Unit Book J6

The Northeastern End of the Temple Terrace and the Betili (Version 1a)

J6 Synthetic View / Stratigraphy

Depositional data for Unit J6

Patrizia Camatta – September 2011

Unit J6 has a complicated deposition, since there is 5 m height difference between the northern part and the southern one within a length of about 10 m. This causes the presence of the earliest strata and structures to the north at a high elevation. There is a faster growth of accumulations to the south, where there are natural accumulations interrupted by horizontal floors. The buffer zone between the horizontal layering and the slope is located at the height of the first meter of ^wall6. It is reasonable to see the same slope under the staircase in J2. All structures in J6 are built on top of this slope, and the earliest structures are located in the northern part of J6. The Revetment Wall ^wall12on the northern end of J6 and a screen wall 5 m to its south f227, are built parallel to each other. From this point onwards accumulations grew faster south of the screen wall and the difference in elevation reduced. During the Akkadian period a thick band of red earth and melted bricks was laid east of ^wall6, probably to protect the east side of the wall. This ‘glacis’ still followed the slope of the surfaces under it especially in the buffer zone. Several floor surfaces were found overlaying it and covering the south and west sides of the flank ^wall6. This was an area intensively used since related to the staircase. Floors are attested from EDIII to the Mittani period in this area (see also J2).

We have a continuous use of J6 area from the Early EDIII to the Late Third Millennium, then there is a gap of two centuries: the Khabur period is not attested in this area, even if to the south (Unit C2) is largely present. This situation is to be clarified with further excavations. During the Mittani period, the slope is moderate and uniform in all the unit, covered with hard surfaces (glacis) interrupted by sherd floors. The floors are found in all J6 and these are related to structures. One of this structure is a bin. After a while a large building collapses and covers all the area, and afterwards there are no floors or structures found here, but only natural accumulations.

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