| Date | Author | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-06-15 | jo | A9 was chosen to be excaveted in MZ10 for the information that is expectedd to be provided in regard to sectors F and G of the building AK . In term of general construction of AK , we will be looking for the lemetation of the expansion of the building toward the east , that what we will be looking to know about from sector G , where we will be trying to determin whether all or part of sector G is an internal or an external part of the AK building , that mainly will be determined by determining the function of the wall f1 by analyzing the nature of occupation to the east and to the west of the wall f1. In relation to A7 ( sector E ) , A9 ( sector G ) will give us information on the nature , function and type of construction of the far end area accessed through the presumed gate A7 via/behined A2 area ( sector F ) (to be excavated MZ10). In relation to A6 ( sector D ) , A9 ( sector G ) is the accesed area through the doorway a1 , therfor the excavation will allaw us to know the relationship between A6 ( sector D ) and the area to the north of it ,to clarify the function of the long room A6a22 ( sector D ) which is the mirror image of A1f113 ( sector B ), tahat is by determining the nature of the relationsip between sectores D and G , which are opened to each other through doorway a1. Also we will follow the northern expansion of the wall f1 that bonds with the wall A6f78. In term of Tell formation we will be looking to determine whether or not the flow line of the gully ( wadi ) follows an underneath building construction especially since the southern turn of the gully came directly on top of the doorway a1 . If that is the case , we would expect a doorway some 3-4m to the north in the wall f1 , underneath the western turn of the gully ( the gully flaws E-W and turns to N-S ; a1 is a doorway in the E-W wall A6f78 , and the expected doorway would be in the S-N wall f1 ( see sketch 1 ) . [Input: H617JO.j] | |
| 1997-06-15 | jo | at first we are going to cut into the N section of A6k217 to clean it so it becomes readable , and also to inline it with the new adupted orineation ( AK orintaion insted of the previous AS orintation ) . The section will allaw us to look at the stratigraphy of A9 , so that would give us an idea about what to expect during our excavation of A9. [Input: H617JO.j] | |
| 1997-06-15 | jo | We will have three squares in A9 to be dug in MZ10, two southern squares ( k1 and k2 ) along side to the north of A6k217 , a third square ( k3 ) will be to the north of k1 and k2 , but it will not be inlined with neather one of k1 or k2 , insted it will be in the midele between them forming an inverted T shape with k1 and k2 ( see sketch 2 ) ; that is because of limited excavation time we won't be abl to dig a 4th square, so by choosing the k3 in this location in top of the projected contenuation of f1 will allow us the chanse to examen the nature of the deposites east and west of f1(wall) presomed extention. [Input: H617JO.j] | |
| 1997-06-18 | jo | We will continue working in k2 , and will start excavating k3 . If we will have sufficient number of workmen we will also start in k1 . [Input: H620JO-2.j] | |
| 1997-06-19 | jo | We will contenu the same patern of excavations and the same features as of H618 in bouth k2 and k3 . [Input: H620JO-3.j] | |
| 1997-06-17 | jo | We decided to place the northern square k3 in the middle in between k1 and k2, 3m N of k2, 2m N of k1 (See sketch 2). By doing that we expect the projected extension of the wall (f1) would be expanded to the north at the middle of k3. [Input: H620JO.j] | |
| 1997-06-21 | jm | Plan to photograph k2 before removing features 6, 7 and 11. They dont seem to have signifigance or relationships [Input: H627JO.j] | |
| 1997-06-23 | jm | Plan to remove packed accumulation surrounding tannur a3 and dig to expose bricks that seames to be a N-S wall to the west of a3 [Input: H706JO.j] | |
| 1997-06-23 | jo | Due of the large amount of dirt removing from the excavations because of the type of accumulation dug out of k1,2,3 (mostelly wadi accumulation), therefore k1 will not be dug and work will slow doun in k3 untill we get more dirtremoving workmen or get the started [Input: H707JO.j] | |
| 1997-06-29 | jo | Assigning and digging new feature (f45) below f41 in k3, digginig with big pick. In k2 continuing the excavation inside the burial a5, cleaning the brick fall and f36 underneath and around the bricks [Input: H708JO.j] | |
| 1997-07-06 | jo | will contenu excavating k3 f49, k2 f45 and out line northern face of f15 [Input: H728JO-2.j] | |
| 1997-07-23 | jo | contenu diging k5, assigning new feature below f74 and leveling k4 f73 as final stage fir this season [Input: H728JO-2.j] | |
