; File processed on 2025-12-03

; J2-daily
-inc	2004-06-26_O626MH.j	mh	GB, Marillyn, Iko, Barbara and I went out this morning to discuss where to lay the squares for J02. We agreed on six squares west of the long German trench revealing the staircase. The exact location of the trenches will be decided upon once Barbara plots the location of the door jams and the oval into a map. The overall goals for J02 are: 1) to create a perspective view of the monumental platform, i.e. to create enough space in front of the staircase and the terrace wall that allows the viewers to appreciate the size and complexity of the temple complex; 2) to expose the door jam and the possible apron flanking the staircase; 3) dating the floor(s) that go with the staircase. This will give us a date for the temple complex. 4) link the staircase with the oval in J01 East excavated last year.
-inc	2004-06-27_O627MH.j	mH	In the morning we first collapsed more of the walls in k100 for safety reasons. Most of this and the earlier collapse is probably from the upper 2m of the trench. Once enough of the wall was down we started removing it in layers from north to south. Through the day we moved ca. soil from an area of 2m south from m3583 and perhaps 30cm down. At the same time Barbara was laying squares for J02 according to the plans decided upon yesterday. In the morning we suffered from several power outages, which made the work slow. When the power was on, everything was working well. In the afternoon the elevator stopped working. We had reached moist soil in the north and this moist soil must have clogged the elevator. This did not stop work for long, since at this point Barbara had nearly finished with two squares, k4 and k5, which we opened soon afterwards. During the rest of the day we were able to remove one big pick full in k4 and two pick fulls in k5. In both squares the removed material was mostly topsoil, which contained plenty of organic material. In k5 the soil immediately below topsoil also contained plenty of pebbles. We also found a flint flake from k5.
-inc	2004-06-28_O628MH.j	mH	We continued going down on k4 and k5. We did not work on k100 since the elevator was still broken.
-inc	2004-07-06_O706MH.j	mH	The top elevation for the southern most stones in the German trench north of k3 is top@9243, the top elevation for the stones f45 in k3 is top@9252, for the stone near the northern baulk of the eastern half of k13 it is top@9233, for the stone is the northwest corner of k13 it is top@9234, and for the stone near the southern baulk of k13 it is top@9210. Of these only the last stone is at an elevation significantly different from all the rest. That stone also does not seem to sit on another stone. Hence it is probably an isolated, eroded stone. The other two stones in k13 are also perhaps isolated stones, while those in k3 are most likely in situ.
-inc	2004-07-23_O725AP.j	aP	today, since it's Friday, the government crane arrived to remove some of the eroded stones. The work took about one hour. We took away most of the collapsed stones in k2, k12, k3, k13 (f84: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 21). f84.14 was broken in one corner during the transport, such as f 84.16 which was broken out in half. All the  numbered stones were piled up in the edge of the excavation area.
-inc	2005-08-02_P802MH.j	mH	We started by removing the top 10cm of the surfaces of k3, k4, k13, and k14. This surface had been contaminated during the winter. In one of the corners near marker m3956, for example, someone had lit a small fire. After removing the first 10 cm, we made the the surface of these units roughly level. During this initial work the whole team of 16 workers worked as a single team. After the surface of the units was level, we separated a 2 x 2 area from k13 for the column k101. This column abuts wall f128 and the western baulk of k13. After this we divided the workmen into two teams. One team will be working on both k101 and k13 around it, and the other team will work in what is left of k3 and k4. We then continued work with these two teams. We took several photographs of the first apron f131 with the intent of showing how the tarp and the plaster placed in between the steps to project the mortar between them had held up during the winter. These are v73 and v74 their subviews.
-inc	2005-08-03_P803MH.j	mH	We started by removing a small area in k13, which was left over from yesterday's attempt to remove a layer of dirt from the whole loci. In k13 we then removed the small pseudobaulk differentiating k101 from k13. At this point the surfaces of k13 and k101 were approximately level. We then continued down again in k101 with a big pick. aL and pC practiced small picking at the SE corner of k13 amidst and above emerging stones. They also picked one small big run in k101. Starting from q374 in k101 we started using the small pick in order to see whether we found more pottery, bones and other finds compared to using the big pick. In k4 we continued with the northern half of the unit, the portion of the loci that is approximately level with k13, with a big pick.
-inc	2005-08-04_P806MH.j	mH	We worked in three loci today: k100, k13, and k3.
-inc	2005-08-06_P806MH2.j	mH	We worked only in k4 and k100 today.
-inc	2005-08-07_P807MH.j	mH	By the end of the day we finished removing the back dirt that had piled in k5 before the installation of the elevator.
-inc	2005-08-17_P817MH.j	mH	We finished excavating at 12.30 today because gB held a meeting for the workmen explaining what we were doing this season and why.
-inc	2005-08-20_P820VVE1.j	vVE	Today we continued excavating in k4, k14 and k15 in order to reach their respective goal depths. We stopped excavating in k100 for today because we reached a floor level which is positively associated with the steps of f130 and the other squares were given more priority by gB. Excavation was also started again in k102 where we eventually hope to create a sloping section baulk to increase the safety for the people working in k100.
-inc	2005-08-27_P827MH.j	mH	We opened k24 today south of k23 in order to continue with making the steps for the stepped section west of k101, k14, and k15. We continued removing the north baulk of k15 in order to bring in parallel with the north baulk of k5. The removal of the east baulk of k5 was finished today and thus I assigned that workteam to start working on the ledges in k5.
-inc	2005-08-29_P830MH.j	mH	We finished work a few minutes early so that gB could give the workmen the sad news of Prof. Peccorella's death earlier in the day and announce that we would not work tomorrow.
-inc	2008-01-19_S119PC2.j	pC	a series of different features covering the apron f131 are characterized by bricky material, meaning melted bricks, complete bricks or brick crumble: theese are f112, f106 which were excavated on season 2004 by aP and mH and recognized as accumulations whith bricky consistence and red. The thickness of this accumulations is 51 cm (top elevation of f106 is 91.02, bottom elevation of f112 is 89.73): they may be the result of the collapse of a structure or even a part of the mudbrick terrace to the North of the monumental access. Theese features are not to be related to other features whith the same characteristics found in k4 at the same elevation, to which is to be ascribed a brickfall coming from south: theese are f189, f188 (aggregate a6) which lay at 89.46 top elevation: the presence of wall f144 served to frame a collapse of a structure and therfore the stratigraphy South of it is different from the stratigraphy to the North. Top elevation of wall f144 is 91.47
-inc	2005-09-07_S307PC.j	mH	The South section of k4, as seen in v133, shows several layers of dark thin bands alternating with thicker brown bands; then bands end at the brickfall approximatly 3-3.5 m toward k100 edge. Theese bands were not identified during excavation. The layers are circa of 3-4 cm thick and the topmost band is at an elevation of 88.34 (located inside f286)
-inc	2009-07-20_T720CJC.j	cJC	Today we had our first day of work. We will begin with 8 workmen, 2 pickmen, 4 shovelmen and 1 wheelbarrow driver. Today we had 7 workmen as one workman did not come because his son is sick. We spent most of the time before breakfast cleaning the staircase and the apron. After breakfast we removed the backfill dirt and the plastic at the bottom of the apron and cleaned the tops of the sections. Work was slow because all the dirt had to be carried up the cement staircase next to J7. sH and cJC were in the field to supervise the work. When we removed the plastic the area underneath was damp and the layer underneath appeared to have laminations. These are presumably due to the accumulation of water under the plastic during the past 4 inactive years not due to any ancient reasons. We will scrape the whole area tomorrow.
-inc	2009-07-19_T720CJC.j	cJC	Yesterday yM, cJC and sH went to the field to discuss the strategy with fAB for both J02 and J06. The purpose of this year's excavation in J2 is to understand the stratigraphy of the layers immediately in front of the apron. If there is time we also would like to excavate to the west of the apron and the small wall (f127) in order to clarify the relationship of the area west of the apron and the plaza area, perhaps allowing for comparisons with J1. The goals for the season include the clarification of the chronology of the construction of the staircase and the apron as well as exposure of the earliest layers associated with the bottom of the apron. To begin we will open some limited areas, probably 2 loci immediately in front of the apron in order to maintain tight control over the excavation. We plan to leave to baulks running north-south leading up to the apron to clarify the relationship of any floors, etc. that may be recovered. We will work with limited workmen due to the small area and the need for close control.
-inc	2009-07-21_T721CJC.j	cJC	Today we finished cleaning J2 before breakfast. We had seven workmen today. We cleaned the area just west of the apron. The plastic had been removed and the area cleaned in MZ21 for kite photos so the work went quickly. After we finished cleaning we removed the small curtain wall that was to the west of f127, the north-south wall to the west of the apron. mO came to help remove the stones, we also had assistance from some of the workmen from J6. After we removed the stones we excavated f336 under the wall. Dirt removal was slow as the workmen had to carry all the dirt up the cement staircase of J7 in zambils.
-inc	2009-07-22_T722CJC.j	cJC	Today we continued cleaning and we removed the baulk in k54. After discussions with fAB, pC, cJC and sH it was decided that it is best to retain this baulk in the same location even if it makes the locus north of it (the area running up to the revetment wall) fairly narrow. We want to keep the sections the same as those from the previous J2 excavations where possible.
-inc	2009-07-23_T725CJC.j	cJC	Today we cut the south section of J2 back about 40 centimeters to get rid of the eroded pieces and to create more room for excavation. After breakfast we tried to install the shaffat but unfortunately it was the wrong size and so it had to be removed again. We will try a different shaffat on Saturday after the day off. The dirt removal was slow as a result and we did not finish removing the section.
