https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/J04/D/H/067-MZA.htm

Unit Book J4

The Eastern Top of the Main Staircase (Version 1a)

J4h67MZA

Processed on 2025-12-22

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Definition 2010-02-12 sC Build-up of Tell [Input: U212SC2.j]
Description (summary) 2010-02-12 sC In J04 unit, Phase 67-MZA is related to the build-up of the Tell surface caused by natural accumulations which is aproximately one meter high. This Phase is very similar, in its depositional history to Phase 85-MZA, as it is clearly visibile from the stratigraphy shown in v32. This view, and its related subviews, shows the natural accumulations that build-up this portion of the Tell in Phases 85-MZA and 67-MZA, which is almost 2 meter in depth. As for the accumulations below the toposoil layers (relative to Phase 85-MZA), they all belong to Phase 67-MZA andd are mainly wind and water-born accumulations; the top-surface of these natural layers was characterized by compact areas mixed with patches of soft ones, which suggests their exposure to water. While digging these accumulations, different types of pottery sherds have been found, mostly late Mittani in date, periodization that was confirmed from the analysis of the pottery recovered in other excavation units within the Tell (J01, J02, J06). In the light of these evidence, Phase 67-MZA has been dated to the Late Mittani. In J04 unit, Phase 67-MZA is represented by the following strata: s12, related to the natural accumulations that build-up the Tell surface, and s12a, related to the accumulations that represent the Tell surface wash and erosion within the same time period (represented for example by the erosion of stones). In J04 Unit, there is no evidence (at least for what concerns the results of the investigations carried out in this unit during the 2006 excavation season) that the area was in use in the Late Mittani Period (Phase 67-MZA), a situation that is apparently confirmed by the data recovered in other excavations unit within this portion of the Tell (in J05 and J06 units, for example); on the contrary, activities were carried out in the western part of the Tell (cfr. A20). [Input: U212SC2.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Recovery/Assignment

Roster Date Author Record
Notes on recovery 2010-02-12 sC The build-up of the tell surface, as already mentioned, is almost 2 meter high; this is clearly visibile in the long N-S section of J04 unit (cfr. v32 and related subviews). The pottery sherds recovered -while removing the accumulations that build-up the Tell- allowed us to assigne the layers belonging to the first meter of accumulation (corresponding to stratum s5 and its substraum s5a) to Phase 85-MZA, and those found within the meter below (relative to stratum s12 and its substraum, s12a) to Phase 67-MZA. [Input: U212SC2.j]

Time Sequencing

Roster Date Author Record
Strata (included within phase) 2010-02-12 sC s12MZA [Input: U212SC2.j]
2010-02-12 sC s12aMZA [Input: U212SC2.j]