| 2005-8-01 | jw | Area B is dominated by the ruins of Temple BA which sits atop one of the seven mounds which form the top of Tell Mozan. The temple has been excavated and securely dated by ceramic analysis to the Early Dynastic IIIB period. Although later temples were probably built atop this one, their remains have been completely eroded. However, Temple BA is a critical point of reference for excavations of the mound because except for surface accumulations and later repairs and modifications, everything upon which it sits was deposited no later than the temple itself. A geophysical survey conducted on and in the vicinity of the mound indicated that it was comprised, in part, of a wall of stones. Excavations in unit B6 defined the temple complex as an artificial structure, with a brick cover and a stone perimeter. Excavations in units J1 and J2 exposed parts of a monumental wall and stairway leading up to the temple from the east. In J2 there is a stone apron along the top of the wall and a section where the stonework is of inferior quality indicating that modifications to the structure may have been made as late as the Mitanni period. To provide data to guide excavation strategy for future years, we must determine the nature of the material contained by the wall. Is it brick, with the stones a decorative face? Is it compacted fill contained by a more substantial wall? Was it formed by accumulations from earlier periods? | [Input File: P801jw.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | gB and faB discussed the relationship between fallen stones and occupation of the tell. From modern times to antiquity, large, cut stones from visible parts of ancient structures and lying on the surface are re-used when they are found by later occupants. The 'floating," displaced stones that we see probably were carried down the sides of the temple mound by water erosion and deposited where we find them today. They were subsequently covered by loess. The fact that they remained were they were deposited means that there were no occupants of the tell at the time of deposition and covering to carry them away and re-use them to construct houses, paths, and other structures. The many stones we see at different elevations strongly suggest that the wall was maintained right up to the time of abandonment. Structures then deteriorated gradually and the stones were deposited at different levels in the stratigaphic column. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2006-8-12 | vVE | Many loci will be excavated in J3 during this campaign with several supervisors who will take care of the administration. If we would record everything in one binder, this could create some unnecessary stress and lines of people who need to record observations. In order to avoid this we will record the administration in a different binder that will still be part of book J3. We will let all of our records start at 500 to avoid overlap. Only the relays will start at 1000, since so many relays are triangulated each season. Our book will be called J3 East, because we will excavate the eastern-most loci. In this area we will try to expose the revetment wall and the second apron and try to establish the stratigraphic and chronological connection between the second apron and the revetment wall. | [Input File: Q812vE2.j] |
| 2006-8-12 | vVE | During MZ17(2004-O) and MZ18(2005-P) at Tell Mozan the revetment wall of the temple terrace had been exposed in three excavation areas: J1, J2 and J3. From the information provided by these excavations it could be deduced that the temple terrace was in continued use from EDIII times to the end of the Mitanni period. Furthermore, through all these centuries of use the terrace must have been well maintained. After the plaza in front of the terrace had started to accumulate deposits during the second millennium BC, there was probably a rebuilding of the monumental staircase to which the second apron was added. During this 2006 campaign we will try to further complement our knowledge of the temple terrace and thus of the Monumental Urban Complex at Urkesh by focusing on three issues. 1) In the sounding through the baqaya-glacis covering the temple mound, Late Chalcolithic sherds were found. We will attempt to clarify the context of these sherds. The working hypothesis is that these deposits were brought in from a nearby settlement to construct the temple terrace and are therefore out of their primary context. 2) The exact shape of the temple terrace remains uncertain despite the information available from the geomagnetic survey performed by the German excavation team from Tuebingen and the information from the recent excavations. Therefore we will expose further the top of the revetment wall. 3) On the basis of the results of last year's excavations it has been hypothesized that the second apron was added to the revetment wall during the Mitanni period, probably at the start of phase 6a. This hypothesis will be tested by further exposing the second apron and investigating its connection to the revetment wall. | [Input File: Q812vE1.j] |
| 2006-10-10 | eDB | The finishing numbers for various elements in the global record are as follows: aggregates = a15; composites = 0; features = 327; items = 26; special loci = 109; plots = 20; q-lots = 408; relays - the first series ended at 1000, restarted at 2000 and ended at 2560; views = 163; drawings = 37, sketches = 59. | [Input File: Qx10jW1.j] |
| 2007-7-06 | jW | On 6 July the entire Mozan staff met to organize the work for the next two months. The main purposes will be to: (1) bring to publication the Urkesh Global Record for as many excavation units as possible, starting with the most recently completed or ones that are almost ready for publication; (2) continue the ceramic analysis with a focus material from pre-Mittani periods; (3) expand the program of wall conservation to include the systematic confirmation of the location of each component. Personnel resources have been allocated to the publication projects for the following units: A7, A16, J1, J2, J3 (eI, mO, and jW). Our approach will be to work in a cycle of stages of 3 days each. For each cycle we will meet on the morning of the first day to cover theory, then concentrate on a particular aspect of record preparation. Short meetings follow over the next two days to discuss progress and problems. Again, on the first day of each new cycle we will discuss theory, then proceed as before on a different aspect. At the end of seven cycles, we will have a large list of completed items and a precise idea of what must be done over the second month to complete the project. Although the initial effort will be devoted to the material accessed from the right hand side of the web version of the UGR (features, drawings, plots, etc.) the supervisors will also concentrate on developing an overall understanding of the excavated material. This analysis appears on the left hand side of the UGR. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| jW | The starting numbers for J3 consitituents for excavation in MZ23 are: Aggregates a19, Features f346, Items i27, Loci(irregular) k110, Plots p41, Q-lots q409, Relays r2588, Views v167, Drawings w38. |
[Input File: U905jW.j] |
| 2010-9-20 | jW | Met briefly with gB, mKB, and fAB to discuss a possible end point for the excavations in MZ23: We seem to be excavating a substantial public building which may extend both north and west into adjacent excavated and unexcavated loci; there is not enough time or resouces to accomplish extensive additional excavations; the possibility of finding additional significant artifacts means that we should procede slowly; mKB will leave early, meaning that we will not have the capability for ceramic or glyptic analysis; we now have enough basic material to see that there was considerable activity high on the BA temple mound in the LC3 period. All of the above points tend to indicate that we should end the current excavation in the next few days and prepare for a more extensive exploration in a future season. |
[Input File: U921jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-03 | jW | Continued to excavate accumulation, f2, in k12. In first pick run, except for the SW corner, began to see changes in soil texture from fine and powdery to thick chunks with decayed rootlets, typical of soil moistened by entrapped water. Changed features. Encountered several large stones and a lens of compacted granular material toward the northeast. Paused work for a consultation with gB, mkB, and faB. There is a good possibily that we see the top of the west end of the apron that capped the wall that was exposed in J2 to the east. Also exposed a tannur midway along the west baulk of k12. Cleaned and prepared to photograph on P804. Removed the north baulk of k11 down to the extant level of k12 so that we may excavate down to the mound's projected perimeter wall top. | [Input File: P803jW.j] |
| 2005-8-02 | jW | Introduced archaeology team to workmen. Began pick run to remove topsoil, f1, of k12, leveling surface of locus. Inspected pottery and counted sherd types, then discarded. Began to excavate accumulation, f2, under topsoil. Established sampling locus, k100, along the south baulk of k13. Finished day by cleaning, including leveling of baulks to promote safe operation of wheelbarrows. | [Input File: P802jW.j] |
| 2005-8-14 | jW | In a final pick run to explore for the outside wall face, a small, pristine section was exposed in the NW corner of the locus. It is vertical, with medium-sized cut stones showing, probably filling gaps between larger stones which we see in other units. There is a huge stone and several large companions jutting out past the wall face to the south in the middle of the locus. We do not yet know whether this is a late buttress or a displaced stones from higher on the wall to the N. We have not reached the face in the NE corner. As time permits in the next few days we will explore for the face here. | [Input File: P814jW.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | Removed a number of large floating stones after relaying them and marking for possible use in reconstruction. | [Input File: P808jW.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | Removed one large floating stone from the SW corner of k101. Spent the last hour cleaning in preparation for a major photograph at the start of work tomorrow. | [Input File: P809jW.j] |
| 2005-8-11 | jW | Continued to explore for the south face of the temple wall, f11, in k101. On the east side, encountered a face of small stones, perhaps used as stabilizers between two larger stones, above and below. On the west side, access to the wall face is partially blocked by a very large, apparently fallen stone from above to the north. In k12, we are leveling the locus, having excavated more in the SE corner to expose the wall apron, f10. Accumulation beginning to change from powdery tan to darker, denser brown. This is more characteristic of containment, particularly from below and may signal that we are nearing the wall top. | [Input File: P811jW.j] |
| 2005-8-11 | jW | In k101, we cleared the accumulation,f between the large stone in the middle of the locus and the reduced west baulk. As in the eastern half, there is evidence for, but no absolute proof of, the south face of wall, f11. In k12, we removed large, floating stones, f20, f23, and cleared the entire locus down to an elevation of 9137, close to, but still above the expected elevation of the wall top. We saw many areas of laminations, without any clear pattern and scattered brick chunks and ashy pockets throughout. We then designated a single feature for all of the accumulation/lamination in the locus, f34, and made one pick run before the end of the day, having been just able to complete the dirt removal, but not the cleaning and inspection before the end of the day. | [Input File: P813jW.j] |
| 2005-8-10 | jW | Diadin took a series of photographs illustrating the evidence for numerous occupational phases in the excavated portions of k12 and k101 (View 9). At the lowest elevation there is the wall, the apron, a crescent of stones above the wall, and, at very high elevations a tannur and a working surface above the apron. Finally, there is the topsoil of modern occupation. In k101 we marked off a 50cm-wide collar around the E, N, and W baulks and, after removal of one large floating stone and the crescent of smaller stones, began excavating a new accumulation f30, to clear and positively identify the S face of the wall. In k12 we removed two large floating stones and the tannur, then continued to excavate the accumulation, f2, to expose the top of the wall in the W portion and the apron in the E portion. | [Input File: P810jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | Removed large floating stone, f26. Cleaned the wall, f11, and apron, f10, to prepare for major photograph, v11, including showing the path of large floating stones which were carried from NE to SW down the face of the wall by erosion. Began to excavate the typological column, k102. All excavated soil was screened, and separate pottery lots were taken from the screen and the column. One additional pick run was taken through the entire locus k12, excavating a new feature, f38, which consists of laminations with bricky inclusions. A line of stones along the W baulk emerged connecting stone, f35, to the N to additional stones to the S, which we are exposing with a small probe. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-16 | jW | Continued to excavate the topological column, k102. All dirt is being sifted. Encountered and removed four large, floating stones, f41, f44, f45, f46. Explored for the south face of wall, f11, in the middle and east sides of k101. We excavated the accumulation, f47, under the large stone, f40, which was moved to the SW corner of the locus. The purpose was to try and determine when the stone may have been deposited in its present position, which, because it was laying on its side, seemed to indicate that it happened after the wall was built/rebuilt. A soil sample was taken and a base of a small cup, i4, was retrieved alongside some slag, perhaps from metal-working. The cup is apparently from the Mitanni period. The aggregate was photographed, v14. A preliminary stratigraphic analysis of the construction of the apron wall, f10, which sits above and to the north of the massive temple mound wall, f11, was performed. There are three distinct layers which underlay the stones. The top is brown, the middle is filled with brick chunks, and the bottom, f42, is reddish, with few inclusions. This seems to indicate that the apron may have been rebuilt several times. The mini-section was photographed, v13, for use in a more detailed analysis which will follow shortly. | [Input File: P816jW.j] |
| 2005-8-22 | jW | Began to excavate this new locus using two pickmen. In the last pickrun, encountered several large stones in an E-W line beginning at the east baulk. These will be cleaned and examined tomorrow. | [Input File: P822jW.j] |
| 2005-8-20 | jW | Entire Mozan staff visited unit for a report on the progress of the excavations during the past week. Continued to follow surface of third millennium terrace south from k102 into k12. Living accumulation, f38, covering the terrace, f50, yielded sherds mixed between ubiquitous and EDIII. This pottery lot q78 tagged for rapid analysis. Excavated accumulations, f51, above third millennium wall stones and accumulations, f42 surrounding second millennium wall stones. Removed floating stone, f26, after relaying and marking it. | [Input File: P820jW.j] |
| 2005-8-22 | jW | Continued to excavate with one skilled pickman in k12 to trace the temple terrace (bakhia), f50, from k102 down to the monumental wall, f11. At the end of the day, the interface was found in the SW corner of k12. Began to excavate k103, the probe to find the plaza on the south side of the monumental wall. | [Input File: P822jW.j] |
