.bk J01
.fl Q902ms.j
.fd journal
;.fn included Q903ms.j,Q904ms.j,Q906ms.j,Q909ms1.j,Q909ms.j,Q910ms.j
.ed Q902
.ei mS

.rd Q902
.ri mS

-sf dC arrived on Q901 and will be a number 2 in J01.

-wk Moved a team of workmen to J3 so we now have six teams.

-dy Continuing to go down but have intensified the focus in the western perimeter in order to enhance the view.

k 41
dy Resumed excavation here but only in the SW quadrant in order to go down to the top of the wall and follow the presumed curve. Have gone through topsoil, and into accumulation f208.

k 31
dy Resumed excavation in two quadrants here, NW and SE. The NW quadrant is a new excavation, again following the wall, f72. The SE quadrant is finishing up from last week, bringing the level down to about half a meter below the top of the wall.

k 13
dy Ceased excavation here as we have evened out the area.

k 22
dy Have declared new feature, f219 which seems to be the same as f184 above it. There is a layer of brown with charcoal or carbon inclusions and white inclusions. From last season we believe this may be the Mitanni to 3rd Millenium transition so we are going more slowly here. We uncovered the skull of a wolf, i38. There are few objects, however. We follow this layer as far as it goes and photograph it tomorrow. 

f 219
ad accumulation d
ds brown soil with several charcoal or carbon inclusions and white inclusions, possibly phytoliths. May be the same as f184 and f181 above it, but we have declared it a different feature.

k 14
dy The work seems to be going more slowly here today, but we are still removing the entire locus to the 9000 level.

k 24
dy J3 will use our q-lot numbers for this excavation. We will draw the western section since it is being excavated from the west and continue removing it tomorrow.

v 161
ds View of f184 and f219 which are two similar features, if not the same. This feature is soft brown soil with several charcoal or carbon inclusions and white inclusions, possilby phytoliths.

v 162
ds View of the wolf skull, i38, in the features, f184 and f219. 

f 184
tc co f219

.rd Q903
.ri mS

-sg met with dC, and then gB to continue refining strategy for opening the view for the wall. We will focus on going down in the NW quadrant of k31 and will open more of k41. From what we see of the wall and the curve in k31 this would be the best place. gB also suggested that we change the first step at 9900 to be 3 meters wide instead of just 160cm. This would serve two purposes. First we will be able to dig a staircase in the step making it easier for visitors to get down to the plaza level. Second it will mean less dirt to move this season. We will probably begin a 3 meter step when we go back to excavating this area.

-wk Two pickmen and one arabana person left after breakfast which made us have to stretch the workmen and have slowed us down. Got the team back that we gave to J3 yesterday.

-dy Continuing to excavate as in the past few days but continuing the focus on opening the view. Starting to concentrate manpower in k31 and k41 where the curve of the wall f72, appears to be most probable. Also removed the shafat in k2, and have begun installing one in k31.

k 14
dy nothing new and continuing to move along. Drew the section of the north baulk prior to taking down, probably tomorrow. Continue to remove accumulation f179.

k 24
dy we are now removing the accumultion here instead of J3. We have drawn the western section of the baulk because it was unsafe to draw the section from the east. We have noted it on the drawing. It is simply accumulation, f150.

k 22
dy we cleaned the layer, f219, and have ceased excavation here at the moment to move all workmen to the immediate view strategy. This layer is consistent with f184, some patches of ash or charcoal and carbon with streaks of white vegetal matter. Probably not the transition from Mitanni to 3rd Mil because we have Mitanni sherds at lower levels.

f 219
ds This layer is consistent with f184, some patches of ash or charcoal and carbon with streaks of white vegetal matter. Probably not the transition from Mitanni to 3rd Mil because we have Mitanni sherds at lower levels.

k 31
dy brought the SW quadrant down to about 30 cm below the top of the wall and can see the curve well. Continue to excavate in the NW quadrant and should get to the level of the wall tomorrow. We drew the W half of the N section prior to tearing down the baulk.

k 21
dy returned to removing the baulk. It is slow going because of the dirt removal but hope to have the Shafat in place tomorrow to help with this.

k 41
dy continued the excavation in the SW quadrant and will expand tomorrow. Declared f220 and f221 which are two large floating stones in the eastern half of this locus. They have been relayed, and photographed, v166.

