Unit Book J2
J2 Synthetic View / Stratigraphy

Depositional data for Unit J2
Construction

Caitlin Chaves Yates – November 2010

Floors
Monumental access
Pits
Other Constructions
- First Staircase
- Second apron

Floors

There are four main floor or pavement sequences in J2. These floors are associated with different use phases of the monumental access.

The lowest, or earliest pavement sequence is ^pv1. This sequence is composed of three individual floors (f390, f389, and f388). These are distinguished from the next sequence of pavements by the ceramics which include Ninevite 5 sherds as well as their composition, which includes many small sherds and stones. The subsequent floors include more stones and larger sherds.

The second sequence (^pv2) is composed of multiple sherd and pebble pavements, intermixed with soil subfloors. When the pavements were first excavated in 2005, seven pebble pavements were identified. One additional pavement (f386) with its subfloor (f387) was identified in 2009. Between the pavements were soft soil layers that represent either build-up over the floors before the contstruction of the next pavement or a subfloor before construction.

The first floor (^fl1) associated with first apron (^apr1) has not been definitively identifed as of yet. It is possible that f359 is the first floor but it seems more likely that the first floor is a gray layer (f392) seen in the western section of k100 abutting the bottom of the apron.

The second floor sequence (^fl2) is composed of several dirt walking floors. Although the floors are disturbed by erosion (^ersn1 and ^ersn2), there is a clear uninterrupted sequence of floors. One of the earliest excavated floors is clearly a mud surface that was used for walking. There are imprints of human footprints as well as a canine print in the surface of f381. Above this mud surface is a thick layer of clay mixed with burnt materials. This layer forms the subfloor for the salmon-colored floor, f359. Although f359 was thought to be the first floor associated with ^apr1 when excavated, it is still unclear if the excavations have reached the bottom of the apron (see above). Although f359 is likely not ^fl1, it is still a deliberately constructed floor associated with the monumental access, possibly associated with the rebuilding and strengthening of the monumental access area during the EDIII period. The distinctive color is not likely to be part of a naturally deposited floor and instead it is thought that the clay material was brought in from the fields, where red soil is known, to create this floor. These floors continually built up, likely because the area was part of the large open Plaza. It would have naturally attracted slow build-up that was compacted into floors based on the use of the area for walking and other activities.

Monumental access

The revetment wall, flanking walls, apron and staircase are all part of a large monumental construction. This construction was built as a accessway to the top of the temple terrace area. It served as the main entranceway until the Mittani period when the entrance shifted to the west in area J5.

The monumental access is built of several component parts, each with its own depositional history and construction process. Four of the components, the apron, staircase, revetment wall and eastern flanking wall were built all at the same time. These features are part of the intricate construction of the monumental complex. Each part is discussed separately below.

Revetment wall

The revetment wall (^wall1) was built against the existing Late Chalcolithic mound. It is composed of unshaped stones. They are stacked against the mound. Giorgio Buccellati has identified a mountain motif in the placement of the stones. This motif was used to reflect the religious importance of the mountians in the Hurrian religion (Buccellati 2010).

apron

The apron is a stepped structure to the west of the staircase. It appears to be built at the same time with larger steps than the staircase. In the west it is bordered by a flanking wall (^wall3) that was probably added later to stabilize the edge of the apron. The apron is bonded to the revetment wall, and thus they were built at the same time.

Staircase

The staircase is composed of low flat stones and extends from the floor of the Plaza up to the top of the temple terrace. The steps are spaced for easy walking and compared to the apron which flanks it to the west, it is clearly built for ascending to the temple. It is bordered to the east by a high flanking wall (^wall2) that extends the entire length of the staircase.

Flanking walls

There are two flanking walls that help form the monumental access. The eastern flanking wall is part of the original construction while the western wall is apparently a later addition. The eastern wall is built of well-cut stones and stands 2.5 meters tall at the base of the staircase. It extends the length of the staircase, but towards the top of the staircase, the steps rise above the wall.

Pits

There are a few pits in J2, they are relatively shallow and are not associated with deliberate filling. The cut of the pit f382, is notable due to its regularity. Only one edge has been excavated and it is very straight, with no real evidence on the edges for cutting. It cuts through several pebble pavements in k100. It is filled with a softer brown soil and some bricky fragments. The other J2 pits are very shallow with soft ashy filling (f298, f300).

Other Constructions

First Staircase

The first staircase is composed of 3 known steps but may include more. It is under the construction of the second staircase. It is unknown if this staircase extended to the top of the temple terrace.

Second apron

The second apron is a stepped construction above the revetment wall on the slope of the temple terrace. Its date of construction is unknown, although it may have been built at the same time as the second flanking wall. It is designed to reflect the monumentality of the area and may possibly have helped divert water at the top of the wall.

Unit Book J2J2 Synthetic View / Stratigraphy

Depositional data for Unit J2Construction