| 2005-8-23 | jW | Exploring for the interface of the temple terrace, f50, and the monumental wall, f11, surrounding it in k12. In doing so we had to remove one large stone, f55, originally thought to have been floating, but now, based on the stratigraphy of its foundation, almost certainly a part of the W end of the second millennium wall apron, f10. Encountered medium sized cut stones along what should be the N face of f11, but we are still uncertain as to whether this is the third millennium face or part of a second millennium mocification. The terrace intersects these stones, but we do not yet know whether the terrace continues on underneath them. In k103 we continued to excavate the first accumumlation, f53, under the topsoil, f52. Two large stones in an E-W line, f54, along with some smaller ones, are sitting in f53. At present the function is unclear. At home in the afternoon, the suite of programs to produce the Urkesh Global Record was fully run with all data files to date. Only the photography files failed to integrate. gB is investigating this. Finished preparations for the Stratigraphic and Unit Progress Review scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, P824. | [Input File: P823jW.j] |
| 2005-9-02 | jW | jW and rE entered and processed data during the morning. jW demonstrated the activities involved in compiling and entering data to the visiting members of the Tell Barri excavation team. | [Input File: P902jW.j] |
| 2006-8-13 | vVE | In J3 East we continued today to excavate k1 and k2. In k1 we excavated f500 to make the surface more level; all features were relayed by eI and mO and we removed f501. | [Input File: Q813vE.j] |
| 2006-8-12 | vVE | Today we started to clean both loci k1 and k2. In k2 only some backfill was removed, while k1 was also excavated and there several feature numbers were assigned. | [Input File: Q812vE2.j] |
| 2006-8-14 | vVE | The deposit f517, on which f501 was laying, was removed today in k1 and the western half of this locus has been excavated. f513 and f516 in k2 were excavated to the level of the German trench B6 in area BA and then closed. Then f518, the top soil of the southern part of k2, was excavated. | [Input File: Q814vE.j] |
| 2006-8-16 | vVE | Excavation continued in k2 and a new square was started to the East of k1: k106. The stones of features f503, f504, f505, f506 and f507 in k01, that were planned to be removed in the morning, were left in place because gB changed our strategy. Following gB's suggestion, we will try to create a clear picture of how the temple terrace looked like at the end of phase 6b and the Middle Assyrian period. Several baulks will have to be removed to give a clear view on the scattered stones, the second apron, the revetment wall and the glacis in J3. | [Input File: Q816vE.j] |
| 2006-8-15 | vVE | In k1 several new large stones (f525-530) were discovered when we excavated f500. A (partial) natural hard surface (f534) was found at the bottom of f500. In k2 we started to excavate the natural accumulation f522 under top soil f518 and then natural accumulation f533 under accumultion f522. | [Input File: Q815vE.j] |
| 2006-8-19 | vVE | Today we continued to excavate in k2, k106 and k107. In k1, mO and eI made a drawing of the Northern section. In k2 we excavated f557 (by accident recorded as f535) and thus exposed f532. f532 turned out to be missing the steps that define the second apron in J2. At the bottom of f557 we found a somewhat harder surface f566 that covered some of the stones. In k107 we removed the stone circle f544, the associated sherds in the greyish deposit f546 and the compacted surface f547 where these features were lying on top of. Then we excavated the natural accumulation f548 that lies under f547. In the German trench B6 (f545) in the northern half of k107 we compared the current position of the stones of f532 and their position as visible in a picture made by the German team just after the excavation. This comparison showed which stones had fallen out of place f549 and which had remained in situ. In k106 we excavated deposit f541 until we reached its bottom. It turned out that the harder deposit of f542 continues under f541. | [Input File: Q819vE1.j] |
| 2006-8-20 | rE | Today we resumed working on f137 which is a natural grey and hard accumulation. Mohammad and Ebrahim were excavating on f137, using the small pick and following f148. We found at the bottom of it ten limestones in different level, then we found under it the material of f148 which is an installation consisting of many sherds of pottery and pebbles with a grey color. We found it in two different layers. We gave every layer different feature; the elev for f148 is 9048, the elev for f163 is 9078. We assumed that those features belonged to different phases and we can possibly date the features from the pottery. | [Input File: Q820rE.J] |
| 2006-8-17 | vVE | The new locus k107 was opened to the north of k106 and to the east of k2. We removed the top soil f539 in the southern part of k107. The northern part of k107 had already been excavated by the German team from Tuebingen as B6. Feature f540 was the natural accumulation under the top soil. At the bottom of this deposit we found the naturally compacted floor f547 with on top of it the half circle of stones f544 and the small area of grey deposit f546. In k2 we excavated the natural deposit f557 (by accident recorded as f535) south of f532. Feature f543 is a large boulder in k2 that must have been dislocated from f532. In k106 we continued to excavate the natural accumulation f537. Feature f537 was closed and replaced by f540. Feature f540 was in turn closed when we noted that the southern half of f540 had become harder (f541) and the northern half softer (f542). | [Input File: Q817vE.j] |
| 2006-8-21 | vVE | k2 and k107 were photographed today. The N-section of k106 was drawn by mO and eI. The north baulk of k1 was removed. f523 is the top soil of this baulk and f558 the deposit under the top soil that had already been excavated in previous years when k1 was part of J2. After having removed f558 we came upon f500 once more and this deposit was also excavated. The general outline of the steps of f556 were relayed. All the loci were cleaned because last night a storm had blown dirt everywhere. | [Input File: Q821vE.j] |
| 2006-8-20 | vVE | Work continued in k107 and k106. In k107 we started to excavate f550 which we changed into f553. Several more steps of the second apron became visible. The part of the second apron in k106 is stepped, in contrast to its continuation in k2. Therefore we now have assigned feature number f556 to the second apron in k107 while the part in k2 remains f532. In k106 we excavated f542 to make the locus level again. Then we continued excavating the entire locus as f552. The stones in k106 were relayed and assigned feature numbers: f554 and f555. | [Input File: Q820vE.j] |
| 2006-8-22 | vVE | A small remainder of f535 (bottom of the trench B6, f545) was excavated. Today we could finally set the East baulk of k107 back to its correct positions because bP has provided the eastern markers to define the locus. dM photographed the West and South sections of k106, the East and South section of k01 and the West, South and East sections of k107. (See photographs v523, v524, v526, v527, v529, v528 and v530 respectively. See also the very informative section of the East side of the East baulk of k107: v531) We started to excavate the North baulk of k106. | [Input File: Q822vE.j] |
| 2006-8-23 | vVE | We continued excavating the north baulk of k106 and straightened the Northeast corner of k107. | [Input File: Q823vE.j] |
| 2006-8-24 | vVE | Today the section drawings made by eI, mO, aA and iI were checked and corrected. dM photographed the combined West section of k1 and k2 and the combined West section of k106 and k107. The East section of k107 was removed and the second apron f556 in k107 has now been connected to the second apron that had already been exposed in J2. | [Input File: Q824vE.j] |
| 2006-8-26 | vVE | Since yesterday morning dM took the overview pictures of J3 so that we could now remove some of the stones in k1 that must have eroded out of place from the second apron or the temple terrace. f503, f504, f505, f506, f507, f508 and f511 were removed. In k1, but extending into k2, the natural accumulation f565 was excavated until the natural floor surface f566 was reached. In k107 the natural deposit f550/f553 was excavated and another step of the second apron f556 was uncovered. | [Input File: Q826vE.j] |
| 2006-8-27 | vVE | In k1 the series of naturally compacted floors f566 was removed. More large boulders appeared underneath it and it is not quite clear yet whether these belong to the second apron f532 or to the top of the revetment wall f569. The underlying layer of compacted floors f534 was then excavated in the Northern half of k1. In k107 the floating large boulders of f561 and f562 were removed and the soil which had supported them (f548) too. Then we started the excavation of the new deposit f568 which covered the lowest steps of the second apron f556. | [Input File: Q827vE.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | vVE | In k01 the deposits in front of the top of the revetment wall were excavated as f571. bP measured many points of f532. In k107 we opened f570 which is the natural deposit that lies between the second apron and the revetment wall and which underlies the second apron f532. Under f570 appeared baqaya and possibly the edges of two pits that were cut into the baqaya glacis. | [Input File: Q828vE1.j] |
| 2006-8-30 | vVE | We continued to excavate the Northern half of k1 in front of the revetment wall f569. The boulder f575 and the small boulder 579 next to it were uncovered. Under the natural deposit of f572 there appeared a softer black ashy deposit f576. After having removed these ashes we found again a reddish brown deposit f578. We have removed the pebbles of f521 and the large boulder f519. In k107 we excavated the little deposits f570 that remained on top of the baqaya. After we noticed remains of mud bricks at the Eastern edge of the q-lot we decided to extend the feature further to the East and clean the surface there and remove only a thin layer. In k106 we continued to go down in the northern half until we had cleared the face of the revetment wall. Then we started to excavate also the Southern half of k106. | [Input File: Q830vE1.j] |
| 2006-8-29 | vVE | While cleaning for pictures of k106 and k107 the bronze item i501 was found. In k106 we continued to excavate f552 where appeared the top of the revetment wall. In k1 we excavated the natural accumulation f571 which changed into f572. Here, too, we started to see the top of the revetment wall f569. | [Input File: Q829vE3.j] |
| 2006-8-31 | vVE | Work was continued in the southern half of k106 to reach the same level as had been reached yesterday in the northern half of k106 and to further reveal the boulders that had been exposed there. The boulder f580 was removed and the small column of underlying deposits was excavated. The faces of the top stones of the revetment wall f569 in k106 were cleaned and some of the stones are clearly not in direct contact with the underlying stones of the revetment wall f569. This would then prove the hypothesis that the top of the revetment wall was added in younger times. In k1 excavation in the Northern half of k1 was continued after the stones f575 and f579 had been removed here. More stones appeared however and they seem to lie in line in front of the revetment wall. To make more sense of these new stones we started to excavate the southern half of k1 as well. The large boulder of f530 leaves a 20 cm space between its eastern edge and the East section. When this space was excavated we discovered baqaya and possibly mud bricks lying under the second apron. | [Input File: Q831vE.j] |
| 2006-9-13 | jW | We removed a stray baulk from J1 that bordered the west side of k109, assigning features and q-lots from our book. It was drawn and photographed before removal. | [Input File: Q913jW.j] |
| 2006-9-18 | jW | eDB corrected and plotted relays as well as assisting J4. eI entered all logs from the east part and began to process them into the Global Record. bL processed objects except for a three hour period when she worked on a project to conserve the palace walls. jW assisted J1 and J4, checked recent sketches and updated recent journal entries. | [Input File: Q918jW2.j] |
| 2006-9-19 | jW | Entered aggregate, feature and Q-lot logs for the entire season. Entered object descriptions. Prepared Harris matrix for k23 to prepare for strata assignments and justification. Searched bWP's office for marker data sheets containing point data for J1. It isn't there so we will phone her to send the missing data by e-mail. | [Input File: Q919jW.j] |
| 2006-9-21 | jW | jW supervised data entry and worked on stratigraphic analysis. bL drew templates for J3 West and worked on stratigraphic analysis. eDB finished entering the logs for J3 and then assited J4 in setting up the programs to process their Global Record, afterwhich he processed their relays. eI drew the Uruk seal impressions and drew templates for J3 East. eI and jW visited the field to plan the work needed to draw the rest of the stones that had been covered by the long east baulk of k11, k12, and k101, which include those of the apron, f10, and the memory stones atop the revetment wall, f11. | [Input File: Q921jW.j] |
| 2006-9-22 | jW | jW continued work on stratigraphic analysis, but also worked on processing A14 data for gB. For two hours he led members of the Tell Hamukar excavation team on a tour of the site. bL assisted jW in stratigraphic analysis and drew templates, but also spent considerable time on the palace conservation project. eI drew templates and was detailed to mKB to draw pottery associated with the research of kD, visiting Environmental Archaeologist, who departs tomorrow. eDP assisted J4 in preparing plots. | [Input File: Q922jW.j] |
| 2006-9-27 | jW | jW, rI, bL, eI, and eDB have met daily to conduct a stratigraphic evaluation of the work in the unit for MZ19. We reviewed the contact associations, feature definitions, Harris Matirces and made tentative stratum and phase assignments. bL and eI worked in the field for major portions of several days to prepare plots and drawings of the important features in the locus. We took final photographs of most of the revetment wall's south face from the east limit of J1 to the west limit of J2, as well as some general views of the unit, including the highest glacis, f241, that appears in k109. The shafat to carry the dirt from J1 intrudes into j3, hampering photographs in the western part. jW has concentrated on organizing and checking the photographs in V19 against the view log. A few discrepancies remain, mostly from the first two weeks, due in part to an inexperienced staff and in part to computer problems in the photo lab and servers. | [Input File: Q927jW.j] |
| 2006-10-10 | eDB | bL and eDB are almost finished preparing templates for photographs and section drawings. bL and eI are now available for J3 work full time after being detailed to conservation and drawing for considerable portions of the last week. eI and mO, who returned from Aleppo University for the last two days of work, are preparing stratigraphic assignments and analyses for the East portion of J3. Previously the entire staff, including rE, finished the stratigraphic analysis for the West portion. jW re-constituted the feature descriptions that had been lost when the Feature Data sheets were misplaced. There are some discrepances among the feature descriptions, the types of contact, and the strata assignments which will be resolved by jW in Los Angeles. | [Input File: Qx10jW1.j] |
