https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/J05/D/I/0005.htm

Unit Book J5

The Mittani Staircase - Version 1a

J5.5

Processed on 2024-11-03

1. OVERVIEW

Roster Date Author Record
Category 2008-07-15 sNP clay artifact [Input: S715SNP.j]
Best definition 2008-07-15 !! figurine [Input: S715SNP.j]
Best image 2009-10-01 jW [Input: TX01JW.j]

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Definition 2008-07-15 sNP figurine [Input: S715SNP.j]
Description (summary) 2008-07-15 sNP body of a small animal figurine, possibly a sheep (g. ovis type II). the hooves and the head are lost. Remains of the tail in the posterior part. [Input: S715SNP.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Volumetric Localization

Roster Date Author Record
Locus 2008-07-15 dL k24 [Input: T323JW.j]
Relays (applicable to elements) 2008-07-15 mO r76 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: center) [Input: S715MO.R]

Contact Association

Roster Date Author Record
Type of contact: contemporary events/movable items 2008-07-15 dL i5 (figurine) sits in f7 (accumulation D) [Input: T323JW.j]

Spatial Aggregation

Roster Date Author Record
q-lot with which item is associated 2008-07-15 dL q12 (pottery) [Input: T323JW.j]

Time Sequencing

Roster Date Author Record
Stratum (to which element belongs) 2012-10-16 !! s30J5B [Input: WX16JW.j]
Phase (to which element belongs) 2012-10-16 !! h9mJ5B [Input: WX16JW.j]

4. TYPOLOGY

Measurements

Roster Date Author Record
Height 2008-07-15 sNP 2.91 [Input: S715SNP.j]
Length 2008-07-15 sNP 4.70 [Input: S715SNP.j]
Width 2 or diameter of body 2008-07-15 sNP 2.67 [Input: S715SNP.j]

Items Field Record

Roster Date Author Record
Field definition 2008-07-15 dL figurine [Input: T323JW.j]
Field height 2008-07-15 dL 5.2 [Input: T323JW.j]
Field length 2008-07-15 dL 3.4 [Input: T323JW.j]
Field width 2 2008-07-15 dL 2.6 [Input: T323JW.j]
Field ware or material 2008-07-15 dL cl [Input: T323JW.j]
Notes on field record 2008-07-15 dL body of an animal figurine [Input: T323JW.j]

Morphology

Roster Date Author Record
Ware or Material, species 2008-07-15 sNP clay [Input: S715SNP.j]
Color 2008-07-15 sNP brownish yellow [Input: S715SNP.j]
Condition 2008-07-15 sNP broken (just body is preserved) [Input: S715SNP.j]
Notes on items 2014-03-30 rAH    This figurine sits in the same accumulation as figurine i1 in K24. There are inaccuracies in the description by the excavator. Corrections should be made to the global record, specifically the references to species, and the tail. Not all the exemplars of animals at Urkesh have "paws."
   As there is no dorsal view, it is difficult to ascertain the actual proportions of forequarters to torso to hindquarters. The other views correspond, at least roughly, to exemplars in the AK corpus, (although I am taking it on faith that the median of view V21d4507 is the right median plane), so then this figurine can be compared to the same view of Bos 6.
    As it is, there is no particular order to the manner in which the photographs are displayed. In this case, the animal would appear to be Bos, as I surmise the proportion forequarters to torso to hindquarters is 1:1:1. The shallow rise from buttocks to back to neck would seem to substantiate this view. The caudal view is to be compared with Bos 10 and Bos 206. The forward thrust of the forelegs (as I take them) conforms in angle to the TYPE. Further diagnostic details cannot really be read from the photographic record.
   That this figurine sits in the same accumulation as i1 gives me pause. Can we assume that there is in fact, a telling relationship between this artifact and its context? If this animal is not, then, an offering, we may recall the Ishar-Beli sealing and see the presence of these two different species in the same situation as a possible reference to the process of domestication, so successfully applied at Urkesh. That this process is thus commemorated on the way to visit a god is significantThis figurine sits in the same accumulation as figurine i1 in K24. [Input: Y401JW.j]

6. REFERENCE

Analogical Record

Roster Date Author Record
Photo of individual elements (studio)

2008-07-21 dM [Input: J05_VWX.j]

2008-07-21 dM [Input: J05_VWX.j]

2008-07-21 dM [Input: J05_VWX.j]

2008-07-21 dM [Input: J05_VWX.j]
View/drawing of item

p2
2009-03-23 jW [Input: T323JW1.j]

Disposition

Roster Date Author Record
Notes on disposition 2008-08-28 sNP status of drawing not verified as of U216 [Input: S828SNP.j]
2009-10-17 jW Sighted by jW in Special Objects Room on Tx03 [Input: TX17JW.j]