J2-introduction

File: /MZ/A/J02/D/-INC/-I.HTM
Processed on 06-09-2016
The home for this page is J02

2004-7-6mH Our targets for the book (the stones for the possible apron, temple terrace wall, the plaza level) are most likely located under a few meters or even several meters of soil. The soil we have excavated thus far has been natural accumulation and includes patches of softer and harder soil. The harder patches could perhaps be melted brick material but there are not well defined pieces of brick. The soil also does not have any distinct color. fAB mentioned that the temple terrace to the north of the unit is constructed of very distinct red soil. The terrace cannot be the source of the accumulation in our unit since this accumulation is clearly not red. This begs the questions where did all of this soil come from. While some of it certainly can be wind-blown, I would maintain that not all of it is. I doubt the soil would have packed in patches like it has if all of it was wind-blown and subject to similar natural forces. Perhaps some of it is erosion from later structures surrounding the plaza. In J01 East of MZ16 the soil layers they excavated through were uniformly hard. Perhaps the soil there is all the result of wind erosion. J02 is perhaps closer to later structures (like the structures to the south of J02) than the more central area of the plaza.
2009-7-19cJC This year's excavations in the J2 area are intended to explore questions regarding the chronology of the construction of the staircase, apron and associated walls. In order to achieve this goal we will be excavating immediately to the south of the apron, to expose any layers which might help determine the dates of construction. Due to the detailed nature of this work the excavations will be relatively limited in size. The questions that we hope to answer include finding out if the second staircase was built at the same time as the apron or not and also retrieving data (primarily ceramics) that will help date the earliest levels of construction of the apron. Secondary concerns include understanding the construction of the wall to west of the apron ( f127) and its relationship with the small wall ( f334) that it is connected with. We will also be exploring the area just south of the revetment wall to try and find the escarpment that was found in J1 and explore if the construction in front of the wall is the same in J2 as J1.
2009-8-27cJC At the end of the season MZ22 (2009) that last numbers are as follows, q:902, i:26, f:391, a:12, r:1142, and v:220. Any subsequent excavations should use numbers beginning with the next number in each sequence (i.e. q:903).