| 2007-7-15 | jW | The time alloted for the feature stage was extended for two days. There were a number of features in the east section that were missing data entries on types of contact, relays, and strata assignments. (The extent of this was readily tabulated by the program that produces the depositional analysis portion of the UGR.) All missing relays were re-entered. Best photos were assigned to all of the east features and about two-thirds of the west features. Some which are not main views with templates will have to be re-assigned. No summaries have been written for features in either section. The elevations presented for a few features were not the same across the entries for relays, feature logs, and section drawings. These will have to be reconciled in the general work period in August. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2007-7-19 | jW | J3 east added two aggregates for a total of 3, while J3 west deleted two and added five for a total of 18, each of which were defined, sumarized and had best photos selected. All incidentals were reviewed for sufficiency, but must be edited to correct minor errors in grammar. The loci were checked for proper format. Using Freehand, eI and mO prepared an example of a graphic display of the locations of loci within the unit. gB postponed a decision on whether to adopt this approach or to use another display method such as AutoCAD. Summaries for all loci need to be written. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-21 | jW | All J3 items and q-items were reviewed for form and substance. The major issue is missing photos. Over 200 objects do not have photos in the current V18 and V19 files. mO and eI consulted with wO, who will look for the photos in files developed at the last season after he departed and before the excavtion closed. We did not examine the issue of drawings. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-26 | jW | The fourth stage of our work focused on plots and the underlying relays. This part of the work for the west part of J3 was done by jW over the winter, but for all practical purposes, work on the relays and plots for the east part was suspended after vVE departed before the excavations in MZ19 were concluded. Approximately 70 out of about 650 relays recorded had problems. These ranged from relays assigned numbers but not taken, to relays that did not compute, to relays that computed but plotted askew. With the concurrence of gB, we will devote our attention to plots of important features and fix relays needed for these, otherwise we will annotate reasons for relays that could not be used. | [Input File: R729jW.j] |
| 2007-7-28 | jW | The J3 drawings, excepting objects, have been completed, totalling 10 from season MZ18 and 38 from season MZ19. Many have small errors and must be reviewed. A drawing log has been entered for the west part, while one for the east must be written. | [Input File: R729jW.j] |
| 2007-8-19 | jW | jW and eI worked on verifying the disposition of objects and preparing templates and view descriptions. | [Input File: R819jW.j] |
| 2007-8-24 | jW | Located missing objects and processed them. Updated local photo file from master on server. | [Input File: R824jW3.j] |
| 2010-9-16 | jW | Cleaned the brick and mortar glacis, f351 in k12. Found a seal impression, i28. Cut and cleaned new sections for pits a5 and a17. Removed two largely intact clay vessels, i29 and i30 from the matrix of f351. Detected four courses of red mudbricks laid using gray mortar in the east section of a17. As it was in line with an apparent notch in the west face of wall f358, we designated the accumulation northe of the north section of a17 as f352 and began to remove it with the small pick. | [Input File: U917jW.j] |
| 2010-9-18 | jW | Removed all of accumulation, f352, between the west face of wall, f348, and the west baulk of k13 (q452). Determined that layer, f353, consisted of the interlinked burrows of small, social animals. Re-excavated the fill from pit, a17 (q423). While cleaning the bottom of f352, noticed a gray mudbrick floor suface, designated f355 north of the cut of pit a17 and west of the west face of wall, f348. Upon removing it we encountered a large jar smashed flat, but resting upright. Found the apparent floor accumulation, designated f356, and the floor surface, f357, upon which i31 rests. Took an important series of photographs, v180, showing the relationship of all important features escavated so far as well as the jar, i31. | [Input File: U918jW.j] |
| 2010-9-13 | jW | We began by thoroughly cleaning the eastern half of k13, a portion of which will be excavated as k110, including the N and E baulks. Because we expected to find cultural material from the LC3 period below f109 as we removed it we wanted to avoid contamination with cultural material from other, later periods. | [Input File: U914jW.j] |
| 2010-9-14 | jW | Most of the day was spent cleaning the entire surface of the unit. We did so to prepare for a major photograph looking west which will show the relationship of the pavement, f348, to the three glacis and the three pits which penetrated them. Another reason for cleaning was to prevent contamination of the excavated material and to assure that the features are kept separate. At the end of the day we removed more of f346 from the northern third of locus k110. | [Input File: U914jW2.j] |
| 2010-9-15 | jW | finished excavating f346 in k110. Cleaned for an overall photograph, v172. Excavated the fill, f349 of pit a19, then began to remove fill, f346, from the western three-quarters of k13. One small region of f346, near the surface of f348, yielded four stone tools and an impression of a stamp seal, i27. Began to remove f50 from the sloping surface of k12 by scraping with trowels. | [Input File: U915jW.j] |
| 2010-9-19 | jW | Began to remove the sherds of crushed jar, i31. Photographed it often from several perspectives; informal progress shots, formal layer-by-layer view quality photos, and videos of key operations. Identified the contents of jar i31 as the remains of an infant, i32, in soil, i33. Called in aK who began to excavate it as part of burial a20. aK and jW excavated after breakfast and in the afternoon without the assistance of workmen. When they were not on scene, a20 was continuously guarded. | [Input File: U921jW.j] |
| 2010-9-21 | jW | Took final photograph of the impression of rim of jar, i31, in floor, f357. Removed the south wall of pit, a19 and continued south into glacis, f351. Found a large brick structure, f361, in the NW corner of k12. It had be penetrated by a pit, a21, with fill, f359 sitting in cut, f360. Removed the fill and photographed f361 before and after. Carefully excavated in the NW corner of k13 to try to ascertain whether mudbrick pavement, f355 continued in that area. It does, in a strip about 75cm wide along the west face of f348 and the north baulk. To the southwest there is an area of reddish brown accumulation, f362. | [Input File: U921jW2.j] |
| 2010-9-25 | jW | Final day of excavation. Trimmed the western baulk of k13 to straighten, expose, score, photograph, and then draw it to assist in probable excavation of k23 in season MZ24. Excavated the remaining portion of burial a22. Thoroughly cleaned the unit in preparation for final photographs in the next few days. | [Input File: U925jW.j] |
| 2010-9-20 | jW | aK, with the assistance of jW continued to excavate the infant's skeleton, i32. At one point to insure that the bones could be extracted in one piece, they were consolidated with commercial glue. Also a part of the burial, a20, were an animal bone, i34, and a pottery sherd, i35. Just before lunch, aK finished the excavation of i32. In the afternoon work period, jW removed the rest of the burial vessel, which was a large jar, probably broken in half. The jar was placed upside-down and probably broken in half. After the infant was placed in the jar, the bottom was placed over the top to protect it. i33 was screened to look for missed bones and grave goods items (none found). aK and jW completed the burial forms originated by lR to document for the global record. | [Input File: U921jW1.j] |
| 2010-9-24 | jW | Continued to excavate burial a22. Su'ar carefully excavated the portion of pavement, f355, which abutted the west face of wall, f355. dM shot a video of the process, including the exposure of plaster which adhered to the wall bricks. gB narrated the video. | [Input File: U925jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | Placed elevator into k101 in preparation for use tomorrow after wiring completed in afternoon. | [Input File: P808jW.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | Elevator operational. Allowed substantial increase in efficiency, increasing speed of excavation by 50% from accumulations more than 2 meters below the surface. Used 2 picks and 4 removal, with backdirt loaded directly onto trailers by the elevator. | [Input File: P809jW.j] |
| 2005-8-11 | jW | At the suggestion of mO, rigged a pipe to carry dirt from k12 to mouth of the elevator and thence directly to a trailer for removal from the site. Overall efficiency much improved as compared to lifting the dirt by bucket to wheelbarrows which carry it to a dump which must be periodically shoveled into the removal trailer. | [Input File: P811jW.j] |
| 2005-8-11 | jW | Elevator continued to work well, moving large quantities of dirt without mechanical problems. Workmen have organized an efficient system for shoveling, retrieving pottery and clearing the input scoop. | [Input File: P813jW.j] |
| 2005-8-10 | jW | Elevator operational. However, it stopped in mid-morning and was repaired after breakfast by Anwar. At his suggestion we began passing dirt down from k12 in addition to using it to remove dirt from k101, where it is situated. | [Input File: P810jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-17 | jW | Re-installed elevator in k12. At the direction of mKB, stopped the use of the sifter to retrieve objects from the backdirt from the excavation of the typological column at the end of the day. | [Input File: P817jW.j] |
| 2005-8-18 | jW | Removed the dirt elevator from k12 so that we could excavate the entirety of accumulation, f38, overlaying bakhia terrace, f50. No impact on overall removal because we were doing fine work in the entire unit which produced little back dirt. | [Input File: P818jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-22 | jW | In excavating topsoil in k103, a pickman accidentally cut the unmarked, buried power cable for the elevators. No one was injured and the cable was quickly spliced back into operation. | [Input File: P822jW.j] |
| 2005-8-28 | jW | Installed elevator to remove dirt from k104. | [Input File: P828jW.j] |
| 2005-8-25 | jW | Re-installed the elevator in k12 to lift the dirt removed from the locus of the probe behind the wall, k104. In order to protect the bakhia surface of the terrace, f50, we covered it with a cotton cloth and founded the scoop on several burlap bags filled with dirt. | [Input File: P825jW.j] |
| 2005-9-07 | jW | In the afternoon, a crane was on scene to safely remove a large number of floating stones which we had temporarily stored in the SW corner of k101. | [Input File: P907jW.j] |
| 2005-9-05 | jW | After a false start occasioned by a lack of fuel for the compressor, the jackhammer was used effectively in k103 for much of the day to excavate the hard, dense accumulation, f63, and the concrete-like accumulation, f76, below. | [Input File: P905jW.j] |
| 2006-9-10 | jW | The elevator was finally re-installed and it speeded removal perceptably. However, it clogged and stopped at the end of the day. | [Input File: Q910jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-12 | jW | The elevator ran perfectly all day. | [Input File: Q912jW.j] |
| 2006-9-03 | rE | We put the Elevatore on the south sid of k101, bacause it is too deep there and we need to remove the two baulk on both side of k101 faster. fAB suggested to give the q-items which we will found on the Elevatore q-900. | [Input File: Q903rE.J] |
| 2006-9-11 | jW | Elevator worked well throughout the day, but a lack of trailers to haul dirt caused some delays in removal. | [Input File: Q911jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-14 | jW | Elevator stalled when the bottom pivot shaft broke. It was replaced in about half an hour and the elevator operated flawlessly thereafter. | [Input File: Q914jW.j] |
| 2007-7-23 | jW | At the daily meeting, gB introduced several methods for describing commonalities among elements that were not candidates for aggregation. One was to group the elements as an assemblage, coded as a b followed by a sequential number. The second was to discuss the commonalities on the left-hand side of the UGR. The third was to prepare a text file which describes the commonality and then link it to the elements that share it. | [Input File: R723jW.j] |
| 2007-7-15 | jW | Over the scheduled time-off period jW updated the J3 UGR and transferred it to the Hubble server. He also consolidated the files on that server which are not relevant to this season's work. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2007-7-22 | jW | During the week jW will work with gB to validate the changes to the JD suite of programs and keep an up-do-date version of the J03 UGR on the server for other units to check. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-21 | jW | New programs were successfully tested by jW and the results posted on the server. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-21 | jW | jW recommended to gB that a separate category be created in the incidental file to deal with computer and data management issues such as the ones so far this season entered as issues in Methods and Techniques by J3. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-22 | jW | While running a module of the JD suite that enters the phase and stratum for each object, jW noticed that it treated q-lot sherds as objects and inserted stratigraphic data for them in the q-item section without any notation to indicate that they are from sherds. Stratigraphic data for sherds is not entered with the individual sherd as one would expect. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-28 | jW | While trying to prepare the strata log for the features in the east part of J3, features of the form "301.2" were entered. The JD program did not process them properly. | [Input File: R729jW.j] |
| 2007-7-10 | jW | The concept of the entry for accidents was clarified and expanded. The code for accidents will now be used to explain incidents which occur in the field, while a new code for problems will be used to account for discrepancies or omissions in the material related to each element. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2007-7-16 | jW | At the daily meeting we expanded the discussion of R710 on several possible changes to the roster codes associated with Recovery/Assignment. gB proposed that there were several distinct aspects to Problems, assigned a code on R710, which may require additional codes. They include (1) Harmonization of disparate observations, (2) Discrepancies of form rather than substance, (3) Substantive contradictions, (4) Evolution of understanding, (5) Lack of expected information. However one should differentiate these aspects of problems from the non-discrepant process of Argument, assigned its own code and reflecting the logic of why one called something what one did. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2005-8-06 | jW | jW detailed to oversee excavation of burial that had been spotted over the winter when the N baulk of A09k41 eroded. | [Input File: P806jW.j] |