-inc	2009-07-25_T725CJC.j	cJC	Today in the morning we finished removing the southern baulk in k54 (f338). We were finally able to install the shaffat. It is placed on the raised section south of the apron in k4. Afterwards we
-inc	2009-07-26_T726CJC.j	cJC	Today in the morning we continued working in k14 and k5. We spent most of the morning helping Adeeb to put in the squares. We have resolved the placement issues by running an east-west line and then a north-south line and seeing where they cross. We have measured all the squares and baulks from that one established corner. We continued excavating the brickfall (f341) in k14
-inc	2009-07-27_T727CJC.j	cJC	Today first thing in the morning we cleaned the whole area so it could be photographed. We anticipated beginning excavation today and wanted to photograph the area with the squares in place and after everything was cleaned, cut back and scraped. After photographs we relayed several stones (f345) that we then removed. We continued to remove the brickfall f341 in k14. We began to excavated the small south portion of k110 that is being cut back to match the south section of the other squares. We removed one hard sloping floor (f344). After breakfast we scraped the west section of k100 so it can be drawn this afternoon. We also began removing f335 in k14.
-inc	2009-07-28_T728CJC.j	cJC	Today we spent the morning taking measuremnts, relaying f349 and f346. sG and cJC finished drawing the west sections of k100. The workmen cleaned and removed some of the conservation materials while the staff took measurements. Before breakfast we had a meeting with gB and fAB. We discussed the strategy for J2. Kameron scraped the west section of k100 along the part that borders J7k6 so we can draw it when we have time.
-inc	2009-07-29_T729CJC.j	cJC	Today there was a sandstorm and so we will work inside the house instead of in the field. This will give us the opportunity to catch up on the UGR documentation. cJC will focus on templates, data entry and running the programs while sH will work with sG on object descriptions.
-inc	2009-08-01_T801CJC.j	cJC	Today we were able to begin going down in all of k110. First we removed the remaining portions of the floor f355 before going down about 15cm across the whole square. Mohammed Ker, one of the pickmen, did not come back after breakfast due to a family emergency so we continued with only 2 pickmen.  Before breakfast sG and sH finished drawing the western section of k100. It will be photographed tomorrow when the light is better.
-inc	2009-08-02_T802CJC.j	cJC	Today in the morning we continued removing the layers in k110. The goal was to expose the salmon-colored layer, f359. We were able to remove the last of f357 and expose f359. We spent some time then discussing the strategy (see sg entry). fAB gave a lecture to the workmen explaining the importance of our area and the importance of the f359 as a stratigraphic seal. After breakfast we started excavating in k5 to expose the salmon layer. We had some difficulties correlating the layers in k5 with k110 so we decided to stop for today and discuss the strategy in the afternoon with fAB and gB.
-inc	2009-08-03_T803CJC.j	cJC	Today the first hour of work the workmen cleaned J7 while sG and cJC drew the west section of k110. After that we removed the portions of the west section of k110 layer by layer. We intend to follow the layers across the baulk and go down in k5 without the east baulk (same as west baulk k110). After breakfast we photographed the pebble floor f362 and removed it. The work is proceeding slowly because we are primarily using the small pick to avoid cutting through any layers.
-inc	2009-08-05_T805CJC.j	cJC	Today we continued excavating only in k5. We had hoped to reach the salmon-colored floor (f359) in this locus today but we were unable to. Work was slow as we are only using the small pick to avoid cutting through any layers. Also, we stopped several times for Adeeb to remeasure our markers. We decided to change features about 10cm down into f363 as the matrix became slightly more reddish. This was called f364. At noon the workmen went for a lecture about the site with gB so we ended work early.
-inc	2009-08-08_T808CJC.j	cJC	Today in k5 we started the day hoping to expose all of f359. We finished following it to the west. After cJC and sH drew the north section of k5 we began excavating k4 up to the apron. We did not find f359 continuing north up to the apron f131. Instead we found a gray layer with some larger sherds (f368) sloping up and abutting the apron (f131). Just south of this feature, but partially overlaying it we found brownish red layer we called f367. It is similar to f365 but not identical. f367 overlays f359 and f369. f359 slopes down sharply and partially overlays the gray floor surface of f369. We decided to excavate f367 first because it seems to be the latest as it overlays all the other features. When we began removing it we noticed what appear to be pieces of a broken plaster floor. At this point fAB and gB came to visit J2. They discussed the possible relationships of the plaster floor to the other features as well as discussing what might have caused the break in continuity of f359. pC suggested that perhaps water came down from the apron and created a puddle which destroyed some of the layers immediately in front of the apron (f131) including f359. We discussed the different possibilities of relationships of the features, with the most puzzling being the break in f359 and the relation of the plaster to the other features. gB would like us to change the way we excavate and stop using trowels and instead use only the small pick and brush to avoid creating artifical surfaces which he thinks may clarify the situation. He gave a demonstration to the workmen. Also during the day we finished removing the brickfall in k111 (f352) and sH and mCT drew the west section of k5.
-inc	2009-08-09_T809CJC.j	cJC	Today in the early morning we continued excavating in k4 and k5 along the border of the two loci. We did our best to only remove the brownish feature (f367) while preserving f369 underneath and any remaining portions of the plaster (f370). Because we were excavating using only the small pick and the brush (no trowel) this task took one pickman (Mohammed Kher) the whole day. We also began excavating in k15. We followed f364 across through our section but found that instead of being just f365 underneath as in k4 and k5 we found a more complicated situation. Therefore, we continued very slowly also in k15.
-inc	2009-08-10_T810CJC.j	cJC	Today we focused work primarily in k15 working with our two pickmen both in the same area. Because we have so many different layers and the cut of the erosion we are proceeding slowly to understand each layer before removing it.
-inc	2009-08-11_T811CJC.j	cJC	Today we worked only in k15. In the morning we mostly cleaned for the first year as the area we wanted to excavate was damp from having the plastic covering it. Once we had cleaned everything we did our best to expose f375, the floor with plaster inclusions. We photographed it when we thought it had reached its full extent but then as we were removing f365 we found it continued and so we photographed it again. After that we removed f375 and started removing the accumulations of f365 by moving from the west section of k5 in a westward direction. In the south portion of k15 f365 came down on top of the salmon-colored floor f359 just as we expected. We did not finish exposing f359 and will work on exposing its extent tomorrow. In the north part of k15 we found the situation was more disturbed possibly due to erosion as we saw in k5 with the erosion of f359 and the brown accumulation of f367. It seems that f367 continues into k15 with some disturbed accumulations (not in nice thin layers of accumulations like f365) and some sherds that are not lying flat as well as some pebbles. We will explore this area tomorrow. We met with gB and fAB after breakfast and gB reminded the workmen again to only use the brush and not the trowel to avoid creating artificial surfaces.
-inc	2009-08-12_T812CJC.j	cJC	Today we continued working in k15 to finish removing f365 and then proceed down to expose all of f359. We found that it was difficult to follow f359 as it appears to have been damaged by erosion (the cut of the erosion has been assigned f376). We appear to have a similar situation in k15 as we had in k4 and k5 where the salmon-colored floor (f359) was cut by erosion exposing the gray floor f369 and then the cut of the erosion was filled in by a softer brown accumulation f367. In k15 we find that the erosion (f376) did not completely remove the salmon-colored floor f359 but instead only damaged its top surface (the hard gray/salmon color layer). Then f359 was partially overlaid by the brown accumulation f367. It appears that the pink layer (f373) is in fact a continuation of f359 but is heavily damaged and very soft unlike the rest of f359 which was hard and formed a nice surface. I say that are likely the same though because we seem to have a stratigraphic continuation from f359 across to f373 with no interruption and the damaged portions of f359 are slightly darker in color but of the same consistency. Also today, In the morning we cleaned and then dM came to take a video of the pickmen working with the pick and the brush for the archives. At noon, as we have finally exposed all of f359, we began cleaning for the views we will take this afternoon. Today pC will go with dM to the field in the afternoon to take the views. gB and fAB want nice views of f359 and its relation to the apron (f131) because they have suggested that it is the first floor associated with the construction of the apron.
-inc	2009-08-13_T815CJC.j	cJC	Today we first cleaned the area and took a few photos of the overall area showing the extent of f359 and then we removed f359 in k110, excavated the feature underneath, f377 and exposed f379 and removed a portion of f379 to reveal f381 with an animal pawprint in it.
-inc	2009-08-15_T815CJC.j	cJC	Today we continued working in k110. We started by removing the remaing portion of f379. In the process of removing this feature we uncovered more impressions in f381 which is immediately below. Some of the prints appear to be of human feet so we decided to stop, clean, photograph and make plaster casts of the impressions. Then, before breakfast gB and fAB came and we discussed leaving the footprints to be excavated next season instead of doing it this year. gB thought we should pedestal the south portion of k110 and only work in north k110 but I would rather not as the area is very small. At breakfast there was a strategy meeting between pC, fAB, gB and cJC to discuss how to proceed. After discussing several options (excavating north k110, working in k13, cutting a trench in front of the apron, excavating down in J6k84, and making a sounding in k100) we decided to work in k100. We will remove the backfill and then go down to see if we can find the bottom of the first staircase (f380) and get enough ceramic material for a solid date of construction. After breakfast we began removing the backfill of k100. We will continue tomorrow.
-inc	2009-08-16_T816CJC.j	cJC	We continued removing the backfill in k100. We used v127 as a guideline for how the features looked at the end of 2005. Before breakfast we finished removing all the backfill and began excavating what appears to be a pit (a12) or at least some kind of cut. We started removing the fill (f382) and found it went down quite far. We excavated f382 for the rest of the day. Akmed and sH tried to take 2 more casts of the footprints in k110 but they were unsuccessful. We decided not to try again and to backfill k110 today or tomorrow.
