.bk A20
.fl S816lr
.fd daily journal
.rd S816
.ri lR
.ed S816
.ei lR

-su Met with gB and fAB this morning for a strategy review; in summary we have decided on scaling back excavations in A20. Our earlier strategy was to remove the later installations such as the drain a3, brick pile f68, and pavement f112 to come down to the earlier Mittani strata but with only 10 days left in the season, it was suggested to concentrate only in few small areas to clarify some stratigraphic questions.

-sg Met with gB and fAB this morning for a strategy review; deciding on scaling back excavations in A20. Our earlier strategy was to remove the later installations such as the drain a3, brick pile f68, and pavement f112 to come down to the earlier Mittani strata but with only 10 days left in the season, it was suggested to concentrate only in few small areas to clarify some stratigraphic questions. This decision was also reached in consideration for the UGR upkeep, with most members of the team leaving in two weeks; we want to make sure that everything is properly documented before closing the area for next season. The extra workmen will be distributed to the other units retaining several pick men to work in A20. The area south of a2, in k101, will be our primary excavation goal for the next week, coming down in the southern side of the box structure f40 (a2) to see if it continues deeper. This is the only side we can go down for wall f92 abuts the structures to the west, wall f63 to the north, and the stone pavement f57 to the east. Once the southern border is defined, we then plan to excavate a2 by removing the top course of bricks, eventually removing the structure to see if this is a tomb. Another area for clarification is f82, excavating in bin f113, to see if this we are inside a structure or if this is part of the reuse. Lastly, in k101, we plan to remove the last of eastern baulk, tying together A19 and A20.

-dy Met with gB and fAB this morning for a strategy review; deciding on scaling back excavations in A20 starting on S818. Today k26 and k25 were opened but only partially excavated, removing some of the topsoil. This was before we decided to scale excavations. The area was cleaned out and leveled; we then will close these two squares until next season. This morning we scraped in f82, trying to make sense of the orange clay veins present in the southeast corner. Gray bricks began to emerge, forming a bin like installation with the clay veins localized within the fill. This was immediately photographed, labeling the bin as f113, and the fill as f114. We will retain f82 as the soil to the west of the bin. In k101, the area south of a2 was excavated, continuing to remove f94. This feature has been redefined as brick fall and not a wall. The east baulk was continued from S814, removing another 10 cm today exposing several vertical brick faces. The southern area, bricks are also present, likely the cross wall enclosing f116, f115, of a larger one room structure. In k4, we removed several centimeters to come towards the bricks of f99, exposing the faces from the west. Immediately, pavement f112 was found, west of f99. This pavement is under f90, forming a much nicer and more compacted surface than f35 pavement that was found in the same area but 10 cm higher in elevation. Lots of animal bones are sitting on this pavement, including a horn, mandibles, several long bones, and a skull of a smaller animal, perhaps a dog. 

k 4
dy In k4, we removed several centimeters to come towards the bricks of f99, exposing the faces from the west. Immediately, pavement f112 was found, west of f99. This pavement is under f90, forming a much nicer and more compacted surface than f35 pavement that was found in the same area but 10 cm higher in elevation. Lots of animal bones are sitting on this pavement, including a horn, mandibles, several long bones, and a skull of a smaller animal, perhaps a dog.

f 112
dy In k4, we removed several centimeters to come towards the bricks of f99, exposing the faces from the west. Immediately, pavement f112 was found, west of f99. This pavement is under f90, forming a much nicer and more compacted surface than f35 pavement that was found in the same area but 10 cm higher in elevation. Lots of animal bones are sitting on this pavement, including a horn, mandibles, several long bones, and a skull of a smaller animal, perhaps a dog.

f 99
dy In k4, we removed several centimeters to come towards the bricks of f99, exposing the faces from the west. Immediately, pavement f112 was found, west of f99. This pavement is under f90, forming a much nicer and more compacted surface than f35 pavement that was found in the same area but 10 cm higher in elevation. Lots of animal bones are sitting on this pavement, including a horn, mandibles, several long bones, and a skull of a smaller animal, perhaps a dog.

k 101
dy In k101, the area south of a2 was excavated, continuing to remove f94. This feature has been redefined as brickfall and not a wall. The east baulk was continued from S814, removing another 10 cm today exposing several vertical brick faces. The southern area, bricks are also present, likely the cross wall enclosing f116, f115, of a larger one room structure.

f 115
dy Continued to remove the eastern section of k101, coming down on more vertical bricks to the east of f115. These bricks may be another course of vertical bricks from f115, forming a thicker wall.