| 2005-8-07 | jW | jW continued to supervise excavation of grave in A09k41. | [Input File: P807jW.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | gM worked at home all day processing data and preparing templates. | [Input File: P809jW.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | Aleppo University student Ismail joined the staff for indoctrination. We now have two such students, Zuzan, who joined us last week, and him. We will involve them in as many activities as possible in the remaining weeks of excavation. Both spend only the mornings with us, so their introduction will consist almost entirely of field work. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-10 | jW | gM worked at home after breakfast processing data and preparing templates. rE remained at home after breakfast to recover from allergic reaction to insect bites. | [Input File: P810jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-16 | jW | gM remained in the house after breakfast to process objects. | [Input File: P816jW.j] |
| 2005-8-17 | jW | Students Zusan and Ismail, deployed in k102 under the supervision of Muhammad Kher to explore for the south face of wall, f11. rE worked at home after breakfast to prepare for an examination in Damascus on August 28. | [Input File: P817jW.j] |
| 2005-8-18 | jW | Student Zuzan did not report for work. After breakfast, rE remained at home preparing for an examination. | [Input File: P818jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-21 | jW | All staff worked at home processing objects, entering data, and preparing templates. gM and rE drew section of the E baulk of k12. jW prepared forms to facilitate strata assignments to be done in the field tomorrow. | [Input File: P821jW.j] |
| 2005-8-20 | jW | Student Zuzann did not report for work today. gM worked on processing objects after breakfast. Due to a trip to Hassake by the director and other senior supervisors, staff will work at home tomorrow processing data. | [Input File: P820jW.j] |
| 2005-8-23 | jW | Students Zuzann and Ismail did not report for work. gM spent most of the morning at home preparing templates and files in anticipation of the unit review. | [Input File: P823jW.j] |
| 2005-8-24 | jW | Students Zuann and Ismail reported for work. For most of the morning, gM worked in the house processing data. | [Input File: P824jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-26 | jW | jW worked at home, forming a clean input archive, completing file logs, entering data, testing the JD program's capability of processing photographic files, and testing the RD program's capability to process relays. | [Input File: P826jW.j] |
| 2005-8-27 | jW | gM worked at home processing data and finishing Harris Matrices for features 1-50. In the late afternoon, geologist Dr. Christian Fischer, lectured on the identification and characteristics of stones used for tools and decorative objects. | [Input File: P827jW.j] |
| 2005-8-28 | jW | rE departed for Damascus to take two examinations in archaeology. She is expected to return at the end of the week to work with us for the balance of the season. At various short periods during the day, jW and gM worked at home perparing the global record. Before breakfast, all staff members attended a lecture on site by geologist, Dr. Christian Fischer, who discussed the formation and retrieval processes for the large stones used to build the monumental wall, the abi, and palace foundations. | [Input File: P828jW.j] |
| 2005-8-25 | jW | Students Ibrahim and Zuzan reported for work. Student Ibrahim told us that this would be his last day of work. Before breakfast, jW, rE and gM developed Harris Matrices for all loci in the field. Then, gM worked at home after breakfast preparing Freehand drawings of them. For one hour before breakfast and one hour after breakfast, jW worked at home writing journal files. | [Input File: P825jW.j] |
| 2005-8-30 | jW | jW and gM attended Requium Mass for Prof. Pecorella, late director of the excavations at Tell Bari. Before and afterwards they worked on processing objects and preparing the unit global record. | [Input File: P830jW.j] |
| 2005-9-02 | jW | rE returned from Damascus and resumed work. | [Input File: P902jW.j] |
| 2005-9-03 | jW | gM worked in the house after breakfast processing objects. After breakfast jW visited the doctor in Qamishlie for an eye injury (not work related). | [Input File: P903jW.j] |
| 2005-8-29 | jW | jW spent two one-hour periods at home preparing the unit global record. gM, vS (on loan from J01) and Zuzan spent all day excavating the burials, f60 and f61. gM will draw the burial using Freehand and a registered photograph of the body to be taken by dM. | [Input File: P829jW.j] |
| 2005-8-31 | jW | jW worked for one hour at home preparing the unit global record. | [Input File: P831jW.j] |
| 2005-9-04 | jW | gM spent a major part of the morning at home processing objects for unit J2. jW spent one hour at home entering and processing data. | [Input File: P904jW.j] |
| 2005-9-07 | jW | jW on site for the entire morning and afternoon. gM departed for home in Italy. rE spent the day preparing documents for the visit of the Minister of Culture on P908. | [Input File: P907jW.j] |
| 2005-9-09 | jW | rE departed for Damascus. jW continued to assist with several groups of visitors. No unit work was undertaken. | [Input File: P909jW.j] |
| 2005-9-10 | jW | jW worked at home preparing Harris Matrices, and entering and checking other data. | [Input File: P910jW.j] |
| 2005-9-11 | jW | Student Zuzan corrected sections of the N and E baulks of k103 and began drawing the N baulk of k104. jW split time between the field and at home, preparing the journal, teaching about drawing sections, and preparing for taking relays and making test photographs to assist in drawing the stones of f10 and f11 in k12. | [Input File: P911jW.j] |
| 2005-9-06 | jW | jW spent most of the morning before breakfast at home processing data and reviewing stratigraphy. After breakfast, gM spent the rest of the day at home processing objects and rE spent the rest of the day at home working on a project for gB. | [Input File: P906jW.j] |
| 2005-9-08 | jW | rE worked at home preparing documents for the visit later today of the Minister of Culture. jW on site for the entire work day. | [Input File: P908jW.j] |
| 2006-8-17 | jW | Last day in the field for eF, who will now work full-time assembling a collection of obsidian for technical analysis. | [Input File: Q818jW4.j] |
| 2006-8-17 | jW | jW spent several short periods at home to enter data from the surveyor, bWP. | [Input File: Q818jW5.j] |
| 2006-8-12 | jW | Students and experienced supervisors were divided into three groups: vVE will work in the east part with mO and eI as an semi-autonimous unit, with its own book and numbering system. rE will work in the west part with bL, and jW will work in the central part with eDB and eF. jW will also be the overall supervisor for J03. | [Input File: Q819jW1.j] |
| 2006-8-22 | jW | jW spent several hours in the house preparing Harris Matrices to facilitate pottery analysis. | [Input File: Q822jW2.j] |
| 2006-8-23 | jW | jW worked at home for part of the morning preparing the Global Record. bL worked at home part of the time after breakfast entering data. | [Input File: Q823jW3.j] |
| 2006-8-24 | rE | jW worked at home with eDB processing relays and plots. | [Input File: Q824rE.J] |
| 2006-8-26 | jW | eDB worked in the house most of the day correcting relays and plots. rE worked in the house for two hours after breakfast preparing the journal. | [Input File: Q826jW.j] |
| 2006-8-27 | jW | eDB worked at home for most of the day processing relays and plots. bL and rE worked at home for two hours each processing the journal. | [Input File: Q827jW.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | jW | jW and eDB spent the day at home processing relays and plots | [Input File: Q828jW3.j] |
| 2006-9-09 | jW | All staff but jW will spend the last week in the field. Each first-year archaeologist will supervise their own crew of six, and will work under the direction of rE. They will be responsible for all journal entries. The local assistants will be responsible for writing most log entries under the direction of the archaeologists. jW planned to divide the mornings between supervising in the field and at home reviewing the status of the documentation, but the pace of work will require his presence in the field for most of the week to continuously redistribute the workforce to the loci requiring the most effort. | [Input File: Q909jW.j] |
| 2006-9-10 | jW | rE was detailed to assist J4 in data processing and mKB in pottery analysis. eDB worked at home checking data entries and preparing plots. | [Input File: Q910jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-12 | jW | eI sick at home all day. cC detailed from J4 for field work all day. vN detailed from J4 for field work in the morning. rE relieved jW in the field for one hour so that he could work on the journal at home. | [Input File: Q912jW.j] |
| 2006-8-31 | rE | jW worked most of the day in the house processing data for vVE. bL worked 1 hour in the house entering data. | [Input File: Q831rE.J] |
| 2006-9-11 | jW | eDB worked at home for most of the day processing data. mO will depart the excavation tomorrow. | [Input File: Q911jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-13 | jW | bL worked at home after breakfast processing objects and photographs. In the morning, cC participated in field work on loan from j4. rE relieved jW for one hour in the morning and afternoon so he could write the journal. All staff worked in the field in the afternoon except eI and eDB who stayed at home to process data. vN from J4 assisted in the afternoon. | [Input File: Q913jW.j] |
| 2006-9-19 | jW | All staff worked at home processing data and objects. bL was away for about 2 hours working on the palace conservation project. | [Input File: Q919jW.j] |
| 2006-9-18 | jW | All staff members worked at home processing objects and data. | [Input File: Q918jW2.j] |
| 2006-9-20 | jW | eDB ill and visited the doctor in Qamishlie. eI taken by gB after breakfast to draw seal impressions from J3. | [Input File: Q920jW.j] |
| 2010-9-14 | jW | While cleaning was taking place, jW spent most of the time in the house working on the UGR. | [Input File: U914jW2.j] |
| 2010-9-19 | jW | Physical Anthropologist aK fortuitously arrived for a short familiarization vist. | [Input File: U921jW.j] |
| 2010-9-24 | jW | yM and lH1 detailed from A20 to excavate burial a22. | [Input File: U925jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-06 | jW | jW detailed to oversee excavation of burial that had been spotted over the winter when the N baulk of A09k41 eroded. | [Input File: P806jW.j] |
| 2005-8-07 | jW | jW continued to supervise excavation of grave in A09k41. | [Input File: P807jW.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | gM worked at home all day processing data and preparing templates. | [Input File: P809jW.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | Aleppo University student Ismail joined the staff for indoctrination. We now have two such students, Zuzan, who joined us last week, and him. We will involve them in as many activities as possible in the remaining weeks of excavation. Both spend only the mornings with us, so their introduction will consist almost entirely of field work. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-10 | jW | gM worked at home after breakfast processing data and preparing templates. rE remained at home after breakfast to recover from allergic reaction to insect bites. | [Input File: P810jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-16 | jW | gM remained in the house after breakfast to process objects. | [Input File: P816jW.j] |
| 2005-8-17 | jW | Students Zusan and Ismail, deployed in k102 under the supervision of Muhammad Kher to explore for the south face of wall, f11. rE worked at home after breakfast to prepare for an examination in Damascus on August 28. | [Input File: P817jW.j] |
| 2005-8-18 | jW | Student Zuzan did not report for work. After breakfast, rE remained at home preparing for an examination. | [Input File: P818jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-21 | jW | All staff worked at home processing objects, entering data, and preparing templates. gM and rE drew section of the E baulk of k12. jW prepared forms to facilitate strata assignments to be done in the field tomorrow. | [Input File: P821jW.j] |
| 2005-8-20 | jW | Student Zuzann did not report for work today. gM worked on processing objects after breakfast. Due to a trip to Hassake by the director and other senior supervisors, staff will work at home tomorrow processing data. | [Input File: P820jW.j] |
| 2005-8-23 | jW | Students Zuzann and Ismail did not report for work. gM spent most of the morning at home preparing templates and files in anticipation of the unit review. | [Input File: P823jW.j] |
| 2005-8-24 | jW | Students Zuann and Ismail reported for work. For most of the morning, gM worked in the house processing data. | [Input File: P824jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-26 | jW | jW worked at home, forming a clean input archive, completing file logs, entering data, testing the JD program's capability of processing photographic files, and testing the RD program's capability to process relays. | [Input File: P826jW.j] |
| 2005-8-27 | jW | gM worked at home processing data and finishing Harris Matrices for features 1-50. In the late afternoon, geologist Dr. Christian Fischer, lectured on the identification and characteristics of stones used for tools and decorative objects. | [Input File: P827jW.j] |
| 2005-8-28 | jW | rE departed for Damascus to take two examinations in archaeology. She is expected to return at the end of the week to work with us for the balance of the season. At various short periods during the day, jW and gM worked at home perparing the global record. Before breakfast, all staff members attended a lecture on site by geologist, Dr. Christian Fischer, who discussed the formation and retrieval processes for the large stones used to build the monumental wall, the abi, and palace foundations. | [Input File: P828jW.j] |
| 2005-8-25 | jW | Students Ibrahim and Zuzan reported for work. Student Ibrahim told us that this would be his last day of work. Before breakfast, jW, rE and gM developed Harris Matrices for all loci in the field. Then, gM worked at home after breakfast preparing Freehand drawings of them. For one hour before breakfast and one hour after breakfast, jW worked at home writing journal files. | [Input File: P825jW.j] |
| 2005-8-30 | jW | jW and gM attended Requium Mass for Prof. Pecorella, late director of the excavations at Tell Bari. Before and afterwards they worked on processing objects and preparing the unit global record. | [Input File: P830jW.j] |
| 2005-9-02 | jW | rE returned from Damascus and resumed work. | [Input File: P902jW.j] |
| 2005-9-03 | jW | gM worked in the house after breakfast processing objects. After breakfast jW visited the doctor in Qamishlie for an eye injury (not work related). | [Input File: P903jW.j] |
| 2005-8-29 | jW | jW spent two one-hour periods at home preparing the unit global record. gM, vS (on loan from J01) and Zuzan spent all day excavating the burials, f60 and f61. gM will draw the burial using Freehand and a registered photograph of the body to be taken by dM. | [Input File: P829jW.j] |
| 2005-8-31 | jW | jW worked for one hour at home preparing the unit global record. | [Input File: P831jW.j] |
| 2005-9-04 | jW | gM spent a major part of the morning at home processing objects for unit J2. jW spent one hour at home entering and processing data. | [Input File: P904jW.j] |
| 2005-9-07 | jW | jW on site for the entire morning and afternoon. gM departed for home in Italy. rE spent the day preparing documents for the visit of the Minister of Culture on P908. | [Input File: P907jW.j] |