-inc	2009-08-17_T819CJC.j	cJC	We continued removing the fill (f383) of the pit (a12) in the southwest corner of k100. At the bottom we found a row of small stones, relatively straight (f384) sitting in a hard surface (f385). We decided this was a good stopping point for the pit for this season. We decided to remove the pebble floor from last season (f292) and proceed down in the rest of k100. Under f292 we found a nice sherd and bone floor (f386)that took awhile to expose. We also cut back the section of the pit cut (f382) to look for a good stopping point for the rest of k100. We continued work in the afternoon so we can reach a good point and achieve some of our goals of finding the floors associated with the construction of the lower staricase (f380).
-inc	2009-08-18_T819CJC.j	cJC	We worked in k100 removing a series of sherd and pebble pavements and their subfloors. We removed f386 and its subfloor, f387 and then floor f388 and its subfloor f389 before stopping at the exposure of f390. gB and fAB came to give candy to our workmen and make a video of the workmen giving them candy. gB had a discussion about the archaeology of J2 with the workmen. In the afternoon we worked to reach a good stopping point and also to cut back the west section of k100.
-inc	2009-08-30_T830CJC.j	cJC	Today we removed the backfill from k100 for final photographs. We also cleaned all of J2. We will attempt to rephotograph the human footprints as well.

; J2-equipment
-inc	2004-06-28_O628MH.j	mH	We broke one small pick and a trowel and got loners for those from Mary's unit A17.
-inc	2004-06-29_O629MH3.j	mH	We broke a trowel and we also had a problem with the wheel of a wheel barrow. In order to operate two units, k5 and k14, and the elevator in k100 we will need four wheel barrows; one for each unit and two for the elevator.
-inc	2004-07-05_O705MH4.j	mh	The elevator worked fine most of the day. The trick seems to be to avoid putting moist soil or too much soil into it.
-inc	2004-07-11_O711AP.j	aP	the elevator doesn't work yet for motor's problems so we employed the teams to open some new squares and go on with the excavations where we were working.
-inc	2004-07-12_O712AP.j	ap	the elevator doesn't work yet for motor's problems so we employed the teams going on with the squares.
-inc	2004-07-14_O714AP2.j	ap	Sabbah told be that maybe the elevator does not work since the "tapis-roulant" is too much vertical. He proposed to put it slightly oblique and maybe we'll try to use it in the squares k3,k13,k4, k14, k5, k15.
-inc	2004-07-15_O717AP.j	ap	we started to use the machine of Sabbah to remove the soil from the trench. It seems work very well. Tomorrow it will possible to check the exact time necessary to let down the wheelbarrow, to fill it and to empty the dirt. 8 men are necessary: four down and four on the top.
-inc	2004-07-18_O718AP.j	ap	both the machines do not work. The problems are in the motors.
-inc	2004-07-19_O719AP.j	aP	the machine starts to work at 7.00/7.30. Today we have not problem with it and we were able to remove the dirt accumulated and to start with the cleaning of the last four steps totally covered by soil. Ten persons are requested : six down and four up since we have three wheelbarrows. Instead the "elevator" does not work and we have to remove all the dirt we the wheelbarrows.
-inc	2004-07-20_O721AP.j	aP	the "elevator" starts to work at 5.45. Today it works fine but before the faidòs we had to remove all the machinery in order to take the picture. Also the machine of Sabbah works very well.
-inc	2005-08-04_P806MH.j	mH	We installed another elevator and placed it so that it sits in k15.
-inc	2005-08-06_P806MH2.j	mH	We installed a third elevator into k13. This was the elevator we just last year in k100. Its motor was broken at first but Balian fixed it and we got the elevator running towards the end of the day. The elevator placed in k15 worked very well all day. We removed most of the dirt that had accumulated in k5 during the first days of excavation when we did not have the machine. The elevator placed in k100 also worked well.
-inc	2005-08-07_P807MH.j	mH	The third elevator installed in k13 broke before breakfast. I suspect that the reason for this was the dirt leaning against the outer end of the axel at the bottom. The dirt jammed the axel from the outside and thus it broke. In the future, before Balian brings covers for them, we have to make sure that dirt around the elevators do not prevent the axel from turning freely.
-inc	2005-08-08_P808MH.j	mH	The third elevator was running today having been fixed toward the end of yesterday.
-inc	2005-08-09_P809MH.j	mH	Elevator no. 2 located in k15 did not work well at the start of the morning, but Anwar repaired it quickly. In contrast, the elevator in k100 broke early and did not work for the rest of the day.
-inc	2005-08-10_P810MH.j	mH	Elevator in k100 had bee broken all yesterday, but today it was running again. We also had problems with the elevator located in k15. For some reason the direction of the rotation had changed into the wrong one, which created problems. The electrician came to fix it and afterwards it was running smoothly.
-inc	2005-08-13_P813MH2.j	mH	We moved the elevator from k13 into k14 at the start of the day, and the elevator from k5 to k15 at the end of the day.
-inc	2005-08-14_P814MH.j	mH	The elevator in k100 broke after breakfast. The soil we had excavated in that unit was very moist and it seems that it cloged the elevator and broke it. The men had to lift the elevator out of unit in order for Ammar to try to fix it. fAB and gB emphasized that elevators should run whether we have a trailor underneath or not.
-inc	2005-08-14_P815AL.j	aL	We have had some problems in k101 with the elevator so the work has gone on very slowly.
-inc	2005-08-15_P815MH.j	mH	We had serious problems with the elevators located in k14 and k100. Both elevators were used to take out very moist soil, which tended the clog the machine. In k100 the result was that we really could not use the machine but had to pile the dirt next to it hoping that it will dry enough to be removed by elevator tomorrow. With the elevator located in k14 (dirt coming from k101 and k13) the problem was quite not that severe since the angle of the elevator is much better. These problems, however, slowed us down significantly.
-inc	2005-08-16_P816MH.j	mH	We had serious problems with the elevators today. Elevator in k100 was broken most of the day, but ran for about an hour, an hour and a half in the afternoon. Elevator in k14 ran periodically, but most of the ddirt generated in k13 and k14 was removed with sambils or small buckets. Elevator in k5 worked best todat but even there we had to rely on sambils and buckets quite often.
-inc	2005-08-17_P817MH.j	mH	All elevators worked ok today.
-inc	2005-08-28_P828MH.j	mH	We placed a large sifter below the elevator located in k15. We sift the soil coming from various locations. Sifting q-lots will be indicated within daily descriptions of loci.
-inc	2005-08-29_P830MH.j	mH	There were occasional stops with the elevators sometimes due to power outages and sometimes to clogs. These however did not significantly impact the work.

; J2-introduction
-inc	2004-07-06_O706MH.j	mH	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.
-inc	2009-07-19_T720CJC.j	cJC	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.
-inc	2009-08-27_T827CJC3.j	cJC	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).

; J2-labeling
-inc	2005-08-15_P815MH.j	mH	We made a mistake labeling the qlots. The last qlot of the day yesterday was q467 and today we started accidentally from q478 instead of q468 like we were supposed to. Thus no. 468-477 have not been used and thus q-lots with those numbers do not exist.
-inc	2005-08-28_P828MH.j	mH	We combined k101 and k103 into k104 today.

; J2-marker
-inc	2005-08-02_P802MH.j	mH	bP established six contol points for our unit. Three, m3954, m3953, m3952, are located on the western baulk of k13, m3956 is located under a large flat stone in k3, and two, m3956 and m3957, are located in k4 on a southern excavation face roughly located in the middle of k4.
-inc	2005-08-08_P808MH.j	mH	We removed markers m3956 and m3957 because they were located on the southern pseudobaulk of k4 which we continued removing today.
-inc	2005-08-09_P809MH.j	mH	bP put in baulk corner markers m4034 (NW corner), m4031 (NE corner), and m4032 (SE corner). She also gave me an additional marker on the north-south line between m4031 and m4032. This marker (m4033) helps us with keeping the sections clear. bP also redefined k5. m4037 is the NW baulk corner, m4038 is the NE baulk corner, m4039 is the SE baulk corner. m4036 is the SE corner of the unit, m3969 is the NE corner, m3967 is the NW corner, and m4035 is the SW corner.
-inc	2005-08-10_P810MH.j	mH	Removed markers m4038 and m4037.
-inc	2005-08-11_P813MH.j	mH	We removed marker m4033. bP added four control points low in the western wall of k100. These markers are (from north to south): m4054, m4055, m4056, and m4057. She also gave us new baulk corners for k5: NE baulk corner is m4050 and the NW corner is m4051.
-inc	2005-08-13_P813MH2.j	mH	We removed marker m3836. bP moved the lines on both sides of k100 from 2.7 m from the bottom egde of k100 to 4 m from the bottom edge. I asked her also to redefine the baulks of k15. She only had to put one new marker in (m4067) on the NE baulk corner, since the rest (NW baulk corner m3885, SW corner m3871, and SE baulk corner m3887) were already in place from last year.
-inc	2005-08-14_P814MH.j	mH	We removed marker m4030. bP gave us contol points in k4. These are m4080, m4081, and m4082.
-inc	2005-08-17_P817MH.j	mH	Removed markers m3967 and m4035. bP put new control points along the southern edges of k4 and k14.
-inc	2005-08-24_P824SC.j	sC	bP put 4 new markers: 4172 (NW corner of k15), 4171 (NW baulk corner of k15), 4170 (NW corner of k14) and 4169 (NW baulk corner of k14).
-inc	2005-08-31_P831MH.j	mH	Removed markers m4095 and m4084.

; J2-methods and techniques
-inc	2005-08-10_P810MH.j	mH	We will start using the sifter in the column (once we start excavating the column again) and note, which is the first q-lot and/or feature sifted. The sifter mesh size is approximately 1.7cmx1.7cm. We will also need to mark accurate cm down for the column q-lots so that our volumes sifed and recored will be correct for possible statistical calculations.
