Unit Book J5

J5-introduction

Processed on 2024-11-23

Date	Author	Record
2008-07-09	jW	On the basis of our initial excavations on the temple complex, it was assumed that its general form was symmetrical and that it formed an oval, walled in stone and sitting above an open plaza, with the temple at the center and possibly with several points of access. Based on the excavations of the last two seasons and on an extensive geophysical survey, we have modified our hypothesis. Among other things, the formal boundary of the temple complex now seems to be confined to the southwest. The eastern part may well end at the staircase. Excavations in unit J1 in the MZ19 season (2006-Q) revealed that, at its western extremity, the revetment wall made a sharp turn to the north. Furhermore the wall in that vicinity seemed to comprise a double line of stones, separated by about 5 meters with possibly a paving of large flat stones between them. This season, we wish to follow this wall to the north, to determine the nature of the relationship of the components of that part of the wall system, and to determine the physical links, if any, between the temple complex and the Tupkish palace. The geomagnetic survey data show there may be a northern boundary to the plaza in this general location, possibly through a link with a substantial building, which may be associated with the palace. Sharing importance with excavation will be the production of a completed field portion of the global record by the close of the study season in late September. [Input: S709JW1.j]
2008-09-20	jW	The ending numbers for selected constituents are as follows: aggregates = a2; features = f200; items = i31; q-lots = q284; relays = r1164; views = v144; drawings = w25; plots = p63; sketches = sk44. [Input: S920JW.j]
2009-07-19	jW	At the end of the MZ21 excavation season, we had exposed at least the first meter of the southern face of the revetment wall of the BA Temple mound. In addition, we excavated additional monumental stonework, including a staircase of five steps, at the western end of the revetment wall. This staircase is considerably higher than the monumental staircase at the eastern end of the revetment wall excavated as part of J2 in prior seasons. We tentatively dated this stonework to the late Mittani period by analysis of the ceramics which were layered against the staircase and associated wall extension, as well as in shallow probes behind those features. The revetment wall has been securely dated to the Early Dynastic period and the excavations in J1 and J3 immediately to the east of J5 show that the revetment wall was built atop structures that are dated to the Late Chalcolithic period. The research question to be addressed this season is to verify the date of the western extension without destroying it. If the western structures (higher than their counterparts to the east) are Early Dynastic, then they must have been built atop Late Chalcolithic structures which rose in elevation west of J1. If the western structures are Mittani, then they could have been built atop Early Dynastic structures at the same elevation as the revetment wall. To test the hypothesis, we intend to expose the south face of the eastern part of the revetment wall and the west face of the western wall system until we reach the escarpments of each. The area that will be excavated is bounded by the walls to the east and north and the baulks of loci k32 and k100 to the south and west. [Input: T719JW.j]
2009-07-19	jW	Two new loci will be designated: k105 is to the north and west and ranges in width from one to two meters. k106 is to the south and east and ranges in width from one to two meters. They about each other at the buttresses, f155 and f161. The escarpment has already been exposed in J1. Although ideally one could follow it to the west along the revetment wall face, there are two layers of cut stone blocks which seem to abut the revetment wall, atop the escarpment's path. As a result, we will first dig down at the western end and follow to the southeast any revetment wall and any escarpment. If the escarpment slopes severely down it indicates that the tell was mounded in that region in Late Chalcolithic times. A severe slope also means that the staircase was probably part of the Third Millennium temple mound and plaza. If the escarment is relatively level and uniformly deep, it means that the staircase was built late atop Third Millennium structures, most likely in the Mittani period. [Input: T719JW.j]