| 2005-9-09 | jW | rE departed for Damascus. jW continued to assist with several groups of visitors. No unit work was undertaken. | [Input File: P909jW.j] |
| 2005-9-10 | jW | jW worked at home preparing Harris Matrices, and entering and checking other data. | [Input File: P910jW.j] |
| 2005-9-11 | jW | Student Zuzan corrected sections of the N and E baulks of k103 and began drawing the N baulk of k104. jW split time between the field and at home, preparing the journal, teaching about drawing sections, and preparing for taking relays and making test photographs to assist in drawing the stones of f10 and f11 in k12. | [Input File: P911jW.j] |
| 2005-9-06 | jW | jW spent most of the morning before breakfast at home processing data and reviewing stratigraphy. After breakfast, gM spent the rest of the day at home processing objects and rE spent the rest of the day at home working on a project for gB. | [Input File: P906jW.j] |
| 2005-9-08 | jW | rE worked at home preparing documents for the visit later today of the Minister of Culture. jW on site for the entire work day. | [Input File: P908jW.j] |
| 2006-8-17 | jW | Last day in the field for eF, who will now work full-time assembling a collection of obsidian for technical analysis. | [Input File: Q818jW4.j] |
| 2006-8-17 | jW | jW spent several short periods at home to enter data from the surveyor, bWP. | [Input File: Q818jW5.j] |
| 2006-8-12 | jW | Students and experienced supervisors were divided into three groups: vVE will work in the east part with mO and eI as an semi-autonimous unit, with its own book and numbering system. rE will work in the west part with bL, and jW will work in the central part with eDB and eF. jW will also be the overall supervisor for J03. | [Input File: Q819jW1.j] |
| 2006-8-22 | jW | jW spent several hours in the house preparing Harris Matrices to facilitate pottery analysis. | [Input File: Q822jW2.j] |
| 2006-8-23 | jW | jW worked at home for part of the morning preparing the Global Record. bL worked at home part of the time after breakfast entering data. | [Input File: Q823jW3.j] |
| 2006-8-24 | rE | jW worked at home with eDB processing relays and plots. | [Input File: Q824rE.J] |
| 2006-8-26 | jW | eDB worked in the house most of the day correcting relays and plots. rE worked in the house for two hours after breakfast preparing the journal. | [Input File: Q826jW.j] |
| 2006-8-27 | jW | eDB worked at home for most of the day processing relays and plots. bL and rE worked at home for two hours each processing the journal. | [Input File: Q827jW.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | jW | jW and eDB spent the day at home processing relays and plots | [Input File: Q828jW3.j] |
| 2006-9-09 | jW | All staff but jW will spend the last week in the field. Each first-year archaeologist will supervise their own crew of six, and will work under the direction of rE. They will be responsible for all journal entries. The local assistants will be responsible for writing most log entries under the direction of the archaeologists. jW planned to divide the mornings between supervising in the field and at home reviewing the status of the documentation, but the pace of work will require his presence in the field for most of the week to continuously redistribute the workforce to the loci requiring the most effort. | [Input File: Q909jW.j] |
| 2006-9-10 | jW | rE was detailed to assist J4 in data processing and mKB in pottery analysis. eDB worked at home checking data entries and preparing plots. | [Input File: Q910jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-12 | jW | eI sick at home all day. cC detailed from J4 for field work all day. vN detailed from J4 for field work in the morning. rE relieved jW in the field for one hour so that he could work on the journal at home. | [Input File: Q912jW.j] |
| 2006-8-31 | rE | jW worked most of the day in the house processing data for vVE. bL worked 1 hour in the house entering data. | [Input File: Q831rE.J] |
| 2006-9-11 | jW | eDB worked at home for most of the day processing data. mO will depart the excavation tomorrow. | [Input File: Q911jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-13 | jW | bL worked at home after breakfast processing objects and photographs. In the morning, cC participated in field work on loan from j4. rE relieved jW for one hour in the morning and afternoon so he could write the journal. All staff worked in the field in the afternoon except eI and eDB who stayed at home to process data. vN from J4 assisted in the afternoon. | [Input File: Q913jW.j] |
| 2006-9-19 | jW | All staff worked at home processing data and objects. bL was away for about 2 hours working on the palace conservation project. | [Input File: Q919jW.j] |
| 2006-9-18 | jW | All staff members worked at home processing objects and data. | [Input File: Q918jW2.j] |
| 2006-9-20 | jW | eDB ill and visited the doctor in Qamishlie. eI taken by gB after breakfast to draw seal impressions from J3. | [Input File: Q920jW.j] |
| 2010-9-14 | jW | While cleaning was taking place, jW spent most of the time in the house working on the UGR. | [Input File: U914jW2.j] |
| 2010-9-19 | jW | Physical Anthropologist aK fortuitously arrived for a short familiarization vist. | [Input File: U921jW.j] |
| 2010-9-24 | jW | yM and lH1 detailed from A20 to excavate burial a22. | [Input File: U925jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-01 | jw | To answer the questions about the nature of the material contained by the wall we need to select a small section along the perimeter and excavate towards the temple at the center. In this case we have assumed control of three squares running E-W, that were begun last season as loci J2k33, J2k43, and J2k53 and ended before the wall top was found. The new designations for us are J3k1, J3k11, and J3k21 respectively. As these are excavated further, we expect to encounter the outside (south) top and face of the wall which runs E-W at at this point. Two new loci will be initiated, J3k12 and J3k13, which run N-S starting from the N baulk of k11. In these squares we expect to encounter the top, interior face (north) and material in the mound contained by the wall. Although area supervisors look at all pottery in the field, pottery from q-lots is generally not immediately processed in the laboratory except in special circumstances. This season, we will designate a small locus from which pottery will be immediately analyzed. This will be particularly valuable in guiding stratigraphic decisions and analysis in the field. | [Input File: P801jw.j] |
| 2005-8-14 | jW | In a general meeting on-site gB passed on a suggestion from vvE that we explore how and when the apron, f10, was built. It was presented as a plan to undercut some of the stones at the W end of the apron and analyze the material to date the time of construction. Afterwards, jW and vvE discussed further this idea, and it was agreed that the stones must not be undercut. Ideally we should dig behind a known midsection region of the apron, and examine the section. jW will examine the E baulk of k12 for information and, in fact, the B6 excavations included such a probe, but neither jW nor vvE have seen the report of the results. No time remains in this season to accomplish this additional task using additional excavations. | [Input File: P814jW.j] |
| 2005-8-11 | jW | Tomorrow, P814, we will thoroughly clean the entire locus k12, and inspect it carefully to see if we can find evidence of the wall, f11, top and the material confined behind it to the north. Then we will meet with gB and faB to determine whether to dig more here or to move further to the north to excavate the topological column, which we expect to provide key evidence of how the wall was built. | [Input File: P813jW.j] |
| 2005-8-14 | jW | In a morning meeting on site with gB, mKB, faB, jO, jW and the unit staff, we discussed the placement and excavation of the topological excavation locus that will explore how the monumental wall, f11, was built. We will determine this by excavating in a limited locus behind and below the elevation of the north face of the wall. Previously, we had planned to excavate a two by two meter locus, k100, located midway along the S baulk of k13. However, in light of what we have found out about the probable location of the N wall face, it is more time-efficient and just as likely to resolve the issue if we move the topological sounding to the N baulk of k12. This will yield the same volume of material as k100 would have, and with this new arrangement the elevator can be used to expedite removal as we continue to explore the characteristics of the wall in k12. We will sift all soil from this locus and will save all soil from below the present elevation of laminations, f38, for use as backfill. | [Input File: P814jW.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | gB and jO met with jW and unit staff to discuss the continued exploration of the south face of wall, f11. It was agreed that we would excavate no deeper, but rather we would clear the large fallen stone, f40, and the collection of the smaller ones, f39, and try to follow the clear, vertical face seen on the W edge, as far E in the locus, k101, as possible. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | gB and jW discussed the possibility of a non-destructive study of the construction of the apron wall, f10. Tomorrow, jW will scrape and analyze the mini-section formed by the pedistal of the northernmost of the stones forming the W boundary of the apron. A preliminary look shows a horizontal layer of reddish packing, overlaid by a sloping layer of grayish-brown soil, overlaid by the stones. The study will be documented, in part, by a photo. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-14 | jW | In a morning meeting on site with gB, mKB, faB, jO, jW and the unit staff, we decided to remove the 50cm-wide bench we had left in anticipation of having to slope the baulk of the deep-dug trench needed to explore the south face of the wall in this locus. Instead we will expose whatever face we can see along the full span of the N edge of the locus and hope to resolve whatever ambiguities we see by inspection of the portions of the wall visible nearest us in J01 to the west and J02 to the east. Ideally we should excavate loci to the E (k1) and to the W (k21) to expose more of the wall face, but time does not permit this in season MZ18. | [Input File: P814jW.j] |
| 2005-8-22 | jW | gB and jW briefly discussed, at home, the advisability of removing one or more of the stones of the second millennium surface of the monumental wall, f11, to properly evaluate the interface of the third millennium terrace, f50, and the third millennium phase of f11. gB will look at the situation tomorrow, P823, for a final determination. | [Input File: P822jW.j] |
| 2005-8-20 | jW | gB, mKB, faB, jO, jW and unit staff met to decide where to place the new unit J4, which is to determine the extent and nature of the third millennium plaza which we expect to be located south of the monumental temple wall. Because the same information could be obtained from a number of locations, we decided to incorporate it into J3 instead and place it three squares south of k11. This placement has the added benefit of being on the path of a possible visual line of sight to better view the entire wall system while a master plan to excavate the temple complex is being developed. It will be designated k103, and excavations will begin on P822. | [Input File: P820jW.j] |
| 2005-9-10 | jW | gB, mKB and jw met to discuss the priorities for work in the remaining week of our season. The most important things we must do are those which can only be accomplished here. They include final photographs, relays, plots, templates, Harrris Matrices, and data entry. jW will make a priority list of J03 tasks that fit these criteria. | [Input File: P910jW.j] |
| 2005-9-06 | jW | At the beginning of the day, gB determined that the seasonal goals of the unit had been accomplished in that we had exposed both sides of the monumental wall, f11, and in the process determined how it had been built. We exposed a section of a third millennium terrace, f50, that led from wall, f11, to the BA temple at the top of the mound. We also found the likely end of the second millennium apron, f10, above wall, f11, and determined that the plaza to the south of the wall was devoid of buildings or other substantial structures. As a result no more excavations will be needed in J3 this season. | [Input File: P906jW.j] |
| 2005-9-06 | jW | At the end of the day gB and jW decided that we will continue to prepare the sections in k103 for drawing and photography and that we will finish tracing the top of the bakhia surface of the temple terrace, f50, in k12. About four workmen will be needed for this effort. | [Input File: P906jW.j] |
| 2005-9-08 | jW | No work will be done in the field on Friday, P909 and Saturday, P910. jW will work in the house on P910. rE will depart for a short trip to Damascus on P909 to return on Sunday, P911. We anticipate drawing the sections in k104 and k105 on Sunday, P811. Final photographs will be taken soon thereafter. | [Input File: P908jW.j] |
| 2006-8-16 | vVE | A new strategy has been outlined by gB. We will first remove the East baulk of k1, ie. the baulk between k1 and k106 to uncover f519. When k106 has been excavated to the same level, it is very likely that new scattered boulders will have become visible. The North baulk of k1 will be removed to give a clear view on the top of the second apron, f532. The East baulk of k12 will also be removed to give a clear view of the glacis in k12 and k13. | [Input File: Q816vE.j] |
| 2006-8-17 | jW | Now that the original, EDIII surface of the temple mound has been exposed from the north baulk of k13 to the north face of the monumental wall, f11, and the east-west line of limestone blocks, a4, identified as possible post-Mittani decorative additions to a mound that had covered the wall, we decided to leave a4 on a pedestal and search for more of it in the locus immediately adjacent to the west, k23. Also, the post abandonment accumulations overlay what we hope is a well-defined N-S strip of the wall as existed during the Mittani period, running from the south wall face in k21, through the wall top in k22, and continuing upward to the north in k23. There is tantalizing evidence of this late modification in the west baulk of k12 and k101, excavated in MZ18. | [Input File: Q818jW4.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | jW | gB, mKB, fAB, jO, jW, vVE, rE and the unit staff met to discuss tht overall strategy for excavation in the next week. We will begin to prepare the site to illustrate and document the key strata excavated in J3 in seasons MZ18 and MZ19. First, we will record by photography the last substantial occupation of the site, probably by Middle Assyrians soon after abandonment by the Mittani. We will highlight the stones of a4 juxtaposed with the tannur, f3 and the floor, f173. To do so, we will remove the east baulk of k22 and k23 to the level of the mud glacis, f152, trim the pedistals upon which the stones of a4 temporarily rest, and expose the northern edge of the tannur rim. After documenting these installations, we will remove the stones and the tannur. The next phase of our efforts will be to continue to excavate the bulk line to the south, extending into the east baulk of k21. we want to reach the level of the mud glacis in k23, the floor in k22, and the glacis and floor in k21. Then, as one views the wall and glacis looking north from the south baulks of k11 and k21 one will see on the right the wall system as it esisted early in the Mittani phase and to the left, the memory of the wall as it existed in the latter part of the Mittani phase. Next, we will remove the east baulks of k11 and k12. This will fully expose the apron system as it existed in the middle of the Mittani phase. These actions will complete the link between J3 and J2 to the east. The link between J1 to the west and J3 will be illustrated by fully excavating k21 and k31 to their southern limits, thus providing a vantage point at k31 to view the wall system as it existed soon after it was built in the Early Dynastic phase. Because the east baulks of J1 are high and hazardous to any activity around them, we will excavate k109 to a depth of 2 meters, draw the west bulk, then remove all baulks and projections in the line of sight. The result will be the opportunity to see the growth and modification of the temple mound over its lifetime of 1,000 years of use. | [Input File: Q828jW3.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | rE | Tomorrow we will discuss the function of f197, and we will explore it more, and take a photo for it then we will remove, in order to reach f184, then we will move to the south half of k31, and the south half of k21 in order to have more space, so the view for all the area will be beautiful. | [Input File: Q828rE.J] |