| 1997-07-21 | jo | will stop digging in k4 at the buttom of f73 elevation 8565, will dig only the trench along side the north baulk, starting with f74, 120cm wide N-S, 800cm long E-W,the western end will encloud part of A2. the trench is to detect the presence of Ak wall(s) in A9 area [Input: H728JO-3.j] | |
| 1997-07-20 | jo | will remove the eastern extention of A6k217 northern baulk to inline it with k4 eastern baulk [Input: H728JO-3.j] | |
| 1997-07-20 | jo | A E-W tranch will be dug along the northern edge of k4, that is to inspect the existanc of N-S walls of AK such as f1 and/or A6f16, another tranch may also be dug N-S starting from doorway a1 to detict E-W walls. the non existenc of walls will confarm the posibelty of a large cortyard [Input: H728JO-3.j] | |
| 1997-06-30 | jo | continue the removal of f48 and then f49 in k3. will continue excavating f45 in the northernhalf of locus k2 to leave the southernhalf around a5 until a5 is fully excavated, documented and removed. will start again digging in k1, f21 will be dug. [Input: H728JO.j] | |
| 1999-06-13 | jw | Therefore, our first step will be to follow the western limit of the floor south through k 4, to the doorway from A6, excavating the accumulation (f 74) on top of f 84. Once that is complete, we will work east, in order to find the floor's eastern limit. We will also immediately begin to remove the baulk between k 5 and k 3, since we will excavate k 3 down to the same level as k 4 and k 5. Finally, there is a possibility that we will begin excavating the square west of k 3 and north of k 5, depending on our results in the other loci. [Input: J613JL.j] | |
| 1999-06-13 | jw | It is important to understand the purpose of this floor surface since, if our understanding of the AK building's construction is accurate, it lies approximately in the center of the building and could be the central courtyard around which building activity and palace functions revolved. In that case, it would almost certainly have access to the ceremonial section of the palace, as well as the residential areas. Therefore, it will help us direct future excavations of the building and ascertain the building's actual purpose more accurately. [Input: J613JL.j] | |
| 1999-06-13 | jlw | when excavation of A9 was suspended at the end of the 1997 season, a test trench, k5, exposed a section of baked brick floor, f84, that was bounded on the west by a packed earth floor, f82. These two surfaces may well be associated with the earliest phases of the building. It is possible that the brick floor was part of an open courtyard that connected major sections of the building. We know that the kitchen was immediately to the south and connected to A7 by a large doorway. We postulate that there may have been a similar connection towards a ceremonial area to the west and possibly a residential area to the north or to the east. k5 probed the middle section of the northern edge of k4, which was formed by combining k1 and k2, two of the three squares originally excavated. We now need to follow f84 and f82 south to the kitchen doorway, then east and west to the limits of k4. Later, we will excavate k3 to follow the floor to the north. [Input: J615JLW.j] | |
| 1999-06-16 | gb | we will stop excavations to lower levels for now. Instead, we will:(1) dig through the doorway to A6, (2) clean the pavement locus (k5), and straighten sections, (3) remove the wall stump (f15) and baulk between A6 and A9, (4) scrape and study well the sections leading to brickfall, f89, (5) if we need to put workmen to work elsewhere, we can start cleaning k3. [Input: J620JLW.j] | |
| 1999-06-19 | jlw | the excavated surface in k3 (1997) is now 1.91 m higher than k4. We need to more uniformly excavate in A9, so we will shift attention to k3 for a few days. Our focus will be to look for a doorway/wall which we expect will mirror the walls f1/f97 along the southern edge of k4. The two sets of walls would hopefully be linked by the paved floor f84. [Input: J620JLW.j] | |
| 1999-06-22 | jlw | today we will continue to excavate k3 as quickly as possible. We will explore the brick/gypsum-like materiel (f105), then remove it. Also, to employ the workforce more efficiently, we will continue to excavate the west quadrant of k4 to level the locus. [Input: J622JLW2.j] | |
| 1999-06-24 | jlw | today we are making a major effort to clear all unexcavated portions of what was A2, now k6, to the level already excavated in k4. Having received extra workmen, we will deploy 2 picks on each of the two "platforms." The purposes are both practical and esthetic. We expect that the entire area encompassing k4, k6 and perhhaps k3 was an open courtyard, so it is best excavated as it was built and used. Second, mounds interfere with the surveyor's sightlines and prevent quick, accurate installation of markers. [Input: J625JLW3.j] | |
