.bk J02 .fl T914cJC.j .fd specific labels .en These descriptions were expanded on Uz10 and Uz19 by cJC .rd T914 .ri cJC ^ wall1 >l f128 df wall sm Revetment wall surrounding the temple terrace. This wall extends across the whole JP area, into stretching from J6 in the east to J5 in the west, through J2, J3, J4 and J1. ds The revetment wall is part of the larger monumental access that defines J2. It is a wall, about 2 rows of stones in thickness that acts as an interface between the temple terrace area and the Plaza. The wall is about 2.5 meters high in J2. It is constructed of rough stones that are placed on top of each other, the area between the stones is filled with dirt. nf Based on excavations in J3 it is thought that the revetment wall is backed (on the northern inside face) with a bakaya layer to prevent water from seeping through and causing damage. I10 The revetment wall was assigned to s650-J2B based on the materials found at the base and through comparisons with the materials such as the first escarpment in J1. I4 s650-J2B ha On W514 the strata assignment information was updated by cJC to reflect the J2B sequence. ^ apr1 >l f131 >l f21 df apron ds The apron is the set of more widely placed steps to the west of the main staircase (^stair2). It is built of limestone blocks and the steps are spaced so that it is approximately one apron step for every two staircase steps. It is flanked on the western edge by a small wall (^wall3). It is constructed at the same time as the second staircase (^stair2) and the eastern flanking wall (^wall2). cp Composed of 18 steps I4 s650-J2B I10 The apron was assigned to s650-J2B based on the ceramic material that abuts its base. The ceramics that are just below and just above the first step both date to this strata so the apron can safely be assigned to the strata s650-J2B as well. ha On W514 the strata assignment information was updated to reflect the J2B sequence. ^ apr2 >l f132 >l f20 ds The second apron was built to mimic the first apron, after the first apron and the revetment wall had been covered. It is built up limestone blocks and displays a similarity to the first apron in style. It is dated to the Mittani based on Mittani deposits that run under it. The second apron is part of the Mittani reenvisioning of the sacral area after the first apron (^apr1) and the staircase (^stair2) was almost covered. cp Composed of 11 steps I10 The second apron is primarily dated based on the ceramics that go under it, recovered during the German excavations of the area. Additionally, the materials constituting the fill between the revetment wall and the second apron are also dating to the Mittani period. ^ stair1 >l f380 df staircase ds First staircase of an earlier construction phase. There are three main steps visible and it goes underneath the second staircase. It is unclear if this staircase continued all the way up to the top of the temple mound as the second staircase covers it or if it is the top of a deeper structure. Further excavations will be needed to answer this question. cp Composed of 3 steps. I4 s850-J2B I11 The earliest materials against this feature are dated to s685-J2B, but as we have not yet reached the base of the feature it is presumed to be earlier. I10 This feature is assigned to the LC based on comparisons with other excavated areas. The earlier structures in front of the revetment wall in J1 are dated to the LC based on ceramics. ^ stair2 >l f130 df staircase ds Second staircase, associated with the first apron. It goes from the bottom of the apron up to the top of the temple terrace. There are two steps of the staircase for every one step of the first apron. M2 The staircase connects the Plaza at the bottom with the temple terrace at the top. cp Composed of 22 steps I4 s650-J2B I10 This feature is part of the monumental access that was constructed together as part of the major construction dated to s650-J2B. It is bonded to the apron (^apr1) and the eastern flanking wall (^wall2). The apron is constructed together with the revetment wall (^wall1) and therefore all these constructions are assigned to the same strata. I11 Materials against the lowest step of this staircase were part of the German excavation of the area. When considered with the other features that are part of the monumental access it is clear that the materials at the base of the apron and revetment wall are both EDIII, which indicates that presumably the materials at the base of the staircase would be EDIII as well. ^ bf >l f106 >l f112 >l f155 >l f177 >l f178 >l f180 >l f181 >l f188 >l f189 >l f202 >l f207 >l f208 >l f210 >l f211 >l f216 >l f217 >l f218 >l f226 >l f230 >l f260 >l f261 >l f273 >l f340 >l f342 >l f356 df bf ds Large brickfall of red and gray bricks sloping from the east down to the west. It falls on top of the erosion (f366). It is probably Mitanni in date and in J7 some skulls of children were found. The brickfall is composed of both red and gray bricks and has many