.bk J05
.fl S805jW1.j
.fd Daily journal for S805 and feature descriptions
.fn f103-f106; Edited by jW on Wy28
.ei jW
.ed S805
.rd S804
.ri jW

-sg gB, fAB, and jW met with the J5 staff to discuss an excavation strategy for the next week in light of the extensive stone work found in k23 and k24.  Excavation in k33 has indicated that it is free of structures to a depth of 170cm from the surface.  Identical conditions were found in k34.  The last feature in both was a dense, highly compacted, clean accumulation composed of fine-grained silt.  We are reluctant to continue excavating here until we understand better the relationship between the stonework (f3, f41, f99) and glacis (f74) of k22 and k23 and the stone staircase (f21) found in k24. The east baulk of k33 should reveal the connection and it will be removed after the baulks are drawn and photographed and the west baulks of k23 and k22 are photographed.  The transition from the clean, flat surface in k33 to the stonework in k34 is similar to that now seen in k34 an k44.  We will remove the east baulk of k44 (after drawing and photographing its reverse, the west baulk of k34) to better interpret the stratigraphy.  An examination of the extensive stonework (f3, f4, f5) found in k22, k21, k12, and k11 (excavated in previous seasons as a part of J1) shows that it may be a result of late (Mittani) modifications to earlier (Akkadian or Early Dynastic structures.  Several lines of this stonework extend north to the east of k23 and k24.  In addition, the line of stones, f14, in k24, which border the staircase, f21, extend to the east.  To explore these relationships, if any, we will excavate loci k3, k4, k13, and k14.

.rd S805

-sg Removing the east baulks of k43 and k33 were scheduled as high priority tasks for today.  However, due to delays associated with photography and baulk drawing, we moved all three crews to the new loci k13 and k14 and excavated there for the day.  Tomorrow we will excavate each baulk and k14 with one crew each.  Excavation of k13 will be temporarily suspended until the baulks are fully removed.

f 103
ds Volumetric material comprising the upper layers of late accumulation (f55, and f59) in the eastern baulk of k43, which will be removed as one feature, f103.  We divided the last mentioned baulk into three parts to collect pottery that will help understand the transition between the Middle Assyrian Mittani phases. The top layers are late accumulation, f103. The Middle Assyrian accumulation is f94, a separate feature. Also the Mittani features, f98 and f100 will be another separate feature.
ha Features for the east baulk of k43 are the features located in the west baulk of k33 (identical but opposite side) because there was insufficient room between the east baulk of k43 and the stone structure f71 (immediately to its west) to properly see and designate features, then excavate the baulk from its (normal) west side.

f 104
ds The topsoil in k14.  The surface is smooth, having served as a wheelbarrow path in past seasons as units J1 and J3 were excavated.  Under the surface one can see the typical tangle of dark brown decayed roots.

f 105
ds The topsoil in k13.  The surface is smooth, having served as a wheelbarrow path in past seasons as units J1 and J3 were excavated.  Under the surface one can see the typical tangle of dark brown decayed roots.

f 106
ds Natural accumulation under topsoil f104 in k14.  It is typical of such accumulations near the surface in that it has a hard, undulating surface with scattered soft pockets of soil.  When struck with the large pick, it breaks up into chunks and dust.  It was probably formed by the action of water on aeolian soil.