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Introduction
In previous sections we have described in detail the relationship among the features and items we have excavated (emplacement.
Now we will use these data to address how they got to be there (deposition). In this section we will be describing activities in the
order they took place, from earlies to latest.
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Construction Summary
There were two major periods of building. The first was the initial construction of the circular portion of the ābi which seems to date to the earliest expansion of the sacral institutions and the temple terrace. The earliest substructure may be even earlier.
The construction of the square portion of the ābi occurs later in the Early Dynastic period and is covered during late EDIII and the imperial period. There is a narrow staircase
leading down into the square portion. The stair to the circular portion was most likely removed when the square was built. The ābi was
uncovered again during the Mitanni period.
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Accretion Summary
Unintended accumulations of debris were limited to the later phases when the ābi was no longer covered and the site was beginning
to be abandoned. Otherwise, the accumulations were contained within the circular and square portions of the structure and often you could
see the same layer on each side of the circle. During the later phases when the ābi was uncovered the uppermost layers were mixed
with wadi runoff.
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Discard Summary
There was very little evidence of intentional discard aside from the bones of the sacrificial animals and items most like associated
with ābi rituals such as i108, a clay tripod vessel in the shape of a woman. Also found were lithics (blades and flakes),
figurines and pins.
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Disaggregation Summary
Disaggregation was not a major occurrence owing to the enclosed nature of the ābi and because of it’s importance it was well maintainend.
Later deposits when the ābi was uncovered allowed wadi material to wash into the accumulation. Stones at the top of the structure seem
to have been taken for reuse elsewhere.
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