| 1999-06-24 | gb | maingoal remains exposing the presumed "patio" at the eastern end of the room F1. In the meantime, we have started removing the midfloors that remained in the western end of the room (we only pedestal the train platform, to be removed at the end); here, A9 will encroach on A2 and A7. Since we know the mid floors to be rather sterile, we can proceed with speed. Once a uniform level is reached through room F1, we will proceed with successive passes down to the brickfall in room G1, and thn the patio pavement. In the meantime, we are continuing to look for top of northern walls of room F1 in k3. If and when such search is successful, we will consider widening A9 in one of two directions. Either EW to expose the full courtyard(assuming we find in k3 the EW wall); or by opening a new square to the E of k3, going toward A11 and sector G. Such expansion is warranted by nature of deposit (quite sterile, allowing for faster excavation) and large avilability of workmen. [Input: J625JLW3.j] | |
| 1999-06-28 | jlw | we will continue the 3 phases of work begun yesterday. In k3 we seek the bottom of the large pit, f114, as well as to make progress in preparing to excavate the entire locus from So to No. In k8 we will move quickly to lower the locus to the current level of f74 in k4. Based on the results in k3, we do not expect to encounter significant architecture until at least three meters are excavated. However, because of the adjacency and height differential, we must be safety conscious and must limit the number of workmen that are active at any one time. In k6 we are carefully excavating what was formerly A2 and A7 in the vicinity of the No wall of Sector B. [Input: J628JLW.j] | |
| 1999-06-29 | gb | We can proceed with the big pick in k3 because the finds are minimal. [Input: J703JLW.j] | |
| 1999-07-03 | jlw | leveling in k3, k4 and k6 has proceeded to the point where we can begin to excavate the entire patio to the level of the bricks, f84, in f5. We must remove the part of the k6 platform to the east of N-S stones, which should be accomplished soon after breakfast using 3 large picks and 3 shovels. (No artifactual material of significance has been found in the portion just excavated to the east.) Also, we must remove the SE baulk of k4. Then we can begin to dig from the stones, moving east. [Input: J703JLW.j] | |
| 1999-07-04 | gb | last night we had a brief meeting with mkb, jlw and jal and decided tht we would switch strategy in the Northern expansion of A9. What triggered the decision is the realization that there is no AK wall in k3. There is however burnt debris that may come from such wall or walls which would then be to the North and East of k3. jal observed that the southern boundary of the burnt debris (f130) is in line with the presumed doorway, in which case we would have one further indication that the burnt debris may come indeed from the AK wall. Accordingly, we decided to stop k7 and k8, and to start k9 instead! The two locii k7 and k8 had been opened with the express intention of exposing the continuation of the Northern wall of Section F when we thought that such a wall was beginning to appear in k3. Now that such a wall is shown to be missing in k3, the initial reason for digging k7 and k8 no longer exists, while it applies to the excavation of k9. the initial stimulus for our strategy cahge came from mkb who suggested ther may still be sufficient time to come down to AK within a single square. Will dig N, W and south starting from k5, excluding the E section of k4. [Input: J704JLW.j] | |
| 1999-07-28 | jlw | the following items need to be accomplished by workmen over the next few days to complete the excavation: 1) cut the south baulk of k9 to make it level with the excavated south half. 2) vertically straighten the east baulk of k3 (finish job already begun). 3) draw the east and west baulks of k9 and the long north baulk of k4/k5/k6. 4) after final relays are taken, cut out the pylon along the south edge of k4. 5) cut an exploratory trench at the low spot of pebble floor, f80, to see if there is a drain associated with baked brick floor, f84. 6) after A12 is done excavating the square east of k4, finish excavating the far southwestern corner of k6, which is the wheelbarrow path for their dirt removal. 7) if resources permit, remove the platform in the north half of k9 to level the entire excavated part of the locus. [Input: J728JLW.j] | |