f 220
;df st
ds floating stone in k41. Probably not related to line of floating stones to the east because it is at a higher elevation. May just be random.

f 221
;df st
ds floating stone in k41. Probably not related to line of floating stones to the east because it is at a higher elevation. May just be random.

v 163
ds this is a view of section of the east baulk in k24 with string. It is unusual because it was drawn and photographed from the east rather than the west. It was extremely unsafe to excavate or draw from the west.

v 164
ds this is a view of section of the east baulk in k24. It is unusual because it was drawn and photographed from the east rather than the west. It was extremely unsafe to excavate or draw from the west.

v 165
ds Oblique view of the curve of the terrace wall, f72 in k31. This curve is somewhat pronounced and we will follow it into the north baulk seen here.

v 165a
ds additional view of the curve of the terrace wall, f72 in k31. This curve is somewhat pronounced and we will follow it into the north baulk seen here.

v 166
ds two large floating stones, f220 and f221 (f220 on the east and f221 on the west). These are most likely random stones and unrelated to the line of other floating stones to the east.

v 167
ds north section of baulk in k14.

v 167a
ds north section of baulk in k14 with string.

.rd Q904
.ri mS

-dy continuing to remove baulks and dirt in preparation for the Minister's visit. We also had a few workmen in the afternoon to work clearing the area around the curve of the wall.

k 24
dy finished removing most of the east baulk consisting of f150, accumulation. Will wait for J4 to remove their baulk in an adjacent square to the east before we finish the corner.

k 14
dy continuing to remove f179 the accumulation. Also drew the section of the east baulk so it can be removed. We are coming down to approximately 9000 throughout the area.

k 41
dy still removing the accumulation, f208 in this area. Opened up the excavation to include the southern half of the square rather that just the SW quadrant.

k 31
dy continuing to go down to the level of the wall in the NW quadrant. Reached the trench f213 and fill f211 which cuts f209 and which runs along the face of the wall f72. We seem to be reaching the top of the stones and the wall does not seem to curve as strongly as it first appeared when uncovered in the eastern section of this locus. We will clean well in the morning and then see.

k 21
dy finished removing the north baulk down to the level just below the top of the wall f72. It is even with the level in k31 to the north.

k 22
dy in discussion with lC about f219. It is not really a full accumulation layer, but merely a lens with charcoal and carbon areas. It seems to be a lens inside f184 which is the larger accumulation of brown soil with carbon inclusions. Per a conversation with jO, this lens may be an area where something was burned rather than just an accumulation.

f 219
ds this feature is really a small lens that appears to have had some burning rather than an accumulation including charcoal. It does not appear to have any other associations. v169 is of this feature.

v 168
ds view of western half of north section of k31 without string.

v 168a
ds view of western half of north section of k31 with string.

v 169
ds closeup of f219 which is a lens of burnt material, with white, possible ash, and black, possible charcoal deposits. It sits in f184 which is an accumulation layer brown dirt with charcoal or carbon, and calciferous inclusions.

v 169a
ds view of f219 and f184 in k22 facing west. f219 is a lens of burnt material, with white, possible ash, and black, possible charcoal deposits. It sits in f184 which is an accumulation layer brown dirt with charcoal or carbon, and calciferous inclusions.

v 169b
ds view of f219 and f184 in k22 facing south. f219 is a lens of burnt material, with white, possible ash, and black, possible charcoal deposits. It sits in f184 which is an accumulation layer brown dirt with charcoal or carbon, and calciferous inclusions.

.rd Q905
.ri mS

-dy The final push for clearing the view. We sent two teams to J3 because the area we are working in now is smaller and they are in need of help. We also worked in the afternoon.

-mt We have been excavating very quickly and moving a lot of dirt. The material however is the same as last season which we found to be mostly natural accumulation especially at this level.

