Emplacement for Unit J1
Layering

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Introduction

Layering or gradual build-up accounts for more than half of all J1 features, with a total of 157 elements within a total of 279. This is due to the specific context of the Plaza, an open space that started to fill up during the Early Mittani period.

Gradual build-up appear also in previous stages, as Ninevite 5 and EDIII, but in minor quantity and limited dimension.

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Accumulations

In turn, about 155 are accumulations. The full list is to found in the typological index. Here I will single out the most interesting ones.

The upper levels of J1 show many natural accumulations ^acc3 covering the plaza when it was abandoned. These accumulations are constituted of pure brown soil with just few sherds: f179, f198, f200. Then there are series of semi natural accumulations made of compact material ^acc2, full of sherds, stone and pebbles as f203, f225, f229. These are extremely hard, because waterborne deposit of sandy material. Other accumulations found at deeper levels are semi-natural because formed by natural processes of sedimentation of washed material. on these accumulations there could be also some walking that brought to a strong compaction rather than a true forming process due to occupation. In fact these are all accumulation type D, but with these few differences.

Well attested also the accumulation above pavement, like f237 and f231 very soft, with few sherds and bones lying flat, windborne, showing an abandonment rather a long period and intensive use of the pavements.

Other accumulations are not natural in forming process, but due to antropic activities. f345 and f362 are accumulations below the ^esc1 likely linked to the construction of the EDIII revetment wall. They shows small ashy layer due to activities made here. Same origin for f359, an accumulation full of stone flakes, broken stones and pebbles coming from the construction of the wall.

Very thin and hard, but clearly identifiable are the accumulation dating to Ninevite 5 period. Some of these accumulations are natural f273, otherf265 coming from the use of the open space of the Plaza.

About 22 features inside this category are topsoil, natural accumulation related to modern time f197, sometimes due to infraseasonal wind and rainborne accumulations f308. The number of this elements is remarkable because J1 was excavated in many different seasons and all over a large area (Overview).

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Layers

In J1 just one layer was identified f327, even if probably some of these have been considered as accumulation. It was considered as a layer because of its hard surfaces and its clear edges.