| 1999-07-29 | jlw | the following items need to be accomplished by workmen over the next few days to complete the excavation: 1) cut the south baulk of k9 to make it level with the excavated south half. 2) vertically straighten the east baulk of k3 (finish job already begun). 3) draw the east and west baulks of k9 and the long north baulk of k4/k5/k6. 4) after final relays are taken, cut out the pylon along the south edge of k4. 5) cut an exploratory trench at the low spot of pebble floor, f80, to see if there is a drain associated with baked brick floor, f84. 6) after A12 is done excavating the square east of k4, finish excavating the far southwestern corner of k6, which is the wheelbarrow path for their dirt removal. 7) if resources permit, remove the platform in the north half of k9 to level the entire excavated part of the locus. [Input: J729JLW.j] | |
| 1999-07-27 | gb | work in k9 has fit red throughout, but we assume that it is not a wall. Our projections presume that we should have a wall corner in the NE corner of k9; there is no visible articulation of brick material into recognizable brick faces; the color is not the bright red of AK not the gray of the AK rebuilding. We will monitor the NE corner of k9 for changes in surface appearance. Since we had the same red before in k3 and it turned out not to be brick, we assume that here too we have a laminated brick collapse. [Input: J729JLW.j] | |
| 2000-07-25 | jlw | plan to make a floor plan sketch of the entire excavated parts of A9 [Input: K725JLW.j] | |
| 2001-06-18 | jlw | in discussing overall strategy for the season's excavations with gb, he pointed out that our end goal is to obtain a better sense of the southern rim of the late settlements that have been uncovered to the west and east of A9 in A2, A7 and A11 that frame the accumulations atop the AK courtyard. To achieve that, we will lay out an array of squares oriented to the present grid which will extend the north limit line of the A7 late settlement excavations approximately 25 meters to the east to meet the northern extension of the east limit line of the A 11 excavations. In addition we will superimpose the present grid system on earlier excavations in A2 and the step trench to give an overall sense to the organization of the settlement as seen from above. To assist in the visual interpretation we have removed the backfill from A11, and we will remove the backfill from the settlement portions of A7, clean up the A2 excavation and remove all the weeds. We plan to excavate horizontally to expose the first settlement and stop for this season, even though completed excavations in A7, A9 and A11 have also exposed part of the earlier, penultimate settlements. [Input: L618JLW1.j] | |
| 2000-07-24 | jlw | we want to remove the backfill and covering from the open portions of the palace courtyard (k3, k4, k5 and k6) to facilitate the palace survey project and to prepare the entire excavated portion of the palace for aerial photography, which could not be accomplished at the end of MZ12. [Input: L620JLW.j] | |
| 2000-07-24 | jlw | we also need a good drawing of the entire A9 excavated area. This was not accomplished in MZ12 either. It should identify all features. We could also use a good drawing of the major features and aggregates, for example both doorways. [Input: L620JLW.j] | |
| 2001-07-02 | jlw | at the end of the workday, gb visited the unit to see the progress in k14. We had just uncoved the brickwork in the SE corner. He suggested that we dig a few more pick runs to clarify what we have found, then move up the hill to excavate k24, at least to the eastern limits of the MZ12 A11 excavations, where we should expect to find walls much closer to the surface than in k14. [Input: L702JLW.j] | |
| 2001-06-23 | jlw | after cleaning the site, we will begin excavation in k22, which is immediately to the north of the deep excavation, k9, where we found two levels of post-palace buildings during MZ12, and immediately to the east of the step-trench excavations in A2 of 1990. [Input: L704JLW.j] | |
| 2001-07-05 | jlw | in touring the site with gb, he stressed that it was most important to complete the frame to the east and to the north to link the A7, A9 and A11 excavations. We had planned to dig east of k14 to the limits of A11 and to the north of k21 to follow the platform, a25, which is the latest structure we have discovered. Instead we will now dig k24 to the north of k14 and k23 to the east of k22 to complete the inner arc. [Input: L705JLW.j] | |
| 2001-06-24 | jlw | today we will devote our resources to k21, which had been excavated as part of the step trench in 1990. We will remove the backfill and reorient the locus to the new grid. [Input: L706JLW.j] | |
