https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/J04/D/H/032-MZA.htm

Unit Book J4

J4h32MZA

Processed on 2023-11-19

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Definition 2010-02-16 sC Imperial Akkadian [Input: U216SC.j]
Description (summary) 2010-02-16 sC k100 was the only locus, in J04 Unit, where we exposed layers belonging to the Imperial Akkadian Period (Phase 32-MZA) in the 2006 excavation season; this phase is represented by few features: f121 (i.e., the lower portion of f121), f150, f158 and f160. Once we finished digging in J04 unit, the nature of these layers was unclear, since, the analysis of the pottery recovered within features f158 and f160 indicated the presence of some Chalcolithic sherds (communication of mKB to J04 and all Mozan staff). The recovery of this pottery was very difficult to understand in the light of the fact that the top-most portion of f121 was dated to the Mittani period (always on the basis of the pottery recovered, cfr. analysis of the pottery on Q915 by mKB). Thanks to the excavations carried out in the same locus in 2008 and 2009 (k100 was incorporated, during these excavation seasons, within J06 unit as k84), it has been possible to understand the nature of the layers found while doing the deep sounding in k100, i.e., f158 and f160. These features are the same of J6f164 which is a glacis layer (i.e., J06^glacis 3) made to protect a stone wall located on the west, J2f129 (for this, please, see J6f164 and J06^glacis 3); the wall J2f129 was found in the 2004 excavation season during the excavations in J02 unit. The pottery recovered within J6f164 revealed Chalcolithic sherds, dating this and other layers related with this (cfr. all the features within s49 in J06 unit) back to the 3rd millennium BC (cfr. analysis of the pottery on S901 by mKB) thus revealing that in this portion of the tell mound 3rd millennium BC layers were located right below Mittani accumulations. Within s49, falls also f10. Concerning this stone structure, we suppose that it was probably built in Phase 32-MZA as well, o slightly earlier, as part of the building activities on the western side of the temple mound. In the beginning of the excavation in J04 unit, in 2006, we interpreted f10 to be a possible extension -on the east- of J2f131, the secondary Apron, thinking that J2f131 could have had a specular structure (cfr. Presupposition), altough the different elevation between the stone structure located in J02 (J2f131) and the one in J04 (f10). The excavations carried out in 2008-9, instead, cleared that f10 is an extension of the revetment wall (cfr. J06 and J01 excavation units). [Input: U216SC.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Recovery/Assignment

Roster Date Author Record
Notes on recovery 2010-02-16 sC Phase 32-MZA is represented, in J04 unit, by few features found while digging in k100. At the end of the 2006 excavation season, we did a deep sounding in this locus (in order to look for the possible presence of steps belonging to the so called 'monumental staircase' J2f130) which had the outcome of exposing 3rd millennium BC layers right below Mittani accumulations. This stratigraphical situation was not properly clear at that time, since we did not expect to find such stratigraphical situation. However, the excavations carried out in J06 unit (which incorporated some of J04 loci, those located in the southern portion of the unit, such as k64,k74 and k84) in the last two excavation seasons, revealed a similar stratigraphical situation, i.e., the presence of 3rd millennium BC levels located directly below Mittanian deposits (cfr J06 Phase 32-MZA and s49). [Input: U216SC2.j]

Time Sequencing

Roster Date Author Record
Strata (included within phase) 2010-02-16 sC s49MZA [Input: U216SC.j]