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Phase 3h - EDII
The plaza was covered by a series of pebble pavements in its eastern portion, associated to the use of stair1 and by sherd floors in its western portion.
here comes the Phase plan
Ninivite incised and excised bold, Scarlet Ware, early Metallic Ware (Stratum JPs685).
Lowest floors in Unit J2 with Ninivite V sherds, running against JP^stair1.
Pavement 1 is a compact soil including small sherds, bone and pebbles, abutting the lowest step of stair1 and suggesting to its initial phase of use and is the last of other two similar pavements.
No particular objects were found, but the ceramic are Ninivite V, some Metallic ware and early EDIIIA pottery (Phase 3h, see especially J2f388).
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pavement 1
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Phase 3j - EDII
here comes the Phase plan
Ninivite V undecorated shapes, template lines
Pavement 2 is a second seqence of pavements made of medium and large pebbles embedded in soil running up against the second step of stair1, suggesting a second use phase (Phase 3j).
The pavements were covered by thin accumulations. The pottery is EDIII mixed with Ninivite V.
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pavement 2
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Phase 3l - Early EDIII
here comes the Phase plan
Early EDIII pottery
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A third pebble pavement suggest the use of the upper step of stair1. At the end of this pavement sequence, the staircase is compleatly covered (phase 3l). The pottery is early EDIII.
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pavement 3
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Pavement 4 attests the use of the last step of stair1. This pavement has less pebbles than the underliyng ones.
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pavement 4 |
To the east of the staircase, the ground level is higher due to the presence of earlier structures that form the core of the Temple Terrace. These structures belong to phases JPh1 and JPh2 and were subsequently covered by deliberately laid, man-made surfaces that reshaped the mound in preparation for the monumental phase of the Terrace (phase JPh3).
In this particular area, east of the monumental staircase, we interpret the intentionally constructed surfaces excavated beneath the staircase as glacis. They exhibit a pronounced northwest–southeast slope and are located beneath the eastern flank wall of the staircase wall.
floors under staircase |
north section in Unit J6 |
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Phase 3m - Early EDIII
here comes the Phase plan
This is a long phase in the plaza. The monumental staircase and revetment wall were built at the beginning of this phase. The plaza itself was kept relatively clean and few floors were laied in front of the monumental staircase and revetment wall. The plaza had the shape of a shallow bowl, where in the eastern part the level of the floors slope from northeast to southwest, away from the steps of the staircase. To the western end of the plaza, the slope is west-east, so that the plaza center was at deepest in term of elevation.
The first floor associated with the lowest visible step of the apron1 and the row of stones under stair2 is a very well defined surface, documented both in section and in plan. The floor consists of a compact gray layer incorporating small pebbles and ceramic sherds.
The row of stones under the first step may represent either:
1. the continuation of the step of apron1
2. a step of stair1
3. stair1 represents the first three steps of apron1
In section constructional are the arguments for the two options. |
floor1 |
west section J2k100 |
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The revetment wall was visible along its entire height. Its lower courses were protected in the western curve by the stone escarpment, whereas the remaining portion, extending as far as the monumental staircase, was built of clay. Its surface sloped southward toward the plaza. |
earth escarpment in J1 |
earth escarpment in J2 |
To the east of the monumental staircase, the ground level is of some meters higher than in the Plaza. This difference in elevation results from the deliberate laying of succesive layers of material south of walls 1 and 3. These layers were intended to protect the bases of the walls and followed the underliyng slope of the mound.
The first of these layers, referred here as glacis, is a compact layer (glacis1) with a pronounced southeastward slope.
At the end of this phase, a dump containing an amount of early EDIII pottery (dump) was deposited over wall3 and glacis1 and abutted wall2.
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glacis in J6 |
dump in J6 |
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Phase 3n - Mid EDIII
A mud surface bearing foot imprints was exposed on top of floor1, abutting step 1 of apron1. It extended 4 m to the south. This surface was not a constructed floor, rather represents a construction moment of the monumental access. The mud was probably exposed for few days when it rained and peolple walked by. It represents a subfloor for the overlying floor2.
Floor2 extended eastward from the betili of the eastern staircase flank wall and continued in front of step 1 of apron1. It exibited a marked slope from northeast to southwest. This floor was not identified in front of stair2, but this is probably due of the method of excavation in tench. It may represent a state of construction of the monumental access, during which for the first time apron, staircase and east flank wall were in use. |
mud1 |
floor2 |
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Phase 3p - Late EDIII
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A new floor was laid in the Plaza, south of the monumental staircase. Floor3 was a salmon-colored clay smooth surface, with reddish patches and few embedded pottery embedded covering floor2. It abutted the lowest portion of the betili of both eastern and western flank walls. |
floor3 in front of wall2 |
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