https://urkesh.org / RECORD / J5 / VOL-loci

Unit Book J5

The Mittani Staircase (Version 1a)

J5 Synthetic View/ Stratighraphy

Volumetric data (“topography”) for Unit J5
Loci

James L. Walker – May 2020

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Introduction

A total of 26 loci were excavated over two seasons (2008 and 2009).

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MZ21(2008) loci (squares)

There were 18 squares laid out and excavated in J5 when it was begun in 2008. k1, k2, k3, k4, k11, k12, k13, k14, k21, k22, k23, k24, k32, k33, k34, k43, k44, k54. The loci were distributed to achieve a maximum exposure of the Mittani sacred space and Mittani revetment wall.

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Special locus: k100

Locus k100 is an irregularly shaped "sawtooth" which was excavated in an earlier season as part of unit J1 to explore the extent of the EDIII revetment wall. It was incorporated into J5 at the beginning of the 2008 excavations. In the 2009 season it was expanded to the south and east to allow greater access to the EDII revetment wall, its escarpment, and accompanying floors.

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Special loci: k101, k102, k103

k101, k102 and k103 are three small special trenches created to obtain ceramic samples to date important features. k101 was created to date the Mittani revetment wall extension. k102 was created to date the EDIII revetment wall. k103 was created to date the Mittani staircase.

In each case an insufficient quantity of ceramics was obtained to date the structures.

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Special loci: k107

k107 was a special locus (f248) created to determine if a double row of stones, f186, that was parallel to the EDIII revetment wall, f189, served as a water channel. No determination could be made and no relays were taken to precisely define the shape. Technically it should not have been designated as a a locus.

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MZ22(2009) loci: k100, k104, k105, k106

Loci k32, k33, k34, k100, k104, k105, and k106 were excavated in 2009. The loci were distributed to achieve a maximum exposure of the EDIII revetment wall, the EDIII escarpment, and the accompanying EDIII floors.

At the start of the season, k104 was a banana-shaped locus designed to focus excavation activities on the wall system. As the season progressed, it was split into two parts (k105 to the northwest and k106 to the southeast) to simplify recording. Locus k106 roughly incorporates the region near the EDIII wall exposed by excavations in the first season of unit J1. Locus k105 initially focused on Mittani levels, but later EDIII material was exposed there. Locus k100 was expanded to the east and subsumed former locus J1k7 to improve access as lower levels were reached.

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