Typology of the built environment in Unit J2
Structures

Back to top: Typology of the built environment in Unit J2 Structures

Synopsis

Back to top: Typology of the built environment in Unit J2 Structures

Discussion

The structures of J2 are all related to the monumental access leading to the temple terrace. The majority of the structures form a portion of the monumental access, while the remaining small curtain walls are part of the attempts to reclaim and reuse the access area. A detailed description of each component as a whole is found in JP.

Back to top: Typology of the built environment in Unit J2 Structures

Walls

The revetment wall constitutes a major architectural element along the southern edge of the temple terrace. In the area exposed, the wall attains a preserved height of approximately 3 m and a minimum width of three stone courses. It is constructed of roughly shaped fieldstones laid in regular courses and bonded with a mud-based mortar. Within the J2 excavation area, a 5 m-long segment of the wall was exposed. Stratigraphic and architectural continuity indicates that this section extends westward beyond the unit, where its upper courses remain visible in Units J3, J1, and J5. To the east, however, the wall terminates abruptly at the apron.

The monumental access, composed by the apron and the staircase, is framed to the east and west by a pair of flanking walls that, Although they are similar in shape, differ notably in their construction techniques. These distinctions indicate that the two walls are not contemporaneous. The eastern wall exhibits a more refined masonry style. Its stones are more carefully shaped than those of its western counterpart. This wall is directly bonded to the staircase. Moreover, the wall rises higher above the staircase, producing a more imposing vertical boundary. At its southern end it incorporates a westward buttress and two obliquely set stones mark the southern threshold of the staircase. Their orientation frames the entryway and may have served both functional and symbolic purposes, guiding movement toward the ascent.

In contrast, the western flanking wall is composed of rougher, irregular stones, set alongside the southern portion of the apron. This wall terminates at the southern face of the revetment wall. Its southern end is also highlighted by an obliquely set stone slab, mirroring the eastern wall and together framing the entrance to the monumental access.

Curtain walls were built during the Mittani period both in front of the revetment wall and in front of the apron. These walls are generally 1-2 rows of stones high and set with an East-West orientation, about 2-3 m long. They are composed of large stones placed in a line with the space between stones apparently filled with dirt. Their function was to frame dirt coming from the Plaza, avoiding that the revetment wall and monumental access would be covered and delimiting a use area.

Back to top: Typology of the built environment in Unit J2 Structures

Stairs

There are two stone staircases in J2, an earlier staircase and a later staircase. They are both lead up from the Plaza to the temple terrace.

The first staircase is not well understood as it is underneath the second staircase and has not been fully exposed. It is built with three stepped rows of rectangular stones.

The second staircase leads with 24 steps from the plaza to the temple terrace. To the east is flanked by wall 2, to the west by the apron. Each step is constructed of 2-4 roughly rectangular shaped blocks.

Back to top: Typology of the built environment in Unit J2 Structures

Apron

There are two structures that are referred to as aprons in J2. The first apron is associated with the monumental access, while the second apron is located north of the revetment wall.

The first apron is a stepped structure constructed of large, relatively flat rectangular blocks. It comprises 14 steps until it reaches the top of the revetment wall, then the apron extends an additional 7 steps above the wall. When viewed in kite photographs the steps of the apron appear not to be parallel to its main axis. The lower half of the structure is very regular, whereas the upper portion appears damaged and shows evidence of repair interventions.

The second apron is also a stepped structure but, differently from the first apron, it extends up the terrace from the top of the revetment wall. It has a trapezoidal form and consists of 12 steps, with the lowest step abutting the top of the revetment wall.
The functions and dates of the two structures differ. The first apron represents the earlier construction and was part of the monumental access. The second apron is a later addition to the temple terrace, built after the first apron and staircase were no longer in use. For further discussion, see the section on chronology.

Back to top: Typology of the built environment in Unit J2 Structures

Escarpment

A compacted layer, designated during excavation as escarpment, abuts the lowest courses of the revetment wall and slopes outward from its base. This feature appears to have been intentionally constructed as part of the wall’s engineering. Its primary function was likely to divert water away from the wall, thereby preventing erosion. This measure would have been particularly important given that the revetment wall lacks formal foundations and that the stones are bonded with mud mortar, a material highly susceptible to deterioration when exposed to moisture. An equivalent escarpment was documented at the base of the revetment wall in Area J1, indicating a consistent construction strategy.