https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/JP/D/^/stair2.htm

JP – The Temple Plaza and Terrace Edge (Version 1a)

JP^stair2

Processed on 2026-06-26

1. OVERVIEW

Roster Date Author Record
Includes other label 2026-03-04 pC J2f131 [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Best definition 2026-03-04 !! stair [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Best image 2026-03-04 pC [Input: ZK304pC.j]

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Definition 2026-03-04 pC stair [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Description (summary) 2026-03-04 pC staircase with 25 steps overcoming a high of 6.20 m. The stair is 1.70 wide in its lower portion, and 2.40 m wide in the upper portion. All the eastern side is flanked by a stone wall ^wall2. The first 13 steps consist of fairly regular rectangular blocks and each second step consists of 2 large blocks, approximately the same height of the steps of the western stair s3 (Pl. 82). The 2 large stones are overlapped by 4 to 6 medium sized rectangular stones. In this way, the stair is comfortable to ascend for the regular riser height of 0.16-0.18 m and tread depth of 0.35 m. Under the medium size stones small stones are laid to adjust the uneven back side of the stone. The first 4 steps are 1.50 m wide, in conjunction with the buttress of ^wall2. The base of the buttress is overlaid by 0.10 m by the eastern stone of step 3 [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Volumetric description 2026-03-04 pC east of ^apron1 and west of ^wall2 [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Quantity of components 2026-03-04 pC 25 steps [Input: ZK304pC.j]
List of components 2026-03-04 pC first step: 1.80 m in width, consists of 2 large rectangular blocks (each 42 cm and 66 cm wide) laid on top of 3 rectangular and roughly dressed stones belonging to the first step of ^apron1. This step is about 0.13-0.20 m in height, so that the overall height of the first step is 0.50 m (too high to be used as a step). The three stones extend for 2 m in length and the western stone provides the base for a stone, square in form, laid directly west of the first step and in line with the front line of the step. It is however set 5 cm deeper. Since step 1 is wider than the other steps, the western stone extends 0.30 m in front of the first eastern stone of step 1 of ^apron1 and is located at the same level as this step. The eastern stone of step 1 of ^stair2 is 0.20 m longer than the western one. Step 1 and 2 create a clear edge to the east and do not have any physical relation to ^wall2. Step 2: the stones are laid on top of step 1, whereas the western stone is narrower and the stones of step 2 lay on mud mortar. Step 3: Step 3 is moved slightly to the east and is set on the eastern portion on top of the base of the buttress of ^wall2. On the western stone of step 3, there is an artificial hole 5 cm in diameter. Steps 4-13: very homogeneous, keep a step width of approximately 1.80 m. Step 14: large rough stone with an uneven surface, resting on top of accumulations, pebbles and sherds mark a change in appearance, construction and state of preservation in ^stair2. Step 15-25: each step consists of 2 to 4 large and medium sized poorly dressed stones. The width of the steps ranges between 2.40 m and 2.80 m and have a preserved height of about 30-40 cm m. The entire western edge is damaged and the relation with the upper portion of ^apron1 is not clear. There are several stones, medium sized in dimensions, which can be assigned to stair ^stair2, since the stones lay at the same elevation as the steps and the front line of the stones is aligned to the steps, but the stones have been moved from their original position. Step 15: 7 stones arranged in two lines, so that the tread is 80 cm in depth. The western stone of the first line has clearly been moved from its original position. The step is at the same elevation and in line with step 12 of ^apron1. Step 16: one 36 cm small deep rectangular stone, overlapping by a few centimeters the lower stone. These two stones are the only preserved intermediate steps of all the upper steps of ^stair2. Steps 17-19: two large blocks and one or two small stones with a sharp front edge and an irregular back side, 2.20 m wide, 70 cm deep and 30 cm high. Steps 21-23: ca. 2.70 m wide and 30-40 cm high with a tread depth of 70 cm. They consist of 3-4 large, medium and small sized stones with a sharp front edge. The western stone of step 22 is missing and smaller stones are preserved, creating part of the substructure for the larger stone. Step 24: 2 large rectangular stones and one small stone, 40 cm high and 35 cm deep; on the eastern stone several cup marks are incised, which are also visible on step 25. Step 25: 2 large stones and a smaller one, which is moved a few degrees to the east. Directly under step 24 and 25 there are mudbricks. [Input: ZK304pC.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Axial Definition

Roster Date Author Record
Slope (degrees/direction) 2026-03-04 pC 30° [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Orientation 2026-03-04 pC SSW-NNE [Input: ZK304pC.j]
2026-03-04 pC The access to the stair is not perpendicular to the front line of the first step, instead each step is slightly shifted to the east [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Notes on axial definition 2026-03-04 pC step axis is moved a few degrees to the east from step 14 [Input: ZK304pC.j]

Contact Association

Roster Date Author Record
Notes on contact association 2026-03-04 pC on top of first step of ^apron1. Bonded to ^wall2. On top of BT^gl1 [Input: ZK304pC.j]

Time Sequencing

Roster Date Author Record
Phase (to which element belongs) 2026-03-04 pC EDIII [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Stratigraphic reasons of assignment 2026-03-04 pC ED III floor abuts the lower excavated step, to the north the steps are constructed on top of mudbrick ED II terrace [Input: ZK304pC.j]

4. TYPOLOGY

Measurements

Roster Date Author Record
Height 2026-03-04 pC 6m [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Size, other 2026-03-04 pC 68x63x18, 38x68x16, 34x21x14 cm [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Notes on measurement 2026-03-04 pC size of stones large, medium and small [Input: ZK304pC.j]

Morphology

Roster Date Author Record
Ware or Material, species 2026-03-04 pC lime stone [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Shape, form 2026-03-04 pC rectangular and square, but irregualr [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Texture, surface finish 2026-03-04 pC smooth and flat for most of the stones [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Condition 2026-03-04 pC The lower part is well built and well preserved, however the upper portion is damaged and the construction is different. The divergence between the two portions corresponds to the same discrepancy between the lower and upper portions of ^apron1. From step 14, the next 10 steps are extremely damaged while the intermediate stones are completely missing (except for steps 16 and 20) so that only the larger stones are preserved. [Input: ZK304pC.j]

Manufacturing

Roster Date Author Record
Notes on manufacturing 2026-03-04 pC The steps consist in medium large undressed stones laid in regular lines. The upper stone overlays for 2-5 cm the lower stone. Smaller stones are set under the step stones to adjust the irregular back side of the stone. Some larger stones are located under steps stones as substructure. Pitch is XX [Input: ZK304pC.j]

Function

Roster Date Author Record
Generic function (1st degree of specificity) 2026-03-04 pC staircase built to rise from the plaza to the terrace, could be used as a theater, while the high of the steps are not confortable as too high to rise up [Input: ZK304pC.j]

5. TREATMENT

Conservation

Roster Date Author Record
Procedures employed 2026-03-04 pC (conservation procedures employed) [Input: ZK304pC.j]

Site Presentation

Roster Date Author Record
Notes on conservation or analysis 2026-03-04 pC (notes on reference) [Input: ZK304pC.j]

6. REFERENCE

Files and Publications

Roster Date Author Record
Project publications 2026-03-04 pC (project publications) [Input: ZK304pC.j]

7. INTEGRATIVE

Comparative

Roster Date Author Record
Sites 2026-03-04 pC (comparative sites) [Input: ZK304pC.j]
Typologies 2026-03-04 pC (comparative typologies) [Input: ZK304pC.j]