https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/A09/D/K/0009.htm

Unit Book A9

A9k9

Processed on 2023-08-22

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Description (summary) 1999-08-06 jl W of k3 [Input: J806JL2.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Recovery/Assignment

Roster Date Author Record
Daily notes about recovery of elements 1999-07-04 jlw began excavation this date. Made several pick runs, using wheelbarrows to transport the dirt uphill. Removal people suggested that they would rather pass the dirt by buckets, so we will try that tomorrow. Some pottery and a few basic artifacts. [Input: J704JLW.j]
1999-07-05 jlw continued to excavate rapidly with 3 large picks. Found a large quantity of sherds along east baulk. At the end of the day, exposed what looks like a wall, a sherd and pebble surface, and an in situ door socket imbedded in a brick mass along the north baulk. [Input: J705JLW.j]
1999-07-07 jlw continued to define brickwork in the No end of the locus. Looks like a threshold for a doorway (f 143), a sherd layer (f 139) and a wall (f 138). As it is at about the same elevation as houses already excavated in A7, A2 and A11, gb has proposed that all these are linked in a single settlement around the courtyard, which at the time of the houses was long abandoned. [Input: J707JLW.j]
1999-07-08 jlw finished cleaning and photographing the collection of features that define what is likely to be parts of several houses and a path between them. Then, resumed excavating the southern half of the locus. We are still deciding whether to keep the north part intact in order to display the link between settlements to the east and west of A9. There was a deep sherd and stone layer, f139, that extended N-S down the middle of the square, but we only saved the northern part. The architecture is very close to the surface and probably has been heavily eroded by the wash down the gully, which runs from north to south. [Input: J709JLW1.j]
1999-07-10 jlw continued to excavate the southern part of the locus. gb stated that we will attempt to take the kite photograph that shows the link between A7/A2/A9/A11 late occupation houses in the next day or so, then resume excavating in the norhern part, which would be difficult to excavate as an isolated entity with a deep trench alongside. At the end of the day, began to expose some large stones along the southeastern edge of the locus. Function not yet known. [Input: J710JLW1.j]
1999-07-11 jlw continued to excavate the southern half of the locus. Awaiting the results of kite photos to see when we may resume excavation of the northern half. [Input: J711JLW1.j]
1999-07-12 jlw still excavating in the southern half of the square. Found that the tanuur, f151, was placed atop a massive platform, f152, made of large stones. f152 extends north into the partially excavated portion of k9 and west into the west baulk. [Input: J712JLW1.j]
1999-07-13 jlw resumed excavating the north half of the locus, since the kite photos can use platform f152 as a reference in linking the A7/A2 Khabur western housing sections to the A12 section to the east. [Input: J713JLW.j]
1999-07-14 jlw continued to level the north half of the locus. An interesting piece of a female figurine was found, probably out of context. [Input: J714JLW.j]
1999-07-15 jlw removed all of accumulation, f144, covering massive stone wall, f152. North and south portions now at approximately the same level. Still finding large quantities of sherds throughout. Thoroughly cleaned at the end of the day to facilitate analysis of next phase in excavating this locus. [Input: J716JLW.j]
1999-07-17 jlw began to remove accumulation between stone wall, f155 and the east baulk. After several pick runs shifted to remove part of south baulk, which was beginning to get dangerous, since there was a two meter drop to the north and a four meter drop to the south. [Input: J717JLW.j]
1999-07-19 jlw seeing evaporative layering east of wall, f152. No apparent containment to the south. There is at least 50 cm of ashy accumulation from the extant top of tannurs, f151 and f160 to a possible floor surface, which will not be excavated this year due to the need to rapidly excavate the east portion to look for a northern wall to match f15 to the south. [Input: J719JLW4.j]
1999-07-20 jlw finished cleaning the stone foundation, f152, and the tannurs, f150 and f161, in preparation for final photographs. [Input: J723JLW.j]
1999-07-25 jlw continued to dig eastern half quickly to reach the level of the plaza floor and locate its possible north boundary wall and a doorway, which we would expect to mirror walls f97, f124 and f1 and doorway a18 respectively. Working 10 people overtime to accomplish this. At the end of the day, had about 2 meters to go to reach the pebble floor. [Input: J725JLW1.j]
1999-07-28 jlw excavated the south east quarter to the expected level of the pebble floor in k3, f146. [Input: J728JLW.j]
Strategy (projected or implemented) 1999-07-06 gb the interpretation of spatial arrangement suggested under M2 indicates that we may be at the edge of the upper sectors of the "palace." We will leave the No portion of k 9 in place, at least for a while, in order to obtain a view of a somewhat contiguous exposure of the kate settlement area from A7 and A2 to A11 over A9. Excavation in the southern part of k 9 may be sufficient to lead us to the AK walls in the Northern portion of sector F, if these walls served as a girdle for the build-up of the later settlement around the courtyard/bowl of A9. [Input: J707JLW.j]
1999-07-20 jlw We will stop excavating the west half for this season in order to preserve the structure for more extensive analysis in the future and concentrate our attention on the east half where we want to excavate to the level of the pebble floor by J729. [Input: J723JLW.j]
1999-07-25 jlw tommorrow, J726, plan to use a large pipe to move dirt to wheelbarrow below because lift from present level is just too high to safely perform. [Input: J725JLW1.j]