-wk sent two teams to J3 which left us with five teams, although two were not complete.

k 24
dy finished removing the SE corner baulk adjacent to the east baulk of k14.

k 14
dy finished removing the north half of the E baulk.

k 112
dy spent a small amount of time having a team evening out this area to 9000 before sending them to J3.

k 21
dy finished bringing this baulk area down to the level of k31 running just below the top of the wall, f72.

k 31
dy continued working in the NW quadrant and it seems as though the wall f72 does not turn but continues in more a soft curve in the same way it has been running. The orginal view of the curve was just because we had seen it only in a two square meter area and it was a limited view. The stones seem to continue to the west. We have also brought most of the north baulk down to this level and the stones are consistent with the wall continuing to the west. We have found small patches of burnt area along the top of the wall area but these are just small lenses.

k 41
dy began going down further in the NW quadrant but did not reach the level of the wall f72. This is an area we will want to continue excavating next week to get a fuller picture of the top of the wall. Just looking at this briefly, it appears there may be a different type of accumulation from the rest of the area but this is unclear at the moment. We did not have time to examine closely because of the large amount of dirt removal in adjacent areas.

.rd Q909
.ri mS

-sg strategy discussions on Q908 and Q909 with gB, fAB, mS, and J1 staff focused on what to do in the final week to meet the season's goals. The first goal is finding the corner of the wall. We will open small areas of westernmost loci following the line of the wall that is currently exposed. Based on the geophysical survey, we expect to find the turn here. We will excavate to about 50cm below the top of the wall to see the line of stones. The second goal is to get to the plaza level. We reevaluated the initial plans for the amphitheatre because time is short and there is a lot of dirt to move. We will follow the original plan to the south and west but increase the size of the first two steps to 3.5 meters to accomodate stairs down to the plaza level. The third step will return to the original 160cm. To the east we will cut back to the current eastern baulk down to 8800. We have asked bWP to put in the points of the first step.

-wk began the day with six of our old teams and got a new one from J4. We have 7 picks, 13 shovels and 7 dirt haulers. Ju'an the pickman left after breakfast without any notification.

-dy opened excavations in k40 and k30, but only in small portions to follow the line of the wall. Also spent a lot of time working with gB to lay out the new steps. Created two new loci, k113 and k114 which accomodate areas of k3, k4, k12, k13, k14 and k24. We will divide the excavation into thirds for the moment, pieces of the steps and excavate accordingly.

k 30
dy opened excavations here today. The plan is to only work in a one by two meter area in the NE corner because we think this will bring us down to the curve of the wall. Pickman mistakenly began removing topsoil throughout the area but only for a few cm. We will cover this area in plastic and cover with dirt. We are still in topsoil, f208.

k 40
dy opened excavations here although the northern baulk is part of the German trench of several years ago. We have opened the southern half and are in the topsoil, f208.

k 14
dy have reached the 9000 level here and have sectioned off the next step. We have also declared k113 which will be the locus we use to cut back and down to the next step. Still in f179.

k 113
dy began excavation in this locus which takes in part of k13, k14, k4 and k24. This will be the locus we use to excavate the second step in the eastern portion of J1.

k 114
dy began excavation in this locus which takes in part of k12, k13, k3 and k14. This is the center portion of the steps we are excavating.

f 222
;df st
ds floating stone in front the the wall, f72. Does not appear to be in line with any other stones and is just sitting in accumulation, f209
tc si f209

.rd Q906
.ri mS

-dy no work in the field today besides cleaning in final preparation for the minister's visit. There will also be no work on Q907.

.rd Q910
.ri mS

-wk got three new dirt haulers today, but a few have left because school has started. Only had a team from J4 at the end of the day. For most of the day we had 6 picks, 10 shovels, and 7 dirt movers. Nizam hurt his leg and left at breakfast.

-sg continued the discussion with gB, and J1 staff about the shape of the first step because we have changed it since the initial plan. We will make the step 350cm on the south, 300cm on the west and 150 on the east. The eastern portion will be straight to conform to the first step of MZ18, in k24. The second step will only be 150cm wide to allow for a greater corridor to view the wall from the plaza.

-dy moved the shafat in the southern portion of the unit, and installed a shafat along the wall to remove dirt from the deeper levels. We now have three. Continued excavations in same areas as yesterday, but at the end of the day began in what we are naming k115 which we have measured to be the second step at this time although we are way above 8800. 

-nr for the most part the area we are excavating is very large and stretches across several loci. We have decided to create new loci to manage the excavation areas. We are establishing them along the lines of the east, south and west portions of the steps since these are of differing shapes because of last years excavation cuts.

k 40
dy only had one pick team in the locus so the work in moving a little more slowly, but continuing steady.