| 2001-07-10 | jlw | reviewed with gb the general plans for excavation in A9 for the balance of MZ14. First, we must complete the frame of A7 to A9 to A11. We will stop excavating in k23 and k24 when we encounter architecture in either one. Next, we will extend k16 and k26 only as far east as the east excavation limit of A11, about half the normal locus. We will continue to trace the brick platform, f290, north and west of the old excavation lines for the 1990 A3 excavations. [Input: L710JLW.j] | |
| 2001-07-12 | vp | we will start again to dig in k22 the a f198, the ly f196, the w f197, trying to understand possible links between that locus k22 and k23 to the east and between they both and A7 on the west and A11 on the SE, where were dug some houses contemporaneous of them. Thus, we will clean all A7 and k9. [Input: L712VP.j] | |
| 2001-07-16 | jlw | reviewed the strategy for the last two weeks or so of excavation with gb. We are well on our way to accomplishing our goal of investigating the links between the A7 southwestern settlement and the A11 southeastern settlement on the hills above the previously excavated southern part of A9. We have found substantial architecture in the northwestern and north eastern corners, but only a few tantalizing hints of whatever settlements there may have been in the central portion, which appears to have been a gully, even in ancient times. We will finish excavating in the northeastern corner by opening locus k25. We will also work in k22 a bit longer to try to understand the mass of mud or brickmelt that appears there. Finally we will explore locus k41 in the vicinity of the large N-S wall, a25, to see if there is a companion cross-wall. gb recalls that the MZ 6 excavations found that there was substantial brickwork in one of the A3/A4 locii in the step trench to the north of k31, where a large tomb was discovered. [Input: L716JLW.j] | |
| 2001-07-21 | jlw | in a meeting on L720 with gb, vp and jlw, we decided to stop digging in the easternmost loci, k15 and k25 in order to better preserve for future excavation the very large walls that appear in the SE corners of each near the surface. We will continue to dig in k24 to find the first level of major architecture, which may now be appearing along the southern edge of the north baulk in the NE quadrant. We will concentrate our attention, instead, on the major walls and floors now appearing near the surface in the northernmost loci, k41, k51, k42, k52, k43, and k53. The basic idea will be to trace the major walls, which are up to 4 meters thick, to help define the structures to which they belong. [Input: L721JLW.j] | |
| 2001-07-22 | jlw | in the few days that remain, we will explore the northern wall complex within the confines of the squares already established. Today we added another tier to the east, k43 and k53. We will not exent the "X1 tier to the west this season, even though the northern extension of wall complex, a25, most likely will be found there. We will level k24 and stop excavating in the lower tier for this season. [Input: L722JLW1.j] | |
| 2001-07-24 | jlw | in a meeting between gb and jlw, it was decided that since we have reached the objectives of the MZ14 excavation season in A9, the unit will be closed tomorrow. We will deploy to a southern extension of A15 where, for the next two weeks, we will assist in searching for the entrance to the AK palace. [Input: L724JLW.j] | |
| 2002-09-09 | jlw | In the approximately five weeks of MZ15, the following can be done to address the deficiencies. First, the best photographs and extant drawings of the baulks should be examined to identify features and assure that they are reflected in the database. Then, if clarification is needed, selected baulks can be recleaned, redrawn, and labeled. It may not be practicable to draw every baulk, and the south baulks of many loci are either nonexistent or consist of little other than topsoil and abandonment accumulation because of the steep slope of A9 from north to south down the hill. [Input: M909JW.j] | |
| 2002-09-09 | jlw | Second, AutoCAD drawings of the significant architectural features and aggregates by strata should be prepared. Many of the bricks and stones were sketched atop the individual plots of features, so plans can be drawn for many of the structures from what we have. In some cases, particularly with the pise walls, it may be necessary to either rescrape the lowest excavated level from MZ14 or continue the excavations a bit further in selected loci, [Input: M909JW.j] | |