inclusions, notably pottery - some of it from large storage jars. It is more eroded in the upper layers indicating it was exposed for some time. It appears to have taken place in two phases or slowly as two small walls were discovered inside the brickfall (^ctwl2, ^ctwl3). Associated with these curtain walls are small burned patches and some shallow pits. It appears that as the brickfall began they tried to continue to use the area but were unsuccessful as the first wall was covered as well as the second attempt. The area was then not used until after the brickfall had ended. ;I4 s160-J2A ;I4 s158-J2A I4 s160-J2B I4 s158-J2B I11 The brickfall is dated to the middle Mittani based on the ceramics. I12 The brickfall is assigned to two different strata as it took place slowly and in two phases (see description). Also see topic on left-hand side. ^ ctwl2 df wall >l f144 >l f232 ds So-called 'curtain' walls in front of the apron built during the brickfall. They were built to screen off certain areas, particularly after the area of the plaza began to fill in. The two features are each separate lines of stones that are placed one on top of each other with a slight layer of fill between them. The wall was built during the time of the brickfall and presumably the first level was covered and so the second layer was added. I4 s159-J2B I10 This wall was constructed during the brickfall, which is securely dated to the Middle Mittani. The period of use during the brickfall, including the construction of the curtain walls was assigned to it separate strata, s159-J2A based on the supposition that it was a distinct event that occured during the brickfall. ha On W514 the strata assignment information was updated by cJC to reflect the J2B sequence. ^ ctwl1 df wall >l f288 >l f334 >l f346 ds Curtain wall built in front of the revetment wall, perpendicular to ^wall3 during the Mittani period. It was presumably built to screen off the bottom of the revetment wall. It was used until it collapsed and was covered over by brickfall. ;I4 s171-J2A I4 s190-J2B I10 Because the brickfall comes over this wall after it already collapsed it is presumed to be dated to an earlier Mittani phase. I11 The ceramics found in and around this wall were mixed EDIII and Mittani. The excavators suggested that this may because the wall was placed on top of EDIII deposits and those deposits might have been disturbed during construction and incorporated. ^ pv1 df pavement >l f386 >l f387 >l f388 >l f389 >l f390 ds Sequence of sherd, bone and pebble pavements with sandy subfloors. These pavements are in front of the first staircase and are associated with the lowest steps of the staircase. These pavements were grouped together as they show a typological similarity in their construction with small sherds and other small inclusions of stones and bones. Additionally, the ceramics from these floors were typologically similar. ;I4 s670-J2A I11 mKB identifed some Ninevite 5 sherds I10 Below the early EDIII floors, up against the earlier construction of the first staircase (^stair1). ^ pv2 df pavement ;>l f205 ;>l f215 ;>l f258 ;>l f266 ;>l f267 ;>l f276 ;>l f287 ;>l f292 ds Pebble floors in front of the first staircase just coming up to the very base of second staircase. Composed of an sequence of pebble floors with thin layers of accumulation between them. These pavements are grouped together based on their stratigraphic continuity and typological similarities. The pebbles are much larger than those of the earlier pavements (^pv1). ;I4 s665-J2A I11 mKB identified early EDIII sherds embedded in the pavements. .rd T817 .ri cJC ^ mnacs df Accessway ds Monumental access to the temple terrace. In the third millennium this complex served as the main access to the temple. The complex was used for a long period of time which is indicated by the continual build up of floors in front of the apron. This monumental access is composed of the second staircase, the first apron, the flanking walls (f127 and f129). Most of the monumental access was built at the same time as the revetment wall with the exception of the second flanking wall which was added later. This specific label subsumes several important features and other specific labels. =l a7 >l f128 >l f127 >l f131 >l f130 ;I4 s650-J2A I4 s650-J2B I12 The individual components of the monumental access have been primarily dated to this strata using the materials found against the base. The only exception is the western flanking wall which was added later. M2 The monumental access serves to both connect and separate the Plaza at the base of the staircase with the temple terrace at the top. The revetment wall serves to separate the Plaza from the temple terrace and acts as a restrictive force. As a consequence the staircase and apron become the focus as the point of entry and passage between the two points. .rd Uy15 ^ wall2 >l f129 df wall ds Flanking wall to the east of the staircase (^stair2). The wall is bonded with ^stair2 