-inc	2005-08-14_P814MH.j	mH	In the morning gB, fAB, and mKB came to visit the unit. Based on their suggestion we started separating pottery bagged by Massum in k101, the pickman, and the pottery discovered in the sifter even if they come from the same pick run. This change was done so that we can observe how big a different sifting makes compared to just collecting pottery during excavation and dirt removal. We also decided that rather than tossing the dirt from k101 up with buckets to the sifter, we would alternate with dirt coming from k13 and use the elevator.
-inc	2005-08-16_P816MH.j	mH	Since the elevator in k14 had serious problems most of the day, most of the dirt was removed with sambils and buckets, which obviously made excavating slower.
-inc	2005-08-16_P816MH.j	mH	Yesterday we had decided upon taking a look at the q-lot pairs coming from the excavator of k101 and from the sifter today in order to determine whether we miss a lot of material by just relying on the eye of the excavator as we usually do. If we do not miss much, we could safely stop sifting. Because we had a problem with the elevator located in k14, sifting the material from 101 presented logistical problems of getting the dirt up to the sifter fast and safe. I thought this was a good time to make the determination of whether to continue or not. mKB and I looked at the materials recovered yesterday and concluded that although the sifter does recover more smaller pottery pieces than the excavators normally do, these small pieces really do not add to the information obtained from excavated pottery to the extent that would justify the effort of sifting. We presented our conclusions together with the logistical problems we were having to gB and jO and both agreed that there was no need to continue sifting in k101. The decision was reached just when we decided to stop excavations in k101 for the time being. Once we start again in a couple of days we will not continue sifting.
-inc	2005-08-29_P830MH.j	mH	We have now been sifting the soil excavated in first in k104 and k5 (north baulk), and now in k14 and in k5 and the amount of pottery we recoved has increased drastically. For every pick run we now fill 1-2 additional pottery bags. For example in k5 where we proceed with big picks qlot q659, which came from the excavators in the unit, was accompanied by qlots q660 and q674, which were collected by the sifters. In k14 q661 recovered by the excavators was accompanied by qlot q663 from the sifter.

; J2-notes on time sequencing
-inc	2004-07-04_O704MH.j	mh	The first feature of interest in J02 in terms of dating is the tannur feature f9 and its fill f10 in k14 attached to the middle of the southern baulk of the unit. We did not find a proper floor associated with it although we did find a hard, compacted layer of soil to the west of it, which I termed lb. This is f12. The next features of interest are stone formations or stone groupings in k4, k5 and k14. These are lower in elevation than the tannur in k14. I have labeled the stone features as follows: stones in k4 are f27, in k5 they are f24, and k14 they are f26. While these stones do not seem to form a coherent structure, they clearly are the result of human activity and thus the date for these would be of interest. They are located underneath and mixed with soil deposition that seems like natural accumulation. I have given different feature numbers for the soil just immediately above or surrounding the stones as follows: in k4 the soil around and between the stones is f22, in k5 it is f16 and in k14 it is f15. The appropriate q-lots to pay attention to with respect to these features are: f12 "working floor" associated with the tannur: f12q29; f10 (tannur fill): f10q28; f9 (removing the tannur, i.e soil underneath it): f15q39; soil (f15) around and mixed with the stones in k14 (f26): f15q30, f15q37, and f15q35; soil (f22) around and mixed with the stones in k4 (f27): f22q47 and f22q50; and soil (f16) mixed with and associated with stones in k5 (f24): f16q31 and f16q34.
-inc	2004-07-19_O719AP1.j	aP	since we have almost finished to clean all the open area western to the big German trench we decided to choose some q-lots of pottery with the goal of dating this homogeneous level. In fact, following the sections and the collapsed stones, it's possible to notice a regular alignment in all the squares (k3,k13, k4, k14, k5, k15). We chose f65, q188 and f65, q186 for k15 and f32, q85 and f32, q90 for k3 since we have already selected some q-lots from k4 and k14.
-inc	2004-07-28_O728AP.j	aP	Today we decided to remove the eroded stones which were placed south to the wall that we noticed in k13. Below the stones we found the same kind of soil, very compact and graysh. We decided to select some q-lots (f103: q329, q332, q 335) in order to date the erosion of the stones.
-inc	2004-07-29_O728AP.j	aP	today we showed to mkB the material coming from the last layer of k13: f125,q354 which at a first sight seems Mittanic (with a shard of conical cup). We think that f125, q354 and q359 could also be interesting as samples of Mittanic material. May be it could be interesting to look also at the material coming from k3. The last q-lots excavated in this unit are f112, q299  and q304. This layer, however, is brickfall so the material will be mixed.
-inc	2004-08-01_O801AP.j	ap	with the aim of having a general perspective of the ceramic material present in JO2 I think that could be interesting to analyze also some of the pottery found removing the western side of the German trench (for us it's the eastern baulk of k4 and k5). The goal is checking if this material is Mittanic or it could be Khabur. The q-lots I choose come from the last 20 cm of the feature: f110: q356, q344, q316.
-inc	2004-08-01_O801AP1.j	ap	with the aim of having a general perspective of the ceramic material present in JO2 I think that could be interesting to analyze also some of the pottery found removing the western side of the German trench (for us it's the eastern baulk of k4 and k5). The goal is checking if this material is Mittanic or it could be Khabur. The q-lots I choose come from the last 20 cm of the feature: f110: q356, q344, q316.

; J2-overall shot
-inc	2005-08-29_P830MH.j	mH	We took an overall shot of, mostly, k4 and k14 showing f232 (stone wall), f131 apron, f150 (possible use-area in k4), and f129 (wall with the doorjam) in order to show their relatioship to one another before we removed f232 and continued excavating in k4. This view is v115.

; J2-phase
-inc	2009-09-22_T922MKB3.j	mKB	Features dated on basis of ceramics to Phase 4c (ED IIIB): f344, f347, f350, f353, f355, f360, f361, f362, f363 (the sherds from this feature look earlier than Phase 4c because there are more Phase 3s sherds in the feature so it may be transitional Phase 3s to 4c).
-inc	2009-09-22_T922MKB3.j	mKB	Features dated on the basis of the ceramics to the transition between Phase 3s to 4c, this means in effect that there are sherds typical for both phases in the features: f357, f359, f377, f379, f364, f365, f370, f367, f375, f367
-inc	2009-09-22_T922MKB3.j	mKB	Features dated on the basis of the ceramics to Phase 3s (ED IIIA): f209, f214, f215, f258, 276, f287, f292, f386, f387, f388, f389
-inc	2009-09-22_T922MKB4.j	mKB	Many of the brickfall features in k110, k15 and k5/k4 are only mixed between some Mittani sherds and many Phase 3s and Phase 4c (see especially f341, f334, f351. This is not the case for f338 where there are many large Mittani sherds even though here too there are some Phase 3s and 4c ceramics. It appears then that the brickfall had a differential impact at the moment of collapse depending on whether it collapsed onto earlier Mittani contexts (as was the case of f338) or onto ED III A and B contexts on the surface of the mound. It is interesting to note that while some of the ED III sherds are weathered, the majority are not impacted. In many cases the ED III sherds are highly fired and therefore not as subject to weathering action but this is not the case for all the ED III sherds. However the heavy sod layer on the surface of the site may have protected all the surface ceramics from damage. Further confirmation of this fact can be found in areas where there is a long gap between Mittani and earlier periods, in J1 for instance; there too the sherds are not weathered also because they were protected by the sod layer. The protective role of the sod would have been destroyed if there was heavy foot or vehicular traffic and this does not appear to have been the case. Therefore it can be suggested on the basis of this evidence that this part of the mound was little used in the time periods of the major gaps in our evidence - in J2 from the late ED III period until the early (or middle) Mittani period. This corroborates evidence from the stratigraphy and contributes to an overview of the ED III mound topography in this area.
-inc	2009-09-26_T926MKB.j	mKB	Features f388 and f389 are probably dated to Phase 3h after seeing the stratified late Ninevite ceramics in Tell Arbit where they do have flaring rim jars with squared rim in late Ninevite V contexts. The jars of this type from Arbit are larger than ours and not made in such a fine ware therefore this dating of the J2 features is not certain but the possibility does exist.

; J2-staff
-inc	2005-08-01_P802MH.j	mh	The staff of J02 consists of mH, vVE, sC, and aL.
-inc	2005-08-04_P806MH.j	mH	vVE helped the workmen to instal the elevator and hurt his finger in the process. We worked at the house for the remainder of the day.
-inc	2005-08-06_P806MH2.j	mH	vVE worked at the house again due to the accident on thursday. aL worked with jW most of the day helping him excavate a Mitanni grave.
-inc	2005-08-07_P807MH.j	mH	vVE stayed at the house again.
-inc	2005-08-08_P808MH.j	mH	vVE returned back to the field.
-inc	2005-08-09_P809MH.j	mH	vVE and aL worked at the house after breakfast shifting a soil sample q413.1.
-inc	2005-08-15_P815MH.j	mH	I, mH, was at the house plotting relays for about 2.5 hours after breakfast. aL supervises the work in k100 and is also responsible for writing the daily journal for that locus. aL also supervised excavations in k102 in the last few days.
-inc	2005-08-17_P817MH.j	mH	We took the staf photo in J2 this afternoon.
-inc	2005-08-20_P820MH.j	mH	I felt unwell after breakfast and thus stayed at the house, although I visited the field to check upon our progress every once in a while. sC stayed at the house to work on feature descriptions and, electricity allowing, on templates. vVE and aL stayed in the field.
-inc	2005-08-20_P820VVE1.j	vVE	After the 9:00am breakfast mH did not feel very well and decided to stay in the house to work on the computers. sC worked in the house for almost the entire day.
-inc	2005-08-22_P822MH2.j	mH	I was working at house house all day only periodically checking on the progress in the field. vVE was at the house in the morning, but in the field after breakfast. aL and sC were in the field all day. aL continued to work in k100. vVE will write the daily journal for this day.
