Depositional data for Unit J6
Discard

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Introduction

Differently from other areas of the Temple Terrace, the space direct east of the monumental staircase is a ‘service area’ where several activities were recorded, as attested by the storage bin. We recorded several episodes of intentional discard as dumps and pits.

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Fills

Two hollow pits ^pit2 and ^pit3 were recorded directly east of the staircase flank wall. The first one dates to the Early Mittani, the second one to the UR III period. These were filled with charcoal, ashy earth, animal bones, objects and pottery. Their function remain unclear (see section typology). Are rey ritual pits? or pits to obtain soil for other purposes?

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Dumping

There are two main dumps in J6. The first in chronological order dates to the Early EDIII is ^dump2. It consists mostly of sherds and kiln waste from a nearby kiln (not excavated yet). These were discarded on top of wall f227. At this time the wall lost its function, but the dump could have served to level the area which was quite steep, due to the presence of glacis f300.

An intentional discard of trash is ^dump1, which occured during the Mittani period, after the brickfall. The dump covered the southern part of J6. To the east and south there were houses (Unit C2), from which this material could have originated.