and is part of the original construction of the monumental access (^mnacs). The wall is built of shaped limestones. It is over 2 meters high at the base of the staircase. The wall is level on the top so it becomes lower relative to the staircase as one moves up the stair. At the base 2 stones are placed obliquely leaning against the south face of the wall. M2 The wall separates the access way from the non-sacral space to the east. ;I4 s650-J2A I4 s650-J2B I10 This flanking wall is bonded to the second staircase. The second staircase is dated by the materials at its base to the mid EDIII and therefore the flanking wall has been assigned to the same strata. ^ wall3 >l f127 df wall ds Flanking wall to the west of the apron (^apr1). The top of the wall follows the slope of the apron. It is slightly lower than the apron and was probably added later to bolster the western edge of the apron and protect it. It is composed of rougher stones than any of the original components of the monumental access (^mnacs). An stone (f257)is placed obliquely at the base to mimic the oblique stones in front of ^wall2. ;I4 s630-J2A I4 s630-J2B I12 This wall was added after the monumental access had already been constructed. It is not bonded to the revetment wall or the apron suggesting it was added later. The accumulations at the base of the revetment wall, however, seem to be relatively uninterrupted so it is assumed that it was added relatively soon after the construction to bolster the apron and protect the western edge. It is dated to the same phase as the escarpment in J1 which presumably served a similar function of protecting the constructions. ^ ctwl3 >l f224 df wall ds Curtain wall built in front of the revetment wall, extending perpendicularly from ^wall3, during the period of the brickfall. This wall is above ^ctwl1 and follows the same lines although it is higher. It is separated from ^ctwl1 by a thick accumulation. ;I4 s159-J2A I4 s159-J2B I12 This wall is built during the brickfall as evidenced by the brickfall layers around it. It is similar to ^ctwl2 in construction and appears to be built at the same time (See v100). .rd Uy28 ^ fl1 >l f369 ;>l f359 >l f392 ds First floor associated with ^apr1 and ^stair2. ar Currently it is not known which floor is the first floor associated with the construction of the apron. The reasons for each floor are elucidated on their respective feature pages. ;I4 s650-J2A I4 s650-J2B I10 The first floor, is by definition associated with the construction of the apron, staircase and revetment wall. Based on the material from J2 and othe units these constructions are dated to s650-J2B. I12 f369 is dated to the mid-EDII by ceramics ^ fl2 >l f330 >l f329 >l f328 >l f326 >l f327 >l f347 >l f344 >l f350 >l f353 >l f355 >l f357 >l f358 ds Series of EDIII floors relating to the use of ^apr1. These floors are very thin and represent a continual use of the area. ;I4 s610-J2A I4 s620-J2B I10 Ceramics are dated to the EDIII. ^ ersn1 >l f376 ds Erosion in front of ^apr1 caused by water. Damages some of the floors that are part of ^fl2 I4 s610-J2A I12 Sits inside of the use floors (^fl2) of the EDIII period ^ ersn2 >l f366 ds Long erosion cut, sloping east to west that cuts the floors in front of ^apr1. ;I4 s171-J2A I4 s161-J2B I12 The layers that are cut by this erosion date to the EDIII and immediately on top of the cut is Mittani brickfall. This lead the excavators to date the erosion to the strata immediately preceding the Mittani brickfall as there was not time for any other materials to accumulate. ha The strata was updated to reflect J2B sequence by cJC on Wx16 .rd Uz03 ^ use1 =l a6 >l f142 >l f143 >l f141 >l f145 >l f150 >l f171 >l f174 >l f197 >l f198 >l f199 >l f200 >l f224 >l f299 >l f298 >l a9 >l f300 >l f301 ds Use area inside of the brickfall, contemporaneous with the construction of the curtian walls (^ctwl2, ^ctwl3). The use was probably an attempt to reclaim and reuse the area after the first brickfall began, but it was unsuccessful due to the continued brickfall which covered the first and second attempts at walls in the area. ;I4 s159-J2A I4 s159-J2B I12 The brickfall is dated based on ceramics to the mid-Mittani. This use area is after the brickfall begins, but before it is completely over. Because it is sandwiched by brickfall it is known to be also in the Middle-Mittani. df use area ^ use2 >l f101 >l f103 >l f105 >l f125 ds Use areas at elevations level with the large stone, f154 placed on the apron (^apr1). This use area is directly on top of the crumbled bricks of the brickfall indicating an attempt to reclaim and reuse the area after the brickfall. ;I4 s155-J2A I4 s148-J2B df use area I12 This use area occurs after the brickfall but likely before the construction of the second apron. It is dated primarily using it's stratigraphic location between these two phases. ^ use3 df use area >l f15 >l f16 >l f17 >l f22 >l a5 ds Use areas associated with the scattered stones at or above the