-inc	2005-08-23_P823SC.j	sC	vvE stayed at home working on templates
-inc	2005-08-24_P824SC.j	sC	vvE worked at home (on templates). mH stayed at home because she was ill.
-inc	2005-08-25_P825SC.j	sC	vvE worked at home (on templates). mH stayed at home because she was ill.
-inc	2005-08-27_P827MH.j	mH	I came back to the field after having been sick and missing from the field for two whole working days.
-inc	2005-08-31_P831MH.j	mH	I stayed at the house most of the morning after breakfast making a Harris Matrix of k101, k103, and k104. sC will write the daily journal for the latter part of the day.
-inc	2009-07-19_T720CJC.j	cJC	J2 excavations will take place this year under the supervision of pC, who will be primarily excavating in J6 with much of the day-to-day supervision by cJC. sH and sG will assist. As of the beginning of the excavation only cJC and sH are present.
-inc	2009-08-01_T801CJC.j	cJC	sG has joined our team for the next week. She will assist in J2 as well as J6.
-inc	2009-08-05_T805CJC.j	cJC	sG is only working in the field before breakfast. After breakfast today sH went to work on site presentation with gB.

; J2-storage
-inc	2005-08-24_P824SC.j	sC	fAB helped me with the pottery tag (from 1220am) and suggest to create a new locus for the area that up to date we have defined as k13: therefore from tomorrow we will always refer to the NE corner of k13 as k103 defined by relays r709, r710, r712, r713) instead of k13. From tomorrow fAB suggests that we can ask to Abdelhamed to help us with the tag and with the record of the q-items in the field.

; J2-strategy
-inc	2004-06-26_O626MH.j	mh	The first task is to clean a part of the long German trench which exposes the staircase. We will not clean all of it but start about 2 m north of the door jams and continue about 5 m south of it. We will begin on Sunday June 27 by collapsing the western wall of the trench just north and south of the door jams. In order to keep track of the material coming from the collapse, we will start removing the dirt from the south and continue north in about 20 cm layers. After the dirt from our collapse has been removed we will continue with the earlier, weather induced collapse. This collapse is very hard and compacted thus we will precede with big picks. The dirt will be hoisted up with the help of the machine and shifted, collected and catalogued. Everything will be recorded as Q-lots and -items. Once we reach the original bottom of the excavation trench we will level and clean it hoping to follow the original bottom since the Germans interpreted that to be a plaza floor. After the trench has been cleaned be can start removing the topsoil from the squares. The above should be accomplished before the arrival of Alexia Pavan, the principal excavator.
-inc	2004-06-26_O626MH.j	mh	Since our units intersect with the German units, we will first proceed to their level and then continue down in the whole unit. The initial excavation should be fast since the soil above the terrace should be rather clean and should not contain any features. The oval wall should be approximately 2 m down at an elevation of ca. 93 m. Once we reach the wall, we will continue excavation outside the terrace. At that point the excavation will be carried out slower and with more care. We will pay special attention to possible floor features abutting the wall. The Germans found a floor in their long trench at the elevation of 87 m. We do not know whether this is the original floor level, since their excavation did not expose the connection between the door jam and the staircase. We will continue excavating in the German trench until we reach this level, but this will be done once the team is in full strength.
-inc	2004-07-05_O705MH4.j	mh	The current bottoms of units k4, k5, and k14, which have the stones, are within 12cm of each other. We have reached roughly the same level also on the western half of k13 where we stopped excavations today. Tomorrow we will try to draw as many of the necessary sections as possible and bring the eastern side of k13 and the northern half of k3 into the same level with the other units. After that we will be ready to remove baulks between them and continue down.
-inc	2004-07-07_O707AP.j	aP	This is my first day on the field. For the moment k4, k5 and k14 are temporary closed. After removing the baulks between k5 and k4 and between k4 and k3 we'll draw the eastern sections of k4 and k5 and we'll reduce them towards the German trench leaving just 30/40 cm.
-inc	2004-07-08_O708AP.j	ap	Since the elevator doesn't work we decide to use the two teams of workers opening the new square k33.
-inc	2004-07-12_O712AP.j	ap	since the elevator does not work we employed all our teams in digging squares. We decided to open two new squares  (k15 an k53). With the opening of k15 the goal is to reach the same level in the area south to the "apron" to show a kind of horizontal plan which had to be characteristic of area. This is suggested by the disposition of the collapsed stones in k3, k4, k5 and k13 and k14. On the other side opening k53 we hope to could reach, as soon as possible, the oval wall wich is visible in JO1.
-inc	2004-07-13_O713AP.j	aP	in the first hour of the morning we employed the team working in k15 to clean up the stair. In this way JJJ took a picture from the eastern side of then trench and we'll be able to have a sketch for the dots that we have to put for bP. On the other hand we employed the team working in k14 to clean k4 and k5 for the pictures of the long eastern section.
-inc	2004-07-14_O714AP2.j	ap	since we finished the excavation in k93 reaching the steps of the monumental staircase, we moved the team down in the German trench. We started to clean the section in the upper part of the stair, removing with the big pick quite a lot of soil. Tomorrow we hope to be able to use the new machinery of Sabah to take away the dirt. On the other hand we decided to go on with the cleaning of the northern part of the area removing the soil in k2 e k12. The goal is to have a visual as complete as possible of the "apron" and the stone wall. Since otherwise we want to join the oval we are going on with k33, k43 and k53 but excavating just one meter on the northern half of the squares.
-inc	2004-07-15_O717AP.j	ap	we are concentrating our efforts in cleaning all the dirt from the German trench, removing the baulks in k2 e k12, going down in k82 trying to reach the steps and excavating the northern meter  of k43 and k53.
-inc	2004-07-18_O718AP.j	ap	the goal of today was removing the dirt from the German trench and from the big open area south to the stone wall (k2, k12, k3, k13, k4, k14, k5, k15). For this reason we closed the three squares k33, k43 and k53 thinking that the line of the oval is north to the squares. Unfortunately both the machines worked just for half an hour so we spent more time to manage the machines than the time that we spent working. So we decided to go on with the excavations of the two trenches in k2 and k12, cleaning the stones of the wall and opening two new squares southern to k83: k84 and k85.
-inc	2004-07-19_O719AP.j	aP	today the goal was cleaning all the squares (k2, k3, k12, k13, k14,k15) in order to take a general picture of the area according the horizontal alignment which characterize all these squares. However removing the baulks ( eastern one in k2, western one in k12, northern one in k15) we produced much dirt and it was not possible to remove it also because ten of our workmen were busy with the Sabbah machine.
-inc	2004-07-20_O721AP.j	aP	today we spent all the first part of the morning before faidòs cleaning the big open area (k2, k12, k3, k13, k4, k14, k5, k15) to take a general picture of the squares. The aim is to give an idea about which should be the area during the mittanic period when, presumably, it should exist an horizontal plan with collapsed stones and pebbles all at the same level. We asked MKB to look the pottery in order to understand the period and also the last q-lots analyzed (q186, f65; q188, f65; q85, f32; q90, f32) confirms that the sherds belongs to phase 6 ( last occupation of the tell) as already suggested by the analysis of the following q-lots: q29, f12; q28, f10; q30, f15; q35, f15; q47, f22; q50, f22; q31 f16; q34, f16). In the meantime we are going on removing the dirt from the big German trench with the machine of Sabbah. During the afternoon eight pickmen worked to remove part of the big German trench. They started with the southern part of the western side (k4 and k5) and collapsed the soil into the trench without collecting pottery or objects. This will be done by the workmen that remove the dirt from the bottom. During the afternoon Minna and I were on the field. We wanted to draw the eastern section of k93 but collapsing stones made too much dust. So we decided to dot all the stones of the "apron" or wall in k2 and k12 to plot them.
-inc	2004-07-25_O726AP.j	ap	the goal of these next days is understanding how the apron was joined with the doorjam visible in the eastern side of the German trench. For this reason the main effort will be concentrated in k3, k13, k4, k14 and, above all, on the western side of the German trench (eastern baulk of k4 and k5).
-inc	2004-07-26_O728AP.j	aP	from today until the end of the excavations (29th of July) we'll work also during the afternoon with all the complete staff trying to reach the goals that we fixed. In the morning we dotted the eroded stone which fall down in the staircase, Bp finished to relay the stones and the crane removed quite all the floating stones in k83.
-inc	2004-07-27_O730AP.j	aP	since in the first part of the morning we worked in k3, k4, k13, k14, in the western side of the German trench (which is for us the eastern baulk of k4 and k5) and levelling k83, where yesterday we removed the eroded stones, the goal of the day is going down in k3, k13 and k14 and continuing in k84 and k 85. By this way we hope to have a nice view of the wall and, in the meantime, we think that if we reach the wall in the eastern side of the staircase it could be easy to dig and understand the western wing which at the moment is not very clear. About k84 and k85 in a first time we thought to dig them as just one locus (k101) but after we going down in two different squares (k84 and k85) to preserve the section. Nadia and Hassan from A18 came to draw our sections in k13 (eastern section), k14 (northern section), k4 (northern section).
-inc	2004-07-28_O730AP1.j	aP	we decided to concentrate the effort of our workmen in some specific areas. By the way Ahmed, Fuwas and Khaled are working in k4; Anwar, Juan, Adil and Ahmed the tall in k84/k85; Safwan, Amer, Massud and Majid in k83 while Shalal is going on removing the trench in k4/k5. In k4 we decided to dig not all the square but just 3 meters from the northern section to reach as soon as possible the same level of k3 and to have a nice view of the wall and the apron from south. In k13 we noticed the existence of the wall so now the goal is showing as much surface is possible, numbering and then removing the eroded stones. We consider finished the work in k3.