| 2006-8-30 | jW | Today, in a meeting on-site with jO and jW, gB explained in more detail the strategy for excavating the E-W line of loci south of k1, k11, k21, and k31 to maximize the sight lines from a southern mound vantage point north to the wall system, apron, and glacis. The surveyor will lay out four squares with north and east baulks. We will excavate the northern 3 meters across the entire E-W width according to the following procedure: Temporarily maintaining the north baulk, we will excavate a trench from the baulk line 160 cm south to a depth of two meters. Next, we will draw and remove the north baulk. Then from an E-W line two meters north from the south edge of the locus we will dig a sloping wall face connecting the top and bottom. Finally, we will draw and remove the east baulk. | [Input File: Q830jW4.j] |
| 2006-9-09 | jW | gB, mKB and fAB met with the unit staff in the field on Q908 to develop an appropriate strategy to meet the goals of the season during this, the last week of scheduled excavations. In the western half (previously supervised by vVE), except for finishing a small remaining portion of a N-S bulk removal and documentation such as drawing and relaying the stones that were hidden in the baulks, the work is complete. Therefore, the entire team will work in the eastern half. First, because J1 has a staggering workload, we will assume control of the northeastern line of two half squares above the wall top. Locus k109 will be extended eastward to subsume this part. Because a high baulk forms the eastern edge, we will maintain a 50cm baulk to the east for safety and to facilitate drawing the section from the J3 side. | [Input File: Q909jW.j] |
| 2006-9-09 | jW | We need to remove several floating stones sitting on high pedistals, then excavate to the level of k108, immediately to the east. The second goal in k108, k22 and k23 is to follow the hard-packed surface of f123 and f31 north to its expected intersection with the packed mud surface of f152 and or the baqaya, f50 and f109. From the west section of k12, it appears as if f123 may be the glacis in the middle Mittani Phase when the wall was covered, but had "memory stones" placed atop its cover of soil along the line of the wall as it existed in earlier phases. The third and most important goal is to expose the south face of monumental wall, f11, to a depth of about one meter to link the earlier excavations in J2 to the east and J1 to the west. Finally we will remove the loose dirt piled against and atop loci k91, k92, k93, and k94. In the process we will even the cut of the south baulks and assure that each is excavated to the same depth. jW and gB later discussed the possiblity of opening a trench higher on the mound to see if it may originally all been covered in brick. gB pointed out that although it would be near the surface, it could not be seen from the observation post. Furthermore, it would be difficult to preserve over the long term - the brick exposed to the east in the German excavations of several years ago having already eroded away. jW noted that the packed mud glacis f152 may in fact be the detritus from bricks which eroded in antiquity. | [Input File: Q909jW.j] |
| 2006-9-09 | jW | Upon excavation this morning of a packed mud surface, f241, in the northeastern part of k109, gB suggested that we halt work there. He believed that it was the remains of the final glacis, probably built in Phase 7, and a continuation of the pottery layer seen in the north section of J1 above the wall. If we stop here, we will have examples of the glacis of Phase 1 in k101, k12, and k13; the glacis of Phase 6b in k108, k22, and k23; and the glacis of Phase 7 in k109. | [Input File: Q909jW.j] |
| 2006-9-10 | jW | gB and jW met at the site to review progress and revise the goals of yesterday. The surface work in the N-S group of loci which includes k108, k22, and k23 is almost complete in that we have traced a highly compacted mud surface attributed to Phase 6b, f123 and f31, from the wall memory stones north to its intersection with the baqaya glacis, f109 and f50, along the north edge of k23. Next, after photographing the mud surface from south of the wall to the north baulk of k23, we will begin to excavate floor f148 to the south of the memory stones to expose the south face of the monumental wall, f11, to a depth of 50cm. Also, we will finish removing the remnants of the east baulk of k101, which blocks a one-meter wide section of the view of the wall face from the south. | [Input File: Q910jW1.j] |
| 2006-8-31 | rE | after tomorrow we will continue removing the west baulk of k109, and the southern part of k108. gB suggested to continue removing the middle eastern baulk of k108, after taking the photo of the surface which found in the baulk f214. We also plan to remove f213, to follow the baqaya glacis f109. | [Input File: Q831rE.J] |
| 2006-9-18 | jW | With respect to field work, we need to final photographs and relay the memory stones and the south face of the revetment wall. In the west part, we must remove a discontinuity in the mud glacis at the juncture of k13 and k23. In the east part we need to draw the stones of the apron, f10 that was covered by the east baulk of k11, k12, and k101. | [Input File: Q918jW2.j] |
| 2006-9-19 | jW | gB and the unit staff met with gB to review the proposed strategy of yesterday. He suggested that we advance the draft stratigraphic assignments to this week and push hard to complete the templates and section drawings. (At present less than one third are finished.) eI will process data from the east section while eDB will process data from the west section. bL will finish processing objects and will assist jW on strata and phase assignments. In addition, gB approved the plans for additional fieldwork. | [Input File: Q919jW.j] |
| 2006-9-18 | jW | With respect to work at home, for the first week of the post-excavation season we will concentrate on entering, verifying, and correcting log entries. Also we will complete the processing of all objects. In the second week we will concentrate on augmenting the feature descriptions with the field notes taken by the assistants in the field, leading to a draft stratigraphic review by the end of the week. In the third week the assistants will finish preparing templates for views and section drawings, while jW will begin the analytic portion of the Global Record. In the fourth and final week, jW will finish the draft analysis and the staff will review and critique it, leading to a final draft for gB to review. | [Input File: Q918jW2.j] |
| 2006-9-27 | jW | Tomorrow, bL will add several relays to the plot of the wall and memory stones. jW will finish the view log and work on stratigraphy. eI will continue to work on the J3 East templates, with the prospect of finishing on Q929. jW will begin to prepare the justifications for the stratum assignments. | [Input File: Q927jW.j] |
| 2006-10-10 | eDB | In the last day of work this season, we will place all files in the deep freeze, organize the data among the various computers and pack equipment in preparation for departure the morning of Qx12. | [Input File: Qx10jW1.j] |
| 2007-7-23 | jW | The fifth stage of work will address plots and their link to drawings. jW will assure the the format for the UGR records matches that required by the plots section to automatically call up the full AutoCAD function. | [Input File: R723jW.j] |
| 2007-7-07 | jW | The first cycle will address views and templates. As the graphic record of the excavation, it is imperative that we assure that the significance of each photograph is stated in the descriptive part of the view log. To provide for the links to related material, all elements, referants and incidentals shown in the photograph should be listed. Templates need to be prepared for all views and, if necessary, subviews as well. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2007-7-10 | jW | The second stage of work focused on features. It was pointed out that a reader of the UGR who was not familiar with the site would have a difficult time sifting through the data without some idea of what was in it. As a result, a summmary section will now appear as the first entry on each feature page and must be written during this stage. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2007-7-16 | jW | The third stage of work, which started today, will focus on aggregates, loci and incidentals. With respect to aggregates, each will need a summary, list of elements, description and best photo. If aggregates are nested or otherwise related, this must be explained. We are also encouraged to point out oddities. Regarding loci, summaries are required. An overall view of the loci will be presented on the left hand side of the UGR so no best photo is required here. The locus description is often the place where most daily journal entries reside. Just how to deal with the frequent mentions of workmen here will be discussed tomorrow. As to incidentals, we should review them for content and proper category assignment. (Note that we may create our own one-word category if none on the list fit.) | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2007-7-22 | jW | The third stage of work will focus on Aggregates, Loci, and Incidentals. Aggregates will require a summary and a best view. (Note that aggregates can only be formed of units in the same stratum so units with the same function in different strata do not qualify.) jW will examine the 15 aggregates in J3 West while mO and eI will determine what additional aggregates are needed for J3 East. mO and eI will develop a method to visually identify the location of each locus in J3. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-19 | jW | The fourth stage of work will concentrate on objects (items and q-items). If photos were taken, best views must be selected. The issue of how to deal with alternate definitions and measurements which appear in the record as a result of the "dual" entries taken in the field upon excavation and in the lab after cleaning will be clarified by gB. It is the opinion of jW that both are valuable contributions to the record and should be retained but differentiated through coding. | [Input File: R722jW.j] |
| 2007-7-26 | jW | The fifth stage concentrated on drawings. As a goal, we would like to link more drawings of architecture to plots (i.e. derive the drawings from plots) and gB will work on a way to display both on the same UGR page. To assist in this, it will be advantageous to write a script file for each feature, making it easy to retrieve them for combining them into more complex drawings. | [Input File: R729jW.j] |
| 2007-7-28 | jW | One thing lacking for the whole of J3 is an overall plot of the important features that can be seen but that we have not excavated. These include the revetment wall, aprons, and the three glacis. With the concurrence of gB, jW will identify the 30 or so points to be surveyed by bWP to complete this plot. | [Input File: R729jW.j] |
| 2010-9-01 | jW | gB pointed out that stratigraphically, accumulations above the glacis are not sealed from above. Therefore, their source and time of deposition cannot be determined. In fact, since f152 served as a glacis to memory stones of the revetment wall, it is likely that these accumulations covering the baqaya were fill, probly mined from nearby and dumped there in the MIttani period. The only true test of the composition and date of baqaya and the mound below to sink a trench and analyze the contents. To that end, on U904, gB, mKB, fAB, pC, and jW will visit J3 to plan the possible excavation. Because of its limited, but delicate nature, experienced workmen would be hired to do the digging. | [Input File: U901jW.j] |
| 2010-9-01 | mKB | this season the ceramic analysis team is working on the analysis of all the remaining unanalyzed sherd lots from J3, and this is yielding some important and unexpected insights into the possible configuration of the mound in the earliest periods. While the Late Chalcolithic 3 sherd lots excavated in J3 were analyzed previously as we excavated them, some features, with relatively small numbers of sherds, were not recognized immediately as dating to LC3 and therefore were not analyzed until this season. During the course of this analysis we discovered that J3 features f513, f114, f151, f152, f209, and f120 had either exclusively LC3 pottery or had relatively few later sherds in comparison with the the vast amount of LC3 pottery. |
[Input File: U901mKB.j] |
| 2010-9-01 | mKB | In my notes of U831 I included the elevations of these features because they are high and this seemed to me very important for our ongoing research on the configuration of the mound in the various periods of its habitation, and in this case the shape and elevation of the high mound in LC3. I suggested in my notes on these ceramics, included in the J3 Global Record of U831, that I look more closely at the stratigraphy with jW. We had this meeting before breakfast on U901 and it became clear that these features, except for f513, were in a stratum just above the baqaya stratum in k23 and k13. jW pointed out that f121 and f50 ceramics might belong together, I looked at the sherds and determined that they too were LC3. I then put out in the Sherd Yard all the sherds from these features and called a meeting for after breakfast, with myself, jW, gB, and fAB, and asked jW if he would prepare a sketch section for the meeting that included all the features under discussion. |
[Input File: U901mKB.j] |
| 2010-9-01 | mKB | My objective in calling this meeting was twofold: first to point out that there were more high features in J3 that dated to LC3 than we had recognized during the excavations, and secondly to suggest that a small excavation in J3 this season might yield more information on the configuration of the High Mound in LC3. During the meeting we looked at the impressive amount of ceramic evidence from these features and discussed conducting a small operation, headed by jW, in the upper part of J3. All the possibilities for the placement of a small trench were discussed that would maximize the information we would obtain on the mound formation in this period. It was decided to meet out in the field on Saturday morning, also with pC, to decide on the position of this trench. |
[Input File: U901mKB.j] |
