-8 west-east on the south. If the palace projections are correct, then we expect to expose part of the northern wall with a presumed doorway and the eastern AF walls. [Input: L630LR.j]
2001-06-07	lR	It was also suggested that we extend the perimeters of the northern squares another meter to the north in order to be aligned with the palace projections, but it was argued by fAB that if the doorway was found exposing only half of the wall (so leaving the squares 4x4), this would leave a nice section of the doorway. In considering this argument, it was decided to leave the northern squares at 4 meters. Three of the squares were excavated two seasons ago (MZ12) as area A13, and these are now A16 loci 1, 5 and 6. Two small one-room structures were found belonging to the post-Palace phase and most likely the new squares will contain similar structures with a possibility of further defining the boundary of this settlement to the South. We are not expecting to find much under these structures until we reach the palace level, which is approximately 2 meters below these single room structures. The sections created by A13 and A10 from previous seasons will serve as a good reference for what to expect in A16 in the South and West. [Input: L630LR.j]
2001-07-04	fAB	These past 10 days have seen the removal of most of the baulks in A16. We felt that the sections, once drawn, were only showing brickfall, and therefore could be removed in order to show the 20m N section which would help us link a1 and a5, the house in k5 and the wall with the drain in k4. As things now stand, we have removed most of the brickfall and have pieces of structures in most squares. k1 has what may be the oldest material as yet uncovered in A16, a floor with no walls connected to it. k2 and k3 have a very puzzling structure, a6. This, which we call the 'box' for lack of a clearer understanding of the nature of this structure, seems to be vaulted, as a tomb might be, but with plaster at the base. More excavation will tell what this structure is and what its link to the surrounding area might be. In k4 we have the drain and wall, a5, which seem to be among the latest structures in A16 since the brickfall a4 abuts it but does not cover it. k8 and k7 contain the walls of a3, which we have given to A15 to excavate, since most of the structure lies in their area. k6 contains a2, which we have not touched this season, since it was dug by A13 in MZ12, and is the oldest structure in A16. We are presented now with the problem of linking the several aggregates together into a meaningful stratigraphic sequence. [Input: L704FAB.j]
2001-07-04	fAB	As we understand it now, a2 is the oldest structure that we have, as it sits on the pit in the N section of A13. a2 is clearly below a1, separated by a grey layer. a1 is contemporary with a5 and a3, since all abut but are not covered by brickfall. Questions arise when we look at the differences in elevation: a5 is considerably higher than a1 and a3. This seems to indicate a terracing, which we would expect to result from extended building in the phase of a2. Brick size plays a role in our understanding of the strata sequence: a1, a3, a4 and a5 are all built with bricks that are 10cm in thickness: a2 is built with bricks that are only 8cm thick. It is perhaps interesting to note that the bricks in A11 are all 10cm thick as well. gb prepared a strata assignment (AAsC) in which we can identify the a1, a3, a4, a5 strata as 5c and 5b, while a2 belongs 5a. It is unclear if a6 belongs to any of these phases or if it may even be a tomb that is later than the brickfall that defines the end of 5c. [Input: L704FAB.j]
2001-09-02	lR	after discussing with gB, fAB, and jLW, it is evident that we will not reach the goal of excavating to the stone pavement for another week. This poses a problem in completing the record since we only have two weeks to finish documenting A16. We have agreed that we will stop excavations in A16 after a few minor excavations primarily straightening the sections and leveling the area. It is uncertain if we plan to remove the section, since it is approx 50cm thick and uncertain whether it will last through to the next season. [Input: L903LR.j]