levels of the second apron (^apr2). This includes the collapsed or placed stones (see v507) ;I4 s70-J2A I4 s70-J2B I12 The scattered stones are in the uppermost accumulations after the monumental access had already been covered. ha The stratum for this use was updated to J2B sequence on Wx16 by cJC ^ use4 >l f7 >l f12 >l f69 >l f67 >l f78 >l f9 >l f10 ds Use areas associated with tannurs in upper levels. ;I4 s60-J2A I4 s60-J2B I12 Stratigraphically these layers appear to be relatively late due to their proximity to the surface of the tell. ha Stratum updated to J2B sequence on Wx16 by cJC .ri pC ^ accum1 >l f4 >l f5 >l f7 >l f23 >l f25 >l f30 >l f46 >l f54 >l f59 >l f60 >l f62 >l f65 >l f79 ds natural accumulation under topsoil: patches of softer and harder soil, roots, pebbles, stones, pottery ;I4 s30-J2A I4 s30-J2B I12 Just under the topsoil, relatively recent with disturbances. ha Updated to J2B sequence on Wx16 by cJC .rd Uz17 .ri cJC ^ ts >l f2 >l f3 >l f6 >l f18 >l f19 >l f29 >l f33 >l f34 >l f36 >l f38 >l f42 >l f50 >l f53 >l f57 >l f58 >l f64 >l f67 >l f68 >l f167 >l f184 >l f243 >l f360 ds Topsoil layers including modern materials and growing plants ;I4 s20-J2A I4 s20-J2B I10 Stratigraphically the topsoil belongs to the most recent periods, with the exception of activities associated with the excavation (backfill etc.) which are attributed to s10-J2A. .rd Vy18 .ri cJC ^ accum2 ds Accumulations covering the top of the revetment wall. Part of a process of slow build-up and accumulation after the post-brickfall use. >l f81 >l f82 >l f87 >l f95 >l f97 >l f98 >l f99 >l f203 >l f109 >l f157 >l f158 >l f160 >l f168 >l f185 >l f186 >l f181 >l f193 >l f195 >l f203 >l f206 >l f220 >l f222 >l f242 >l f249 I4 s122-J2B I10 Stratigraphically these accumulations are above the post-brickfall use and are part of the late Mittani covering of the revetment wall known from J1 and J5. .rd W514 .ri cJC ^ apr2 op Upon further discussion during the September/October 2011 study season we decided that the assignment of the second apron to the Mittani period is not certain. See discussion on left hand side under topics for futher details. ^ bf I4 s160-J2B I4 s158-J2B ha On W514 the strata assignment information was updated by cJC to reflect the J2B sequence. ^ ctwl1 I4 s190-J2B ha On W514 the strata assignment information was updated by cJC to reflect the J2B sequence. ^ pv1 I4 s685-J2B ha On W514 the strata assignment information was updated by cJC to reflect the J2B sequence. ^ pv2 I4 s665-J2B ha On W514 the strata assignment information was updated by cJC to reflect the J2B sequence. .ri cJC .rd Wx16 ^ apr2 op After discussion regarding the date of the second apron again in the Fall 2012 study season we again are resolved that the apron belongs in the Mittani period, specifically to the period of rebuilding and construction across the temple terrace area dated to s148-J2B. See discussion under topics for full explanation of different options. I4 s148-J2B I12 Mittani sherds go under the apron in J3 and J5. ^ pv2 ds Pebble pavements that run up against the first staircase (^stair1). This grouping of pavements is characterized by mixed EDIII and Ninevite 5 sherds indicating they were in use during the transition of those periods. >l f267 >l f272 >l f276 >l f287 >l f291 >l f292 >l f294 >l f302 I4 s670-J2B I11 This grouping of pebble pavements is based on the similarity of the typology of sherds amongst them. The floors have a mix of Ninevite 5 and early EDIIIa sherds. I12 These floors are constructed using the same techniques as the later ^pv3 grouping of floors, however, they are distinguished on the basis of their pottery typology which diverges from the ^pv3 grouping through the inclusion of Ninevite 5 materials. ^ pv3 df pavement ds Upper-most pebble pavements against the first staircase ^stair1. These prebble floors are characterized by EDIII sherds. >l f205 >l f209 >l f213 >l f214 >l f215 >l f256 >l f258 >l f266 I4 s665-J2B I11 Sherds in these floors are from the early EDIIIa period, a slight variation in the distribution of sherds from the preceding sequence of pebble floors (^pv2) which included a mix of EDIIIa and Ninevite 5 sherds. I12 The pebble floors of this grouping show no distinct composition to distinguish them from the from the earlier pebble floors but the ceramics are typologically different therefore they have been separated into two groupings. .ri cJC .rd Wx20 ^ stair1 I4 s730-J2B I10 After discussion with lC and jW in 2012 study season we decided that it is possible that the earlier structures across the JP area may date to the Ninevite 5 period rather than the LC3. Since the dating of ^stair1 was based on comparisons with J1 and J5 the date of this structure was also revised to a slightly later stratum, s730-J2B. I11 The lowest sherds recovered are Ninevite 5, however, they indicate the period of use of this structure, not the period of construction, since we have not yet reached the base of the structure.