-inc	2005-08-01_P802MH.j	mh	We had a strategy meeting yesterday with fAB and gB. During the meeting we decided to place our "column" on the northwest corner of k13. Pottery coming out of this 2x2 area, which we call column and whose identification is k101, will be analyzed by mKB so that we will know where we are in time. Bone and visible botanical material will also be collected. Collection methodology will not differ from that practiced at other loci, but the bags will be taged for mKB with a blue tag. We agreed that our main priorities were: 1) continuing excavating k13 until we reach the projected plaza level at the same elevation with the elevation of the place stone coutyard (87m?); 2) Bringing k4 and k3 into this same level and seeing whether and how the first apron f131 continues and how it is connected with the staircase f130 and potential other sturctures; 3) cleaning k100 of the material that has fallen in it during the year; and 4) sloping the western section next to k13, k14, and k15 especially next to k13 where the section is and will be the highest.
-inc	2005-08-08_P808MH.j	mH	gB, fAB and us (mH, sC, aL, and vVE) discussed our strategy in case the oval wall f128 turns out to actually be from the Mitanni period. In case it does, we will not continue to the projected plaza level in k13 but stop where we think the wall ends. We might step back in k14 in order to give a better view of f128 if time permits. We will expose all of the apron f131 in k4 and step back in k5 in order to give a better view of it. In case the not-so-good quality wall f128 turns out to rest on or be a part of a earlier wall, we will continue to the elevation of the stone courtyard/plaza level (which ever comes first) as originally planned. In k4 we will still expose the apron f131 and step back in k5.
-inc	2005-08-10_P810MH.j	mH	We decided to have the ledges in each unit at fixed elevations. These will be 90m, 88m, and 86m. We also decided that 1m in horizontal distance will be used for the ledge and the slope. 50 cm will be the width of the ledge and 50 cm will be used for sloping a 2 m vertical distance. The target elevation is 85m and thus the last 1 m will be a vertical section. We also decided that the area in front of the oval wall (f128) at the 85m level will be approximately the same in both J1 and J2. In J2 it will be 3.6m. This will take us to the southern edge of the N baulk of k14 formed by markers m4037 and m4038. 50 cm ledge to the south of this line will be at the elevation of 86m. The next 50cm will be used for a 2m slope. Thus 1m south of the line formed by m4037 and m4038 we will be at the elevation of 88m. This ledge will continue until the line formed by markers m3964 and m3967. Thus our 88m ledge will be 3m in width as opposed to 50 cm. This change in the overall strategy is necessitated by the elevations we have already reached. 50 cm south of the line formed by markers m3964 and m3967 will be used for the 2m slope taking us to the 90m ledge in k15. The whole of k15 will be left at this level. With the current elevations we will have to excavate approximately 1.26m down in k15, 1.76m in k14, and 4.26 in k13 and in the northern baulk of k14. The situation in k3, k4, and k5 will be slightly different as there the lowest elevation we will reach will depend on the extent of the steps of the apron f131. The current plan in k5 is to stop at 90m, but we still need to decide how we will approach the stone feature f144 since in order to expose it and examine the depositional history, we would have to deeper than 90 at least in the northern baulk of k5.
-inc	2005-08-11_P813MH.j	mH	Over breakfast gB asked me to calculate how much further south would the steps of f130 extend if they continued until the 85 m elevation of the stone paved courtyard of the palace. Assuming that the steps are all 50 cm wide, we would have to go 9 m south of where the steps are now exposed in k4. This would take of slightly south of the current southern edge of J2 (southern edge of k5 and k15). Assuming that the steps are only 40cm wide, we would have to go 7.2m further south.
-inc	2005-08-14_P814MH.j	mH	Before breakfast we had a tell tour the purpose of which was to explain the relationship of current excavations in relation to the stratigraphy of temple structures on top of the oval. Excavations in J2 during the last season and the season currently underway had changed gB's interpretation of the temple stratigraphy. These excavations suggest that there was indeed a second millennium temple above the terrance although the early excavations by the temple revealed only very faint traces of it.
-inc	2005-08-20_P820MH.j	mH	We had a whole J-wide (J1, J2, and J3) strategy meeting at 7 in the morning. For J2 the most important discussion focused on what to do with k100. We have obviously reached a floor level coming up to the steps, but this floor level does not date to the third millennium. It is also clear that approximately 5-10 cm below that floor level we have additional stones in front of the ones currently exposed. These may belong to a earlier (step?) structure. The question was whether to wait until k4 was at this level when the apron f131 stones may help us to determine how to proceed, or to make a sounding in front of the steps and look for the structure below. It was decided that we will make a 2m x 1m sounding in front of the steps (2m south and 1 m west next to the eastern wall of k100) since we might not have time to wait for k4 to reach this level.
-inc	2005-09-04_P903SC.j	sC	About the swifing of the doil from k14 and k15. In a first moment on the 901 we were swifiting separately the soli from k14 and k15, but, as we realize that was too much time consuming trying to keep them separately, we decided to switf togheter the soil removed from both k14 and k15. Today we recovered two qlots from the swifting of k14 and k15: q734 and q740.
-inc	2009-07-20_T720CJC.j	cJC	Today fAB and cJC discussed the placement of the loci for the season. In order to achieve the goals of understanding the chronology of the construction of the apron and the associated walls it is necessary to place one section north-south running up to the the apron and one section north-south hitting the wall (f127) to the west of the apron. These loci will likely not conform to the site-wide grid due to the constraints imposed by our goals as well as the difficulty in reestablishing the squares in this area. We will create new loci numbers for these areas.
-inc	2009-07-22_T722CJC.j	cJC	Today fAB, pC, cJC and sH met in the field to discuss the strategy for the season. We will follow the strategy outlined in the introduction. We discussed where to place the loci. Ideally we will be able to follow the site-wide grid but if the sections do not fall in the places we need to accomplish our goals we will create new squares. Adeeb, the surveyor, is unsure if it is possible to reestablish the squares in our unit as only one corner marker is remaining in J2.
-inc	2009-07-23_T725CJC.j	cJC	We had a meeting with gB, fAB and pC. The strategy will be to start excavation in front of the revetment wall (f128) in k13, down to the escarpment and then following the escarpment around in front of the apron. gB would prefer not to excavate in front of the apron as not to damage it.
-inc	2009-07-25_T725CJC.j	cJC	After meeting with fAB, gB and pC several times we are still deciding a strategy. gB wants to follow the floors from the cut of k100 across in front of the apron. He says this will help us to find the floors and avoid cutting through them by coming down from the top. The main question is if we will follow the floors east to west or extend the area slightly south into J7. We will try and reestablish the squares from the previous excavations to see if it will be feasible to keep the same squares as were used in the previous J2 excavations.
-inc	2009-07-28_T728CJC.j	cJC	We will stop working in k15 as it appears we have cut through a surface. We also decided to remove f346 after breakfast. We will also draw the 3 sections from J7 when there is time so we can cut down the floor for a better view and approach to the apron and the staircase when it is entered from the J7 area. We will cut the whole of J7k6 down about 20 centimeters.
-inc	2009-07-30_T801CJC.j	cJC	We have settled on a strategy in which we will begin the excavations by following the layers visible in the west section of k100 across k110. We will go down in k110 before attempting to follow the layers in any of the other loci such as k4 and k5. We will not leave a north baulk as it would block the apron and prevent us from seeing the connections of the layers with the apron (f131). Because k110 is only 3.5m the south section will serve as the east-west section (instead of the traditional north section).
-inc	2009-08-02_T802CJC.j	cJC	In the morning we had a long meeting with fAB, pC, cJC, sG and sH to discuss the strategy for J2 now that we have reached the stratigraphic 'seal' of the salmon-colored layer (f359). fAB would prefer to expose the salmon layer in all the squares (k5, k15) before going down any further. He argues that this offers the advantage of seeing f359 exposed in all the squares at the same time. He thinks this is especially important if f359 proves to be the first floor associated with the construction of the apron (f131) and the second staircase (f132). I would prefer to go down in just k110 where we can easily follow the layers because they are exposed in the west section of k110. This allows for the careful excavation of each layer and allows us to keep the pottery separate as best possible. Then we could draw the west section of k110 before removing it while excavating k5. This again allows the advantage of following the section across ensuring that we can match up the features from k110 with those in k5. This second strategy does not allow us to see the same feature in all the squares. We decided to implement fAB's plan and began excavating in k5. We exposed several layers but it became difficult to match them with k110 despite having the south section. I met again with gB and fAB in the time after breakfast and we decided to table the discussion of strategy until tomorrow.
-inc	2009-08-02_T802CJC.j	cJC	fAB suggested not collecting the pottery from the first 10-15cms in front of the apron for each feature as sherds may have slipped down into the cracks between the surfaces and the stones during the years. We will do our best to implement this strategy.
-inc	2009-08-02_T802PC.j	pC	Today we had a meeting with fAB in the field and we discussed the strategy for J2 for the next days. While in J2 the goal for this year is to find at least the first floor which goes with the main construction phase of the temple terrace and in particular with the construction of the apron f131, we are digging very carefully and check all pottery. In fact we want to date the apron f131; while there are many floors and thin surfaces in front of the apron f131, seen in the west section of k100, we are excavating slowly and with the small pick in k110. in k110 today was exposed the red salmon layer f359, which gives us a good seal for everythink under it. We therefore decided to stop excavating in k110 and move in k5 and reach the same feature f359: in this way we will have a larger exposure of this layer all through the apron. after exposing it we will dig it all and analyze the pottery
-inc	2009-08-03_T803CJC.j	cJC	After having a meeting with pC, fAB and gB yesterday we decided to draw the west baulk of k110 and then remove it above the salmon-colored floor (f359) so we can follow the layers across the baulk from k110 to k5 and go down all together. We will keep a small portion of the baulk just south of the apron so we can see how the layers go up and touch the apron (f131). We will not have a north baulk in k5 as it will impede our view of how the layers come up against the apron. When possible to distinguish them, we will assign the same feature numbers to the features in k5 as in k110. Presumably many of them should continue across the whole area.
