1. OVERVIEW
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | !! | !! | installation |
| Best definition | 1999-08-05 | jl | platform [Input: J806JL.j] |
| Best image | 1999-07-20 | !! |  v32 [Input: J806JL2.j] |
2. IDENTIFICATION
Designation
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | 1999-07-20 | jlw | platform [Input: J723JLW.j] |
| Description (summary) | 1999-07-20 | gb | platform on the north side of wall, f1, made of baked red and cream-colored bricks. [Input: J729JLW.j] |
| 1999-07-20 | jlw | low, multi-tiered platform made of two colors of baked brick (red and cream). Probably abuts north face of wall, f1. So far, north and west faces partially excavated. Tiers rise from west to east, while north face presents an unfinished appearance. Not yet clear whether this feature is associated with pebble floor, f80, or baked brick floor, f84. [Input: J723JLW.j] | |
| 1999-08-06 | jlw | platform is built of multiple layers of baked brick in the form of two steps. Founded just above the pebble floor, f80, its west face was clearly meant to be seen by those in the courtyard south of it. The south face is against wall, f93, while the profile of the north face just shows the layers of bricks laid on packing. The east face seems to be missing, causing gb to opine that it may be a retaining wall instead of a ceremonial platform. There are 3 courses of brick on the first step and two on the second step. The two top courses of brick are deteriorated and may not have been made of the same material. The bottom courses are well preserved and are made of 30cm by 30 cm baked bricks that are either red or cream colored. They are arranged in patterns. [Input: J806JLW1.j] |
3. STRATIGRAPHY
Volumetric Localization
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locus | 1999-08-05 | jl | k4 [Input: J806JL.j] |
| Relays (applicable to elements) | 1999-08-03 | aj | r395 (43427 35936 - 8300 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] |
| 1999-08-03 | aj | r396 (43564 35992 - 8303 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] | |
| 1999-08-03 | aj | r397 (43506 36098 - 8314 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] | |
| 1999-08-03 | aj | r398 (43486 36086 - 8314 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] | |
| 1999-08-03 | aj | r399 (43524 36010 - 8315 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] | |
| 1999-08-03 | aj | r400 (43416 35967 - 8315 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] | |
| 1999-08-03 | aj | r401 (43578 35935 - 8288 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] | |
| 1999-08-03 | aj | r402 (43442 35877 - 8286 / Relay location: k4) [Input: J803JLWR.j] | |
| Notes on volumetric localization | 1999-08-05 | jl | baked brick platform near wall f1 [Input: J806JL.j] |
Contact Association
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of contact: earliest events | 1999-08-04 | jl | f163 (platform) abuts f1 (wall) [Input: J804JL2.j] |
| 1999-08-04 | jl | f163 (platform) abuts f80 [Input: J804JL2.j] | |
| Notes on contact association | 1999-08-06 | jlw | originally, we had believed that the platform was associated with floor, f84, which was made of the identical bricks. However a small probe in the NE corner revealed that the platform is associated with the pebble floor, f80. [Input: J806JLW1.j] |
Deposition
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition of process(es) | 1999-07-20 | GB | The platform is important for dating the sequence of strata within AK. The erosion of the top bricks implies that they were exposed when no longer in use: hence this is most likely at the time when the mid floors begin. Earlier, it was in use during the second phase of the use of the courtyard, the pebble floor. At the beginning, it must have been in use during the baked brick pavement: this we have not tested yet, but we will as soon as we have clear the full pebble floor. [Input: J720GB.j] |
| 1999-07-20 | gb | the platform is important for dating the sequence of strata within AK. The erosion of the top bricks implies that they were exposed when no longer in use; hence this is most likely at the time when the mid floors begin. Earlier, it was in use during the second phase of the use of the courtyard, the pebble floor. At the beginning, it must have been in use during the baked brick pavement: this we have not tested yet, but we will as soon as we have clear the full pebble floor. [Input: J729JLW.j] |
4. TYPOLOGY
Function
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space definition (2st degree of specificity) | 1999-07-20 | GB | The high symbolic valence of the dorrway to which the platform is attached strenghens the opinion I have entertained all along that the portion of the palace to the East is the most improtant one. An imporytant new question is whether we have a connection between this access and a possible access from the South in A12. The monumentality of the access in A9 suggests that there should be a considerable amount of space to the East of this access. If so, one mught expect that the building extendes further East than the perimetral wall of AK. The extension to the south suggested by A12 may indeed provide such a space. We cannot prove that circulation between the two portions of the palace (AR and AK) did indeed exist, but we may be able to do so through our current excavations in A10 and A13. See new Projections floor plan dated J720. [Input: J720GB.j] |
| 1999-07-20 | gb | the high symbolic valence of the doorway to which the platform is attached strengthens the opinion I have entertained all along that the portion of the palace to the East is the most important one. An important new question is whether we have a connection between this access and a possible access from the South in A12. The monumentality of the access in A9 suggests that there should be a considerable amounr of space to the East of this access. If so, one might expect that building extends further East than the perimetral wall of AK. The extension to the South suggested by A12 may indeed provide such a space. We cannot prove that circulation between the two portions of the palace (AR and AK) did indeed exist, but we may be able to do so through our current excavations in A10 and A13. See new Projections floor plan dated J720. [Input: J729JLW.j] | |
| Activity definition (2st degree of specificity) | 1999-07-20 | GB | It is clear that this platform places a great symbolic significance on this doorway (and probably its matching doorway to the North). What exactly it might have served for remains uncertain. As a pedestal for guards seems unlikely given the elaborate color pattern. For a statue? For a water jar to greet incoming visitors? Possibly also a statue with water like the one at the side of the throne room in the palace of Zimri-Lim, echoed on our seal k2. [Input: J720GB.j] |
| 1999-07-20 | gb | it is clear that this platform places a great symbolic significance on this doorway (and probably its matching doorway to the North). What exactly it might have served for remains uncertain. As a pedestal for guards seems unlikely given the elaborate color pattern. For a statue? For a water jar to greet incoming visitors? Possibly also a statue with water like the one at the side of the throne room in the palace of Zimri-Lim, echoed on our seal k2. [Input: J729JLW.j] |
5. TREATMENT
Conservation
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current conditions | 1999-07-20 | jlw | several bricks were cleaned and inspected by conservation specialists. They determined that the colors were quite bright and highly contrasting, adding impetus to the theory that this platform served some ceremonial function within the space. [Input: J723JLW.j] |