| 2002-09-09 | jlw | Third, although the templates must be prepared, it is task that could be accomplished off-site and should be accorded a lower priority. However, the final photos and their templates should be examined to see if they provide sufficient information about stratigraphy and architecture that will remain. If additional photos are needed they must be taken this season. Fourth, provided that time permits, in the case of loci k22 and k23, we should excavate the less than a meter each to bring them to the same elevation as k24 where architectural elements reflecting the latest continuity between A7 and A11 are clearly evident. [Input: M909JW.j] | |
| 2002-09-09 | jlw | Hopefully, then we could have full horizontal exposure of the highest linking stratum, which is also expected to be reflected in pise construction throughout. Hopefully, we could analyze the uses of the buildings with this type of wall. Fifth, a few lots of pottery should be selected for analysis. Q-lots coming from the previously unexcavated portions of k11 and k21 as well as those at the lower excavated level of k24 would be the most informative. Also those coming from the western edge of k41 would be useful to assist in understanding the transition between late Khabur and Mitanni settlements. Whether or not the pottery is analyzed, completion of a stratigraphic analysis is of the highest priority for MZ15. Sixth, as soon as some minor problems are resolved with the processing programs, a complete global record using the existing database must be prepared. This is of the highest priority, because to a great extent it will tell us what absolutely must be done to prepare a sufficient final report. [Input: M909JW.j] | |
| 2002-09-14 | jlw | the above illustrates the dichotomy associated with additional observation. Certainly, we learn more individual facts about what was built there, but on the other hand, more excavation as proposed in M909jw.j may interfere with the timely reporting of the considerable information we have obtained in the excavations to date. It now appears to jlw that the wiser approach is to forsake any additional excavations so that full attention can be devoted to publishing the global record in a timely fashion. The penalty will be that we will not be able to absolutely verify the strong hypthesis that the time that the pise walls and pebble floor in k24 were in use was the last phase in which there was continuity in settlements across the entire face of that portion of the tell. (There is already strong evidence to that effect provided by the pise construction and continuity in elevations in structures separated by less than 10 meters.) In later phases, buildings to the west and to the east were clearly separated by a gully, which was spanned by a stone and sherd path. [Input: M914JW.j] | |
| 2002-10-07 | jw | in order to evaluate the pise wall and foundation construction used in several loci of A9, jw will take hardness measurements of various walls and accumulations with a soil penetrometer, which measures the resistance to crushing of an unconfined sample of soil. In addition, we suspect that ash from the kiln was added to the soil mixture to additionally strengthen it. yt, the ceramic manufacturing specialist stated that when alkali from kiln ash deposits (we have found kilns nearby in A7 and A15) is mixed with loess, the result is a very hard dense volume of material that explodes to powder when crushed, the act of which takes a hard push to accomplish. On a microscopic level, individual ash particles and the fine grains of loess are indistinguishable. [Input: MX07JW.j] | |
| 2002-10-08 | jw | jw and gb discussed actions that could be taken in the final week to maximally advance the progress toward preparing the global record for A9. Two major tasks should be accomplished. First, the sections of the west baulk and north (west end) of k9 must be drawn, as they document the beginning of the use of terracing on this part of the tell. Second, we must attempt to assemble the stratigraphic record from the first season of A9(MZ10). Although some of the records are not here (final days of q logs, relay logs and stratigraphic log) we should be able to reconstruct the record from the feature log and some sketches left by jo, the supervisor that year. [Input: MX08JW.j] | |
| 1997-07-06 | jw | based on analysis of accumulations in Area 2 to the west and the limited amount of remaining excavation time we are going to focus our attnention in the last three weeks on k1 and k2 as well as the region to the immediate south that was partially excavated as part of A6. Working with A2 we hope to find the reception areas associated with the fomal entrance to the far west being excavated by A7. As a result, we will level k3 to an elevation of about 8537, then suspend work there in favor of concentrating on full excavation of k1 and k2. [Input: O119JW.j] |
https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/A09/D/-INC/strategy.htm