-inc	2009-08-08_T808CJC.j	cJC	Because we did not find the salmon-colored floor (f359) covering all of k5 and k4 as expected we will have to implement a new strategy. In south k4 and north k5 we found that f359 sloped down sharply, overlays f369 and does not continue to the north. Also overlaying both f359 and f369 right at the border of k4 and k5 is f367. Abutting the apron and sloping down and away from the apron (f131) is a gray layer with some sherds laying on it - we called it f368. We decided to excavate f367 first as it overlays the other features and so is the latest. When removing it we found what appears to be a very damaged plaster floor. gB suggested that we continue removing f368 using only a small pick and a brush to avoid damaging the original surface of f369 and to see if f369 slopes up and serves as the base for the plaster. Once we have finished removing f367 I would like to temporarily stop in k4 and k5. At that point we will have the exposure of all of f359 that still exists as well as some features that may be just below in the north area next to the apron (f131). The next step would be to continue across the west baulk of k5 to k15 and see if the f359 continues to the west. This should give us the complete exposure of f359. We will still leave the small baulk stubs right next to the apron to provide a nice sequence of the layers abutting the apron. Once we finish exposing f359 according to our original strategy we should go down in k110 to achieve the original goals set by the season of reaching the earliest floors associated with the apron (f131) and exposing the edge of the lower staircase and seeing if it continues west. With the last 10 days of excavation we should be able to expose all of f359 and then reach the earliest levels in k110.  Excavating in k110 also has the advantage of exposing the gray layer we see in the west section of k100 to see if it is the same as f369 that we find in k4/k5 just under f359. This will not allow us time to achieve our goals of studying the early escarpment in k13 but it will be enough to complete some of our goals, notably the most important for our season of reaching the earliest floors associated with the apron.
-inc	2009-08-09_T809CJC.j	cJC	Today we found several new features in k15 and it appears it may not be as simple as we thought to follow the features across the west baulk of k5 into k15 so we will slightly alter our strategy from yesterday. Instead of just following the features across we instead will work from the most recent features down in k15 as we find them. For tomorrow that means excavating f372 and f339. We hope that this will allow us to see what relationship f365 (that we see in the west section k5) has to the newly discovered features including the brickfall. Some of the changes we see delimited from east to west may be a result of a combination of the erosion we see in the south section and the possible difference in features that were in front of the apron (f131) and those that are west of the western wall of the apron (f127). We still intend to go down to f359 if possible in k15. After we finish exposing f359 in k15 (or alternatively, exploring its western edge)we will continue with yesterday's strategy which is to continue down in k110. We hope to add another pickman once we move to k110 to ensure we reach the earliest levels by the end of excavations.
-inc	2009-08-10_T810CJC.j	cJC	Today we focused on understanding the accumulations in k15. Yesterday we decided that the best strategy was to excavate down from the latest features (f371, f339) and try and follow them in k15 instead of going across from the west baulk of k5. We started by removing f371, the flaky gray layer on top of f339. We wanted to remove the hard gray layer f339. It was relayed and then we began removing it. We wanted to investigate this feature as pC had suggested it may have been the glacis (f319) referred to in the earlier excavations, now only preserved in the areas we removed under the baulks we cut back at the beginning of the season (f338 and f341). When we picked the hard layer however it came apart very differently in the two areas where the pickmen were working. Coming down from the north Kamiron found that the hard gray layer was very hard and thick (about 3cm or more) and when picked it removed a 10cm layer underneath as well. In contrast, in the SW corner where Mohammed Kher was working we found that f339 was extremely thin and came off easily revealing a dramatic pink layer (f373). This layer is soft and easily damaged with the pick. Because we found the gray layer (f339) overlaying several different features we suppose it is part of the erosion we see in the south section the cut of which we have defined as f336. I think it is likely that f339 is the last moment after the erosion when a small surface forms on top of all the layers which were exposed by the erosion which is then covered by the brickfall (f338, f341). Because we have now exposed several layers (f373, f348, f374)due to the nature of the removal of f339 we decided to change our strategy slightly.
-inc	2009-08-10_T810CJC.j	cJC	We discussed it with fAB and he suggested we return to the original strategy of following the layers across through the section of k5 to see how they relate to the newly exposed layers. In the west section we can see f365 and a thin yellow line which we have assigned f375. We wanted to remove f365 above f375 and see how it comes up against the pink layer f373. It seems that f365 would have covered the pink layer f373 but it was cut by the erosion. By following f365 across from the east to the west we should be able to answer this question. Before we could remove all of f365 we needed to expose the plaster layer (f375) and see its extent. We used the small pick and the brush to expose as much of this delicate layer as possible. Tomorrow we hope to finish exposing the plaster (f375) relay and photograph it before removing it. After we finish with f375 we will continue removing f365 across to see its relationship to the pink (f373) and the salmon-colored floor (f359).
-inc	2009-08-11_T811CJC.j	cJC	Our main goal for the next day is to clear the accumulations above the salmon-colored floor (f359) in k15. We do not want to expend too much time focusing on k15 because we also want to finish excavating k110 down to the earliest layers associated with the apron (f131) and the staircase (f130) before the end of excavations. We are finding that in the south portion of k15 the layers roughly conform to that which we found in the south part of k5 - that is, a series of thin accumulations (f365) covering the salmon-colored floor (f359). We will go down to f359 in this section and then move northwards exploring the full extent of f359. We anticipate finding some indications of erosion in the northern part of k5 as we already saw eroded layers in north k5 and in k4. We discussed our strategy with gB and fAB and they suggested that after 2 days we stop in k15 even if we have to make it a smaller square with a north-south section about halfway across. They suggested this because we are all worried that we will not have enough time to finish in k110. Also we will no longer remove our dirt via shaffat but instead will only move it down the trench (J6k200, J7k200) so we can have it available for backfill as we will want to backfill above f359 in k4, k5 and k15
-inc	2009-08-12_T812CJC.j	cJC	Today we finished working in k15 as we have exposed the full extent of the salmon-colored floor (f359) in k110, k5 and k15. Our strategy for proceeding is to take the views of f359 this afternoon and then begin working only in k110 for the rest of the excavation season. We will backfill k5 and k15 at the end of the season and we are finished working in these two loci for now. In k110 we intend to proceed with our two pickmen removing each layer and collecting all the pottery so we can date the earliest layers associated with both the construction of the apron (f131) as well as to explore how far west the steps of the lower staircase (f380) extend. We hope to achieve our goals of finding a date for the earliest levels of the staircase and also to see the extent of the lower staircase (f380) before the end of the season.
-inc	2009-08-13_T815CJC.j	cJC	For the rest of the season we intend to go down in only k110 following the layers in the west section of k100 so we can find the first floor associated with the construction of the apron (f131) and the second staircase (f130). If there is time we would like to go down enough to expose the western extent of the first staircase (f380).
-inc	2009-08-15_T815CJC.j	cJC	Because today we found human footprints in f381 in k110 gB suggested we stop in south k110 for this season to leave the footprints to be excavated next year. He suggested we make a sounding in only north k110. I suggested that instead of doing this we work in another area as north k110 is very small and it would be difficult next year to exactly correlate the features of the sounding with south k110. gB, fAB, pC and cJC had a strategy meeting at breakfast to discuss how to proceed. After discussing several options (excavating north k110, working in k13, cutting a trench in front of the apron, excavating down in J6k84, and making a sounding in k100) we decided to work in k100. We will remove the backfill and then go down to see if we can find the bottom of the first staircase (f380) and get enough ceramic material for a solid date of construction. We have three full days of excavation left so we should be able to go down a substantial amount as k100 is very narrow.
-inc	2009-08-17_T819CJC.j	cJC	Today we decided to go down until the bottom of the pit (a12) in the southwest corner of k100. We will remove all of the fill f383 until we reach the bottom and then we will use the section of the cut (f382) to decide how to proceed in the rest of k100. We should be able to see in the section if there is a good stopping point.
-inc	2009-08-18_T819CJC.j	cJC	We will remove as many of the pebble and sherd floors as possible to reach a suitable stopping point for the season. We hope to reach the gray layer we see in the section of the cut (f382). We will also try and cut back all our sections to make them as neat as possible for the final photos.

; J2-surveying
-inc	2004-07-08_O710MH2.j	mh	The following markers were removed: m3631, m3607, m3596, m3595, m3648, m3585, m3604, m3577, m3605, and m3608.
-inc	2004-07-11_O711AP.j	aP	since we removed some baulks and the markers were quite dangerous we took away m3600, m3616, m3686.
-inc	2004-07-12_O712AP.j	ap	bp put markers to open a new square (k15).
-inc	2004-07-14_O714AP2.j	ap	BP placed some new markers in k3, k13 and k14: m3811, m3809, m3810, m3726. Since we removed the baulks placed in k2 and k12 we removed the following markers: m3646, m3630, m3725, m3811, m3597, m3576 and m3584.
-inc	2004-07-15_O717AP.j	ap	we removed the following markers m3676, m3688, m3574. BP made six new squares in the eastern side on the German trench, following the line of the stair.
-inc	2004-07-19_O719AP.j	aP	we removed the marker m3789
-inc	2004-07-20_O721AP.j	aP	we removed the marker m3790, m3647, m3726, m3569, m3578, m3583, m3587, m3588, m3586.
-inc	2004-07-24_O725AP1.j	aP	also if it's Saturday Gb decided to call some of the workmen with the goal of finishing as soon as possible to remove the baulks and to clean the dirt. For this reason a bigger machine from Sabbah was assembled in the eastern part of the German trench. Since I was sick I stayed on the field just for the first two hours.
-inc	2004-07-25_O726AP.j	ap	marker m3808 came out during the excavation.