| jW | We will begin excavations on U906 with 4 workmen (1 pick, 1 shovel, and 2 removal). First we will thoroughly clean the modern accumulation from atop the baqaya glacis, f109, and remove all loose sherds from the extant baulks to minimize the risk of contamination. Next, we will carefully remove the layer of baqaya with the big pick, breaking it apart to recover any sherds. After a thorough cleaning, we will begin excavating the accumulations under the baqaya. Backdirt will be placed south of the revetment wall for possible use in backfilling the trench. Tentatively we expect to excavate to a depth of two meters. We considered screening the backdirt, but decided not to do it routinely due to the skill and experience of the assigned workmen. mKB stated that there was no need to analyze pottery from the pre-excavation cleaning since its provenance would be uncertain. | [Input File: U905jW1.j] | |
| 2010-9-13 | jW | On the morning of U914 we will clean the entire unit (including the walls of pits a5, a6, and a10) to prepare for a major photograph which will show all phases of the glacis construction from the late Mittani period, back through the Late Chalcolithic period. After taking a test photograph (the best time to take the record shot is in the late afternoon) we will remove the balance of f346 in the northern half and along the western border of k110, being careful not to damage the bricky material in the far NW corner.This will expose the balance of the ash layer, f347, which when removed should expose the bricks of f348. | [Input File: U914jW1.j] |
| 2010-9-14 | jW | On U915 we will first remove the rest of f346 from k110, exposing the top of f348. After cleaning, we will take an important photograph looking westward to encompass f348 and the three glacis. The surveyor will re-establish the grid for k13 and we will then excavate westward to the level of f348 to see its extent in that direction. At the same time we will vigorously scrape the area just to the south of k110 where just below the surface there is a continuation of the same reddish material constituting f348. This way it may be possible to identify both the southern and western extents of f348, as well as its identity and function. We need to be careful about excavating along the southern edge of k13 because there are several areas where the baqaya seal has been broken, perhaps by a pit. | [Input File: U914jW2.j] |
| 2010-9-20 | jW | gB, jW, and fAB met briefly to discuss strategy for U921. First, we will ascertain whether i31 rests on floor, f357. Second we will clear the south wall of pit a19 and explore south to see if we can find the south end of wall, f348, then follow it east to find its eastern extent, which is obscured by brick debris in locus k110. Third, we will trace floor, f357 to the west and north. | [Input File: U921jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | gM and rE completed drawing the N section of k12. Elevation of string taken from m4074 was 9314. dM photographed it with and without string and feature ID tags, v12. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-21 | jW | Drew section of the E baulk of k12. Elevation of the string was m3935+69-152=9276. | [Input File: P821jW.j] |
| 2005-9-11 | jW | Finished section drawings of the north and east baulks of k103. Began drawing the N section of k104 | [Input File: P911jW.j] |
| 2005-9-08 | jW | Student Zuzan and Abd el Hamid drew the north and east sections of k103. String elevation, 9070, was taken from m4217. | [Input File: P908jW.j] |
| 2006-8-20 | jW | eDB with assistance from aA, drew the east section of locus k13, with an elevation of the string of 9339. aH and iM drew the north section of locus k13 with an elevation of string of 9339. On Q916, bL drew the north section of locus k21 with an elevation of the string of 9204. | [Input File: Q820jW.j] |
| 2006-8-21 | jW | aA and iI, re-drew the east section of locus k13, with string elevation of 9335. iI and aA drew the north section of locus k108 with string elevation of 9208. | [Input File: Q821jW1.j] |
| 2006-8-22 | jW | iI and aA drew the east section of k108 with string elevation of 9221. iI and aA drew the east section of k22 with string elevation of 9262. iI and aA drew the north section of k22 with string elevation of 9253. | [Input File: Q822jW2.j] |
| 2006-8-23 | jW | aA and iI drew the north section of k31 with a string elevation of 9205. | [Input File: Q823jW3.j] |
| 2006-8-26 | jW | iI and aA drew the combined east section of k23 and the north half of k22 with a string elevation of . | [Input File: Q826jW.j] |
| 2006-8-27 | jW | aA and iI drew the east section of k109 with a string elevation of 9209. | [Input File: Q827jW.j] |
| 2006-8-30 | rE | aA and iI drew the north part of the east section of k109, with the string elevation of . Also they drew the west side of the west baulk of k109, with a string elevation of . | [Input File: Q830rE.j] |
| 2006-8-31 | rE | aA and iI drew the west baulk of k109, and the upper part of the west section, which it is infact belongs to J1, the west section of k24. Because it is dangerous to draw it from J1 side, we did it. | [Input File: Q831rE.J] |
| 2006-9-03 | rE | aA and iI drew the west section part of k109, after removing the baulk to combare between the to section if they have the sam leyer and features which belong to J1 | [Input File: Q903rE.J] |
| 2006-9-21 | jW | kD, a visiting Environmental Archaeolgist, examined the unit with jW to briefly study the material used to make the baqaya glacis, f109, the wahal glacis, f152, and the mud glacis, f241. If possible, we would like to know whether these features are natural or man-made. The baqaya is found under the surface soils and would have to have been dug elsewhere and carried to the temple mound to be used as a coating. The wahal is relatively clean and is composed of silt and sand. The cleanliness and the hard uniform surface make it more likely than not to have been carried to the mound and compacted there. The mud glacis has many sherds and pebbles. This could have resulted from erosion and transport from higher on the mound after Mittani abandonment or it could have been carried to the mound from elswhere. | [Input File: Q921jW.j] |
| 2005-8-27 | jW | gB, mKB, and faB met with jW, gM and rE to conduct a stratigraphic review of the excavations to date. We were able to accomplish this using the J3 Urkesh Global Record which was compiled with all data collected to this date. Data from each category was displayed and reviewed, including templates. Generally, gB, mKB, and faB were pleased with what we had done to date and the rationale we used to make and justify our stratigraphic assignment for each feature. Making and justifying the assignments in the field is essential for understanding how the site was formed, a function that is severely impeded if done for the entire season at the end of the excavation. faB discussed the interaction of the Contact Associations and the standard Harris Matrix which displays relative time of deposition. Also we need to intgrate the strata with the display of features. Generally, with respect to the UGR, it will have to be carefully reviewed after excavations stop for completeness and duplicate entries removed. However, gB cautioned against removing differing observations and conclusions, which are useful in demonstrating how our understanding of the stratigraphic relationships evolved. Finally gB suggested that for each feature we identify a "best view", code B12, for each feature to convey a more complete understanding of it to a reader unfamiliar with the site. gM's templates will be extraordinarily useful for doing this. | [Input File: P827jW.j] |
| 2006-9-20 | jW | Now that the MZ19 (2006-Q) excavation season is over, we have accomplished the following: First, the south face of the revetment wall, f11, has been completely exposed. Now from an elevated platform just to the south of the locus, one can see the wall from the western part of Ji, through J3, to the manumental staircase in J2 to the east. Second, the apron, f10, has been completely exposed. In addition, the phases of its construction and use have been carefully documented. Second, we exposed additional portions of the baqaya glacis to the north and to the west. Somewhat to our surprise, there was a packed mud (wahal) glacis atop the baqaya glacis and a mud glacis with sherds and stones atop the packed mud glacis. At the north edge of the excavation, the wahal directly covered the baqaya. Nearer the wall to the south, there were additional layers of accumulation between the baqaya and the wahal due to aeolian deposition in the later phases of sacral use in the Mittani period. The final covering that we could identify was a mixture of sherds and pebbles in a mud matrix. Whether or not this was a natural deposition of material deposited by water run-off remains problematical. | [Input File: Q920jW.j] |
| 2006-9-20 | jW | Third, we discovered the remnants of a brick coating atop the baqaya glacis along the north edge of the excavated area. Although we had planned to excavate a locus closer to the temple to look for the brick coating and a sector of the stones that ringed the mound, gB pointed out that the bricks exposed by the recent German excavation in B6 had already melted. Therefore, we could learn nothing more without damaging the mound. Fourth, as of this date we are making satisfactory progress toward completing the Global Record. An unexpected result of the excavation was the discovery of a group of Uruq seal impressions in spoils dumped from the nearby excavation of a pit that was cut into the baqaya and the fill below which was used to build the mound behind the revetment wall. This coupled with the large quantities of Late Chalcolithic ceramics recovered from the probe beneath the baqaya last season and the fill below cuts of pits found this year confirm the existance of a substantial occupation of the site well before the Early Dynastic III period. | [Input File: Q920jW.j] |
| 2007-7-09 | jW | We encountered a number of problems during the work on templates and views. Perhaps the most significant, because it is not resolvable without consulting with wO who has yet to report, is missing photographs. In some cases, the photos were lost due to problems with the digital camera and its data cards. In a few cases, the view was listed, but the photograph was not taken. Unit J3 was divided into an east and west section during excavation to take advatage of the presence for a short period of time of vVE, who supervised the excavation in the east of the apron, f10, f532, f556, to the revetment wall, f11. mO and eI were part of the "east team" and are working exclusively on that part of the record. It is the east part that has the most missing photos, some of which may have been taken using west section numbers after vVE departed. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| 2010-9-13 | jW | After excavation was completed on U913, gB, mKB, fAB, pC, and jW met on site to discuss the result and generally plan for the excavation over the next few days. mKB stated that there were an adequate number of sherds to date the glacis, f109, and features immediately below, to the Late Chalcolithic 3 period. The original plans called for us to excavate all of k110 to a depth of about 2 meters. However, since f346 and f347 appear to cover red baqaya bricks laid with brown mortar,f347, there is the possibility that it is either a pavement or a wall-top, neither of which we would want to destroy at this time. It is sufficient to note that it is an important LC3 feature. A better way to study this feature is to excavate all of k13 and scrape well the original surrounding features to gain a perspective of what f347 is and what function it served. | [Input File: U914jW1.j] |
| 2010-9-01 | jW | By virue of the fact that the revetment wall, f11, can be dated to the EDIII perion, its abutting baqaya glacis, f50 and f109, can be likewise tentatively be dated to EDIII. There have been limited indications that the mound that the glacis covers dates to an earlier period. These include Uruk seal impressions and Late Chalcolithic sherds found in the vicinity of pit a10, which cut the glacis. Recently, ceramics analysis of soil features (f114, f120, f121, f151, f152, f209) which covered the glacis to a depth of 15 cm revealed the presence of a considerable number of LC sherds. The issue presented is: do these features, the glacis, and the mound beneath date to the Late Chalcolithic period? | [Input File: U901jW.j] |
| jW | On U904, gB, mkB, fAB, pC, and jW met at unit J3 to discuss the size and location of the exploratory trench to penetrate the baqaya glacis (f109) and collect ceramics from the layers beneath. The ceramics would then be analyzed by mKB to date that part of the temple terrace and assist in understanding the presence of LC3 sherds in several accumulations above the baqaya. After considering proposals of a deep 2m by 2m trench centered along the north baulk of k13 (same N-S orientation as k104 dug along the north face of the revetment wall, f11), and a shallower excavation of the entirety of k13, we decided to excavate a 1m by 3m N-S deep trench along the east baulk of k13. This trench will be designated k110. This will allow us to add to the east section of k13 which has already been drawn. Also, the west section of k110 will complement the major temple terrace and revetment wall section being drawn by pC. | [Input File: U905jW1.j] | |
| 2010-9-14 | jW | After the unit surface was clean, gB, mKB, fAB and jW met on site to discuss the implications of what we had already found and to review the strategy developed over the past few days. All ceramics excavated in MZ23 which cover f348 are from the Late Chalcolithic period, indicating that f348 may have been constructed earlier. We will try to find out when over the next several days. | [Input File: U914jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | Markers m4007, m3931, and m4027 loosened and removed. In attempting to take the elevation of the string used as a reference for the N section of k12, jw noticed that the elevation for m3931 had been erroneously calculated by bP. Corrected elevation is 9349 vice 9256 which was recorded earlier this season, MZ18. jW will enter the new data in the marker file. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-24 | jW | Under very difficult conditions including a steep sloping floor and undercut stones, the surveyor, bP, laid out a 2m by 2m square, k104, aligned with the excavation grid. The S side touched E-W wall, f11; the E side touched the foundations of the apron, f10; and the W side touched the N-S line of stones that included f35 at the N end. The south side of the square almost coincided with the N edge of the N baulk of k11, and was roughly centered on an E-W line. | [Input File: P824jW2.j] |
| 2006-8-27 | jW | Marker m4320 loosened and removed during excavation of the east baulk of k23. | [Input File: Q827jW.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | jW | markers m3926, m4013, and m4009 loosened and removed. | [Input File: Q828jW3.j] |
| 2006-9-09 | jW | bWP installed a number of new control points along the north and south baulk lines to be used for relays. These will replace the corner markers that were removed when the N-S baulks were excavated last week. | [Input File: Q909jW.j] |
| 2006-9-21 | jW | We need to establish several new markers with relays to finish measuring and drawing the stones of J3 East. | [Input File: Q921jW.j] |
| jW | On U905, jW met with surveyor hB to lay out the trench. To take advantage of a marker already in place for the SE excavation corner of k13 (m4267), jW decided to make the N-S line 291cm instead of 300cm long. dM took photos for v168. | [Input File: U905jW1.j] | |
| 2010-9-15 | jW | pC re-established the excavation limits of k13, with surveyed relay points. Point m6353 = r2593 = SW corner; point m6354 = r2594. | [Input File: U915jW.j] |
| 2010-9-19 | jW | Set two relay points on the W and E sides of a32 to serve as grid reference points for a photogrametric drawing of the skeleton. | [Input File: U921jW.j] |