f 94
dy In k101, the area south of a2 was excavated, continuing to remove f94. This feature has been redefined as brickfall and not a wall. While excavating, broken bricks were noted in large pieces however these were not organized and thus removed. A patch of reddish thick clay is present in the eastern corner, we are unsure if it continues west.

k 26
dy We opened this locus today removing approximately 10 cm in half of the square by the end of the day however after the stratigraphic meeting, it was decided to scale back excavations, thus closing k26. The area was leveled and cleaned.

f 101
dy Partially removed the topsoil today but decided to scale back excavations in A20, thus tomorrow we will close k26 and k25.

f 102
dy Partially removed the topsoil today but decided to scale back excavations in A20, thus tomorrow we will close k26 and k25.

k 25
dy We opened this locus today removing approximately 10 cm in half of the square by the end of the day however after the stratigraphic meeting, it was decided to scale back excavations, thus closing k25. The area was leveled and cleaned.

.rd S815
-dy Day off from the field

.rd S814
-dy Excavated in k101, removing the eastern baulk to connect the wall f115 to f85 and the walls to the east, f116 (from A19). Wall f115 was noted as being fully constructed with vertical bricks slightly at an oblique angle alongside horizontal bricks f109, at a lower elevation. The vertical bricks f115 are in line with f46 wall from a1. In k12, we continued to remove the ash f24 in the hope that a pavement surfaces to find the depth of f52 and f64 wall. By the end of the day, a brown slightly compact layer was found under the ash f24, labeled f118. This layer still contains lots of charcoal and ash embedded but maybe the interface between a floor surface and the ash f24. A pavement, f117, was also found under f52 and f82 forming a thick highly compacted floor surface with pottery sherds underneath serving as leveling material for the floor. f117 does not extend north under f64, appearing localized under f52 and f82. This would suggest that f64 is earlier in construction. In k4, bricks f99 were articulated today, these continue to run south forming a nice wall that intersects with f107 wall, running west to east.

k 4
dy In k4, bricks f99 were articulated today, these continue to run south forming a nice wall that intersects with f107 wall, running west to east.

k 101
dy Excavated in k101, removing the eastern baulk to connect the wall f115 to f85 and the walls to the east, f116 (from A19). Wall f115 was noted as being fully constructed with vertical bricks slightly at an oblique angle alongside horizontal bricks f109, at a lower elevation. The vertical bricks f115 are in line with f46 wall from a1.

f 115
dy Scraped the wall f115, previously excavated by A19, and were under the assumption that these were horizontal bricks. They in turn are all vertical bricks. More vertical faces are showing up in the eastern baulk.

f 118
dy In k12, we continued to remove the ash f24 in the hope that a pavement surfaces to find the depth of f52 and f64 wall. By the end of the day, a brown slightly compact layer was found under the ash f24, labeled f118. This layer still contains lots of charcoal and ash embedded but maybe the interface between a floor surface and the ash f24.

f 24
dy In k12, we continued to remove the ash f24 in the hope that a pavement surfaces to find the depth of f52 and f64 wall. By the end of the day, a brown slightly compact layer was found under the ash f24, labeled f118. This layer still contains lots of charcoal and ash embedded but maybe the interface between a floor surface and the ash f24.

k 12
dy In k12, we continued to remove the ash f24 in the hope that a pavement surfaces to find the depth of f52 and f64 wall. By the end of the day, a brown slightly compact layer was found under the ash f24, labeled f118. This layer still contains lots of charcoal and ash embedded but maybe the interface between a floor surface and the ash f24. A pavement, f117, was also found under f52 and f82 forming a thick highly compacted floor surface with pottery sherds underneath serving as leveling material for the floor. f117 does not extend north under f64, appearing localized under f52 and f82. This would suggest that f64 is earlier in construction.

f 117
dy A pavement, f117, was also found under f52 and f82 forming a thick highly compacted floor surface with pottery sherds underneath serving as leveling material for the floor. f117 does not extend north under f64, appearing localized under f52 and f82. This would suggest that f64 is earlier in construction.

f 64
dy A pavement, f117, was found under f52 and f82 (seen in the eastern border) forming a thick highly compacted floor surface with pottery sherds underneath serving as leveling material for the floor. f117 does not extend north under f64, appearing localized under f52 and f82. This would suggest that f64 is earlier in construction.

f 82
dy A pavement, f117, was found under f52 and f82 (seen in the eastern border) forming a thick highly compacted floor surface with pottery sherds underneath serving as leveling material for the floor. f117 does not extend north under f64, appearing localized under f52 and f82. This would suggest that f64 is earlier in construction.