-inc	2004-07-27_O730AP.j	aP	during the digging of the sections we removed the following markers: m3862, m3699, m3879 and m3882.
-inc	2004-07-28_O730AP1.j	aP	we took away the following markers: m3603, m3679 and m3884.
-inc	2009-07-25_T725CJC.j	cJC	Ideally we would like to reestablish the previous squares following the site-wide grid for excavations this year. bP is not in the field this year and so her former assistant Adeeb is doing to surveying. Unfortunately J2 is down so low and is lacking in previously established points making it difficult to reestablish the squares. Today we tried to place some squares but they were in the wrong place. Tomorrow we will try again by placing to lines, one on the north-south grid and one on the east-west grid and then placing a stake where they cross. From there we can reestablish some squares. This may be less accurate than using the surveying machine, but right now it is impossible to put the points using the survey machine.
-inc	2009-08-01_T801CJC.j	cJC	There are still problems with the markers, they have not been entered into the computer yet and may not be accurate. We are awaiting the arrival of a new surveyor to double-check the points. Until then we will relay any markers before removing them so we can check them against older points if needed.
-inc	2009-08-05_T805CJC.j	cJC	Adeeb came to remeasure our markers today for the correct elevations. We hope to be able to have the measurements next week.
-inc	2009-08-26_T826CJC.j	cJC	After plotting the J2 loci from MZ22 it became apparent that they do not exactly match the squares of the previous years. This is not totally unexpected as we had many problems at the beginning of the season trying to reestablish the squares due to the small number remaining markers in J2 as well as the depth of J2 compared to the remaining markers. The differences are not substantial but should be noted.

; J2-workmen
-inc	2004-06-27_O627MH.j	mH	We had 9 workmen. 5 of them worked down in k100 in the morning. 2 shoveled dirt into a wheel barrow and one hauled it to the elevator. Two men inserted soil into the elevator simultaneously making sure that large stones did not clog it. 4 workmen worked up. Their work included shifting the soil, removing bones and pottery from the sift, and taking the dirt away. In the afternoon 4 men worked in k4 and 5 in k5.
-inc	2004-06-28_O628MH.j	mH	Both k4 and k5 had 5 men assigned to them. k4 and k5 both had two pickmen, two shovel guys and a wheel barrow guy. This worked well. Safwan in k5 always keeps an eye out for work that should be done at any given moment and while he is a shovel guy he does not hesitate to use the wheel barrow if that is needed. Anwar in k4 also watches over what ever is going on, i.e. shows Masud how to pick and makes sure that we keep the square level. In the afternoon Anwar helped with fixing the elevator and thus Masud picked alone for awhile.
-inc	2004-06-29_O629MH3.j	mH	I got six new guys today. Five of these went to the new locus k14 and one went to work in k4. Now I have altogether 16 men. Everybody is working well and listening to my wishes. Safwan in k5 is a bit of a handful since he wants to do everything. In other units everybody sticks to the tasks to which I assign them.
-inc	2004-06-30_O630MH.j	mH	I got one more workman. Now I have 6 (k4 or k100) +6 (k5) +5 (k14).
-inc	2004-07-01_O703MH3.j	mh	After reaching the level of stones both in k14 and k5, I moved the crew of k14 into the new unit k13, and the crew of k5 into k3.
-inc	2004-07-04_O704MH.j	mh	I exchanged Gandhi for Jasser with Laura. Anwar did not come back after breakfast. He said he was going to Amuda to see a doctor. He was feeling under the weather all morning.
-inc	2004-07-05_O705MH4.j	mh	Anhwar came back to work after missing a half a day yesterday for a doctor's appointment.
-inc	2004-07-08_O708AP.j	ap	Since we have not one of our pick-men (Dara) we took one from  A18 (one of the Amorreans).
-inc	2004-07-11_O711AP.j	aP	since there is not more one of our pick-men (Dara) we worked with one from  A18 (one of the Amorreans).
-inc	2004-07-12_O712AP.j	ap	the Amorrean from A18 works with us instead ad Dara. At 8.00 two new teams of four people each joined us (the pick-men are Ibrahim and Faraj). Taha (pick-man) went home and he didn't come back after faidos.
-inc	2004-07-13_O713AP.j	aP	we moved Safwan which worked like shovel man in k43 to k83 where is working as pickmen. By this way with two pickmen we hope to be able to reach the steps as soon as possible.
-inc	2004-07-14_O714AP2.j	ap	Jubar (k93), after faidos, asked to go home for eye's problem; Ahmed (k14) didn't come and he was replaced by Abdul Jabal. We added an other pick-men in k53: he is Majid which was a shovel guy.
-inc	2004-07-15_O717AP.j	ap	a girl, Aysha, sister of Ramadan, joined us in the field. Today she cleaned J01.
-inc	2004-07-18_O718AP.j	ap	the sister of Ramadan did not come. Ualad and Ibrahim went home after faidos. A new shovel man Abdul Khalim joined us. For the moment he is working in k85.
-inc	2004-07-19_O719AP.j	aP	Amal Mohamed went home at 11.00
-inc	2004-07-25_O726AP.j	ap	we have five new workmen (shovel and wheelbarrow guys: Radwan Mohammed, Shiar Hussein, Ahmed Hussein, Ibrahim and Zueir).
-inc	2004-07-28_O730AP1.j	aP	one of the wooden poles hit the head of Anwar. He went to the hospital.
-inc	2004-07-24_O730MH.j	mh	Only 16 workmen showed up this Saturday.
-inc	2005-08-02_P802MH.j	mH	We have 16+1 workmen. The +1 refers to Abdel Hamid, whose can help with the book if needed. We will have him about a week and if we do not need him, he will be restationed to another unit. We have 5 pickmen one of whom apparently promoted himself from a showel guy to a pickman. We have 9 showel guys and 2 wheelbarrow guys although today some of the showel guys were carrying buckets.
-inc	2005-08-06_P806MH2.j	mH	Anwar and Fawaz joined us at the excavation today. Anwar will oversee the work with elevators and Fawaz will work as a showel guy. Juma left after breakfast due to a cut at the bottom of his foot. Omar and Kamiran in k4 are particularly good and efficient workers. Towards the end of the day I relocated two showel men from k100 into k13 to help fill that elevator with the dirt coming from k4. I need to, however, figure out how to get both the elevator in k13 and in k100 running efficiently and dirt moving.
-inc	2005-08-07_P807MH.j	mH	Juma came back to work.
-inc	2005-08-08_P808MH.j	mH	Adil was away today because he had to enroll for the next university semester. In his place fAB gave us Resan and Suleiman.
-inc	2005-08-09_P809MH.j	mH	Fawaz and Adil did not come today.
-inc	2005-08-10_P810MH.j	mH	Fawaz and Adil came back to work.
-inc	2005-08-11_P813MH.j	mH	Juma left around 7.55 in order to do something at home (we understood that he went to wanter his fields, but this might be a misunderstanding). He came back after faidos.
-inc	2005-08-13_P813MH2.j	mH	I assigned Massum to pick in k101, Kamiran to pick in k13, and Abdul Rahman to pick in k5 with Omar.
-inc	2005-08-14_P814MH.j	mH	Fahed left before noon with gB's permission.
-inc	2005-08-16_P816MH.j	mH	I got a new team of workmen. They are Faraz (pick), Mehdaui (dirt), Muhammed (dirt), Ibrahim (dirt). Ahmed from k15 left around 7 in the morning with gB's blessing and came back after breakfast.
-inc	2005-08-17_P817MH.j	mH	Saleh dissappeared after breakfast. The pickmen were kept behind for about 5 min this morning for a pep talk.
-inc	2005-08-20_P820MH.j	mH	Faraj did not come today. He sent his brother instead who arrived at 7.30 in the morning. He put him to work as a showel guy in k23. Lazgin did not show up today.
-inc	2005-08-22_P822MH2.j	mH	Juma left in the middle of the day because his sister was in intensive care. Ahmed Muhammed joined our workteam.
-inc	2005-08-27_P827MH.j	mH	We obtain new workmen today. These were Shallal (pick), Sipan (showel), Aldar (showel), and Omo (showel), whom I placed in k15, and Jihad (pick), Ramadan (showel), Juwan (showel), and Azdisher (showel), whom I placed in k24.
-inc	2005-08-28_P828MH.j	mH	fAB gave us two more pickmen: Massud to work in k100 together with Mizar, and Sa'ud to work in k24 together with Jihad.
-inc	2005-08-29_P830MH.j	mH	Ramadan was sick and did not come to work today.
-inc	2009-08-02_T802CJC.j	cJC	Hussein, a pickman, has gone to work in J6. We will continue the excavations in J2 one locus at a time with only 2 pickmen (Mohammed Ker and Kamiron). We will retain all 5 shovelmen (Akmed, Fawass, Abdee, Khudur, and Saleh) and our two wheelbarrow drivers (Ali and Rodi).
-inc	2009-08-08_T808CJC.j	cJC	Saleh did not come today. Abdee had a toothache but stayed to work anyways. We were able to manage as we were excavating close to the shaffat. Our team now consists of 2 pickmen, 5 shovelmen (when all are present) and 1 wheelbarrow driver.
-inc	2009-08-09_T809CJC.j	cJC	Saleh returned to work today and Abdee was feeling better so we are operating at full strength. We seem to have to many shovelmen now that we have started excavating with so much detail and using the brushes. I spoke to fAB about possibly adding a pickman and suggested that perhaps I could give a shovelman to another unit in exchange for a pickman.
-inc	2009-08-16_T816CJC.j	cJC	Last Thursday we gave 2 shovelmen to J6 so we are operating with a team of six workmen. Two pickmen, 3 shovelmen and a wheelbarrow driver. We take the dirt down the big trench (J6k200, J2k200) so it will be available for backfill.