| 2007-8-11 | jW | Visited by Second Secretary, Political Section and Director, American Cultural Center of the American Embassy, Damascus. | [Input File: R811jW.j] |
| 2007-8-19 | jW | Three visitors from Damascus were welcomed with a tour of the facilities. | [Input File: R819jW.j] |
| 2007-8-24 | jW | Visited in the afternoon by a group of archaeologists from Tell Fekheriya. | [Input File: R824jW3.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | 3 picks and 6 in support. Two picks working in k101 and one in k12. | [Input File: P809jW.j] |
| 2005-8-10 | jW | 3 picks and 6 in support. Two picks working in k101 and one in k12. Ibrahim excused by faB at breakfast to attend to the birth of his baby. | [Input File: P810jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-02 | jW | Two large picks and 6 in support reported for work. All workmen properly equipped and working efficiently, due in part to timely installation of tents. Hussein, assistant to surveyor, available to work part-time as pickman. | [Input File: P802jW.j] |
| 2005-8-04 | jW | 2 large picks and 4 in support. Faraj and Ibrahim missing. Work suffering due to lack of removal capacity. | [Input File: P804jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-08 | jW | 3 picks and 6 in support. 1 pick and 1 removal detailed under supervision of jW to excavate jar in K4 that was found over the winter by the guard in an eroded part of the early city wall. Task finished after breakfast. | [Input File: P808jW.j] |
| 2005-8-07 | jW | 3 picks and 6 in support. (Two replacement workmen provided by faB.) 1 pick and 1 removal detailed to excavate grave in A09k41 under supervision of jW. Designated Swar and Ibrahim as picks for J03 excavations. | [Input File: P807jW.j] |
| 2005-8-11 | jW | 3 picks and 6 in support reported for work. Swar did not return after breakfast due to back problems and was excused by faB. Ahmed, who was assigned to work with us for five days departed. | [Input File: P811jW.j] |
| 2005-8-11 | jW | Three picks and five in support reported for work. Thanks to the effiency of the elevator and the confined working space, we may be able to finish this season without replacing Ahmad. | [Input File: P813jW.j] |
| 2005-8-06 | jW | Two picks and five in support. Faraj quit. Requested replacement from faB. Work slowed by lack of removal personnel. | [Input File: P806jW.j] |
| 2005-8-14 | jW | Three picks and 6 in support reported for work. Hussein, assistant to surveyor, bP, worked productively with unit for about 2 hours as a skilled pickman. | [Input File: P814jW.j] |
| 2005-8-15 | jW | 3 picks and 5 in support reported for work. | [Input File: P815jW.j] |
| 2005-8-23 | jW | Three pickmen and five in support reported for work. | [Input File: P823jW.j] |
| 2005-8-16 | jW | Three picks and 5 in support reported for work. | [Input File: P816jW.j] |
| 2005-8-17 | jW | Three picks and 5 in support reported for work. One pick deployed in k101, and two deployed in k102. Pickmen attended a short meeting at the beginning of work. gB presented a general lecture on the scope of the planned excavations to all workmen from 1230 to 1315. | [Input File: P817jW.j] |
| 2005-8-18 | jW | Three picks and 5 in support reported for work. With the approval of faB, Muhammad Kher departed at 1100. Surveyor assistant, Hussein, worked in the unit as a pick man after breakfast. During the last hour, deployed the support members in a general cleanup of the area around the unit. | [Input File: P818jW1.j] |
| 2005-8-21 | jW | All workmen excused from reporting due to a trip by the director and associates to Hassake to consult on the furnishing of a new museum which will include exhibits from Tell Mozan. | [Input File: P821jW.j] |
| 2005-8-22 | jW | Three pickmen and five removal personnel reported for work. Electrical problems at the house curtailed drinking water supplies and slowed work. | [Input File: P822jW.j] |
| 2005-8-03 | jW | Two large picks and 5 in support. Faraj missing. Little impact on work due to several scheduled photographs. | [Input File: P803jW.j] |
| 2005-8-20 | jW | Three picks and 5 in support reported for work. At the end of the day, workmen were advised that tomorrow will not be a work day for them. The day will be made up at the end of the season. | [Input File: P820jW.j] |
| 2005-8-24 | jW | Three picks and five in support reported for work. At the direction of faB, Suliman Muhammad was added to the workforce. Ibrahim ill and excused from work at 1130 by jW. | [Input File: P824jW2.j] |
| 2005-8-28 | jW | Three pickmen and six in support reported for work. One pick and one removal assigned to excavate k104, while two picks and five removal assigned to excavate k103. | [Input File: P828jW.j] |
| 2005-8-25 | jW | Three picks and six in support reported for work. | [Input File: P825jW.j] |
| 2005-8-27 | jW | [Input File: P827jW.j] | |
| 2005-8-30 | jW | No field work today. Workmen excused. | [Input File: P830jW.j] |
| 2005-9-01 | jW | Three picks and six in support reported for work. gB reassigned Sadeh to J2 for the day, whereupon Sadeh cut his finger and needed medical attention. Ghandi excused from work by gb at breakfast to prepare for a wedding in his family. Work slowed somewhat as a result. | [Input File: P901jW.j] |
| 2005-9-03 | jW | Three picks and four in support reported for work. Ghandi still absent while participating in a wedding ceremony. | [Input File: P903jW.j] |
| 2005-8-29 | jW | Three picks and six removal personnel reported for work. At the end of the day, gB informed the workmen that there would be no field work tomorrow in memoriam of Prof. Pecorella, director of the Tell Bari excavations, who died in a fall from a tall baulk at that site. | [Input File: P829jW.j] |
| 2005-8-31 | jW | Three pickmen and six in support reported for work. Hussein, who had been working as the assistant to the surveyor, temporarily reported for duty as a pickman, then was assigned to J2. Safwan informed us that today would be his last day of work. Pickmen requested that they be able to put water on accumulation k103f64 to soften it for easier picking. gB, faB, and jW agreed that whatever advantage accrued would be lost because the wet soil would clog the elevator and force all dirt to be passed up by buckets rather than removed by elevator. | [Input File: P831jW.j] |
| 2005-9-04 | jW | Three pickmen and 5 in support reported for work. | [Input File: P904jW.j] |
| 2005-9-07 | jW | Three picks and six removal personnel reported for work. One pick and four removal personnel detailed to the palace area for cleanup. One pick cutting new sections in k103. One pick and two removal personnel cleaning up loose ends in the excavation of k105. | [Input File: P907jW.j] |
| 2005-9-11 | jW | In the absence of workman Abd el Hamid, workman Ghandi was detailed to assist in measuring for drawing sections. | [Input File: P911jW.j] |
| 2005-9-05 | jW | Three pickmen and five removal personnel reported. Juma, from J1 was reassigned to us for the balance of the season. | [Input File: P905jW.j] |
| 2005-9-06 | jW | Three pickmen and six removal personnel reported for work. After removing the dirt from the last jackhammer run in k103, we released five workmen to faB for deployment in cleaning the palace excavations. The remaining four workmen cut sections and generally cleaned the unit in preparation for photography and drawing. After breakfast, all but one workment were deployed to cleanup the palace excavations. | [Input File: P906jW.j] |
| 2005-9-08 | jW | three picks and six removal personnel reported for work. At various times all were detailed to general site cleanup and preparations for the visit of the Minister of Culture later this evening. Abd el Hamid assigned to J3 from J2 to assist in drawing sections. | [Input File: P908jW.j] |
| 2006-8-16 | jW | For all the sub-units of J03, 5 picks and 12 in support reported for work. Workmen Saud, Abd'el Fatah, Kawa, Imad and Abd'el Hamiid added and distributed to the three supervisors. | [Input File: Q818jW2.j] |
| 2006-8-17 | jW | For all the sub-units of J03, 6 picks and 16 in support reported for work. New workmen added substantial capacity to remove soil from ever-deepening trenches. Abd'el Hamiid serves as an administrative assistant to all three sub-units, focusing on helping to draw sections, filling out tags and taking relays. | [Input File: Q818jW4.j] |
| 2006-8-17 | jW | For all the sub-units of J03, 6 picks and 16 in support reported for work. Su'ar excused by fAB for personal business at 0800. | [Input File: Q818jW5.j] |
| 2006-8-16 | jW | Four large picks and 12 in support. Khalid Suleiman returned to work after a one day absence. | [Input File: Q818jW8.j] |
| 2006-8-12 | jW | Four pickmen and 12 in support reported for assignment. Divided roughly in equal proportions among units supervised by jW, vVE, and rE. At the end of the day we will re-distribute based on the actual workload. | [Input File: Q819jW1.j] |
| 2006-8-13 | jW | Four large picks and 11 in support. Khalid Suleiman absent. | [Input File: Q819jW.j] |
| 2006-8-19 | jW | Ahmed al Wahid did not report for work. Sa'ud sent as replacement. Ghandi Khellu taken for work in the house on a permanent basis. Kawa Omo sent from vVE's team as a replacemant for the day. | [Input File: Q819jW2.j] |
| 2006-8-20 | jW | Two workmen, Ahmed al Wahid and Sa'ud, new yesterday, did not report for work. Shifted workmen to compensate for the shortage. Abd'el Hamid and Ibrahim Musa worked well as an independent team, taking and entering relays, and drawing sections by themselves. In addition they generally assisted in keeping the book. | [Input File: Q820jW.j] |
| 2006-8-21 | jW | All assigned workmen reported for duty including Ahmed al Wahid and Swar, the removal men, who were absent yesterday. Khalid replaced A'del, who was promoted to pick in J4. | [Input File: Q821jW1.j] |
| 2006-8-22 | jW | All assigned workmen reported. | [Input File: Q822jW2.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | jW | [Input File: Q828jW3.j] | |
| 2010-9-21 | jW | [Input File: U921jW2.j] | |
| 2006-8-23 | jW | All assigned workmen reported. Ghandi and Ramadan worked in house for Muhammad Omo. Legzine sent to replace Ramadan. Mahmud worked in house for part of the day. | [Input File: Q823jW3.j] |
| 2006-9-03 | rE | Swar and Khaled excused because they are sick. Ahmad also excused and left after breakfast. Adaal quit the work after breakfest. Mohammad Khier excused the last hour of the work. | [Input File: Q903rE.J] |
| 2006-8-24 | rE | All assigned workmen reported; jW's workmen worked all the day with rE. | [Input File: Q824rE.J] |
| 2006-8-26 | jW | All workmen assigned reported. Mahmood detailed to work in the house and was replaced by Lezkane. Ghandi returned from working in the house. The crew working in k23 and k22 was detailed to k109 for two hours while the east baulk of k23 and k22 was being drawn and photographed. Muhammad Kher requested to be re-assigned. Discussed the matter with jO who will talk further with fAB and gB. | [Input File: Q826jW.j] |
| 2006-8-31 | rE | All the workmen assigned reported, except Ahmad excused. Ghandi worked in the palace. Mohammad excused the last hour. | [Input File: Q831rE.J] |
| 2006-8-27 | jW | All workmen reported except Swar, who was excused due to illness. Ghandi excused by jO for one hour to attend to personal business. Mahmood Ismail will arrive late and depart early each day to assist in the distribution and collection of tools at the house. | [Input File: Q827jW.j] |
| 2006-8-28 | rE | All assigned workmen reported. Farid excused and left after the breakfast. Khalaf and Emad worked the last hour with vE. | [Input File: Q828rE.J] |
| 2006-8-30 | rE | All the workmen reported. Ghandi worked all the day on the palace. Emad worked part of the time with vE. Lazgin worked half of the day with Mohammad Omo. | [Input File: Q830rE.j] |
| 2006-9-09 | jW | All assigned workmen reported, after a two-day break occasioned by the extraordinary workload the week before to prepare for the visit of the Minister of Culture and the Governor of Hassake. All workmen were assigned to the eastern half of the unit in accordance with the strategy reported under that section. Workman Lazgien was ill and was excused by jW for the day during the temporary absence of fAB from the field. Removal workman Imad was inattentive and allowed his wheelbarrow to fall a distance of 1 meter into a square, slightly injuring a shovelman, Lazgien (the excusal for illness and the accident were unrelated). | [Input File: Q909jW.j] |
| 2006-9-10 | jW | All assigned workmen reported except for Muhammad Kher and Khalid Suleiman, who resigned. Unis Jamal hired as a replacement. Gave one removal-man each to J1 and J4. | [Input File: Q910jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-12 | jW | All assigned workmen reported for the morning work period. A partial crew of 10 reported for work in the afternoon. | [Input File: Q912jW.j] |
| 2006-9-11 | jW | All assigned workmen reported. Ramadan excused by fAB and departed at 7:00. | [Input File: Q911jW1.j] |
| 2006-9-13 | jW | All assigned workmen reported. Hajad excused by jW in the absence of gB and fAB to attend to personal business at 1100. Twelve workmen reported for afternoon work. | [Input File: Q913jW.j] |
| 2006-9-14 | jW | All reported except Ramadan, who guarded the unit overnight at the site of the find of the pendant and beads. In the absence of gB and fAB, jW granted Ghandi permission to depart after breakfast to attend to business in Qamishli. Twelve workmen reported for work in the afternoon. | [Input File: Q914jW.j] |
| 2006-9-20 | jW | eI Finished processing logs from J3 East. eDB continued to process logs from J3 West. bL finished processing object data and will work on Harris Matrices and stratigraphic analyisis with jW. | [Input File: Q920jW.j] |
| 2006-9-21 | jW | jW was granted permission by gB to have Abd'el Hamid work on Saturday in the field with eI. | [Input File: Q921jW.j] |
| 2007-7-16 | jW | In the east section, mO and eI will review the features to see if any form aggregates (e.g. apron for revetment wall.) jW will examine the loci for the east and review the incidentals related to daily progress. | [Input File: R716jW.j] |
| jW | gB announced that the excavation would begin after the Eid holiday, about U912 instead of U906. | [Input File: U905jW1.j] | |
| 2010-9-16 | jW | all assigned workmen reported. | [Input File: U917jW.j] |
| 2010-9-18 | jW | all assigned workmen reported. Su'ar and Mizar worked in the afternoon preparing for a major photograph and the excavation of jar, i31, on the morning of U919. | [Input File: U918jW.j] |
| 2010-9-13 | jW | Pickman Su'ar Muhammad, shovelman Mizar, and removalman Shadi abdel-Rahman reported for work. | [Input File: U914jW.j] |
| 2010-9-14 | jW | All assigned workmen reported. We rearranged the tent to provide better coverage as the excavation proceeds westward. We also removed the railing which protects the excavation during the off-season. However, for the purposes of excavation, the fence makes work along the baulk-line dangerous and limits access. | [Input File: U914jW2.j] |
| 2010-9-15 | jW | All workmen reported. Mizar transferred to A20 in exchange for Akram. Later, Akram transferred to A20 in exchange for Hamid Mahmood. Cleaned the horizontal surfaces above the baulks to prevent loose material from falling into the trench and injuring workmen. | [Input File: U915jW.j] |
| 2010-9-19 | jW | All assigned workmen reported. After breakfast they worked in A20. | [Input File: U921jW.j] |
| 2010-9-25 | jW | All assigned workmen reported. Released them to A20 after breakfast as all field work for them was completed. | [Input File: U925jW.j] |
| 2010-9-20 | jW | Assigned workmen reported and were dispatched to work in A20 for the day. | [Input File: U921jW1.j] |
| 2010-9-24 | jW | Because it was Friday, work began at 0700, with only Su'ar Muhammad on scene to assist. | [Input File: U925jW1.j] |