Volumetric Localization

Roster Date Author Record
Elements within locus 1999-07-04 jl q323 (bones, items, pottery), q326 (bones, pottery) [Input: J717JL.j]
1999-07-05 jl q331 (bones, pottery), q337 (bones, pottery), q339 (bones, pottery), q340 (bones, pottery), q342 (bones, items, pottery), q343 (bones, pottery) [Input: J717JL.j]
1999-07-06 jl q348 (bones, pottery), q350 (bones, pottery), q351 (bones, pottery), q352 (bones, pottery), q355 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J717JL.j]
1999-07-07 jl q360 (bones, items, pottery), q366 (bones, pottery) [Input: J717JL.j]
1999-07-08 jl q371 (bones, pottery), q375 (bones, pottery), q377 (bones, pottery), q379 (bones, pottery), q380 (bones, items, pottery), q382 (bones, items, pottery), q383 (items, pottery) [Input: J717JL.j]
1999-07-10 jl q385 (bones, items, pottery), q390 (bones, items, pottery), q391 (bones, pottery), q392 (bones, pottery), q394 (bones, pottery), q395 (bones, pottery), q396 (pottery), q397 (items, pottery), q399 (pottery) [Input: J804JL3.j]
1999-07-11 jl q402 (bones, pottery), q405 (bones, items, pottery), q408 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J804JL3.j]
1999-07-12 jl q409 (bones, items, pottery), q413 (bones, pottery), i46 (door socket), i61 (figurine), i63 (metal artifact) [Input: J806JL2.j]
1999-07-13 jl q415 (bones, items, pottery), q419 (bones, items, pottery), q420 (bones, items, pottery), q421 (bones, items, pottery), q422 (bones, items, pottery), q423 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J804JL3.j]
1999-07-14 jl q428 (bones, pottery), q429 (bones, pottery), q430 (bones, pottery), q431 (bones, items, pottery), q439 (bones, items, pottery), q441 (bones, pottery), q443 (bones, items, pottery), q444 (pottery), q445 (pottery), q446 (pottery), q447 (pottery), q448 (pottery) [Input: J804JL3.j]
1999-07-15 jl q450 (bones, pottery), q456 (bones, items, pottery), q458 (bones, pottery), q462 (bones, pottery), q465 (bones, pottery), q468 (pottery) [Input: J804JL3.j]
1999-07-17 jl q473 (bones, items, pottery), q478 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J804JL3.j]
1999-07-18 jl q482 (bones, items, pottery), q490 (bones, pottery), q494 (bones, items, pottery), q495 (bones, items, pottery), i74 (metal artifact) [Input: J806JL2.j]
1999-07-18 jlw q496 (pottery), q497 (bones, items, pottery), q498 (pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-19 jl q500 (bones, items, pottery), q501 (bones, pottery), q512 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-20 l q520 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-21 jl q529 (bones, items, pottery), i81 (bead) [Input: J806JL2.j]
1999-07-22 jl q547 (bones, pottery), q552 (bones, items, pottery), q558 (bones, pottery), q559 (bones, items, pottery), q564 (bones, items, pottery), q565 (pottery), q566 (bones, pottery), i85 (figurine), i87 (figurine) [Input: J806JL2.j]
1999-07-22 jlw q537 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-25 jl q576 (bones, items, pottery), q580 (bones, pottery), q581 (bones, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-26 jl q585 (bones, items, pottery), q590 (bones, pottery), q593 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-27 jl q594 (bones, pottery), q602 (bones, pottery), q605 (bones, items, pottery), q608 (bones, items, pottery), q609 (bones, pottery), q619 (bones, pottery), q620 (bones, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-29 jl q630 (bones, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-07-31 jl q637 (pottery), q639 (pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-08-01 jl q640 (bones, pottery), q641 (bones, items, pottery), q644 (items, pottery), q645 (items, pottery) [Input: J805AO.j]
1999-08-05 jl f131 (topsoil), f138 (wall), f139 (layer), f143 (doorway), f144 (accumulation), f145 (layer), f149 (installation), f151 (tannur (feature)), f152 (wall), f159 (volumetric material), f160 (tannur (feature)), f161 (fill), f162 (fill), f166 (wall), f169 (layer), f170 (accumulation), f175 (accumulation), f177 (accumulation C), f179 (accumulation), f180 (brickfall), f183 (layer), f185 (layer) [Input: J806JL.j]
1999-08-06 jl a21 (doorway), a22 (room) [Input: J806JL2.j]
Relays (applicable to elements) 1999-07-05 jl r175 (44323 36500 - 8820 / Relay location: SE corner) [Input: J706JL-R.j]
1999-07-05 jl r176 (44499 36032 - 8829 / Relay location: SW corner) [Input: J706JL-R.j]
1999-07-05 jl r177 (44963 36206 - 8949 / Relay location: NW corner) [Input: J706JL-R.j]
1999-07-05 jl r178 (44796 36674 - 8915 / Relay location: NE corner) [Input: J706JL-R.j]
1999-07-05 jl r179 (44702 36639 - 8890 / Relay location: NE corner) [Input: J706JL-R.j]
1999-07-05 jl r180 (44870 36170 - 8933 / Relay location: NW corner) [Input: J706JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r202 (44758 36147 - 8823 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r203 (44692 36315 - 8823 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r204 (44793 36359 - 8823 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r205 (44772 36428 - 8833 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r206 (44492 36327 - 8781 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r207 (44464 36415 - 8784 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r208 (44734 36521 - 8835 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r209 (44725 36539 - 8851 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r210 (44711 36533 - 8851 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r211 (44687 36603 - 8855 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r212 (44704 36611 - 8856 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r213 (44577 36588 - 8820 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r214 (44594 36544 - 8810 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r215 (44533 36522 - 8801 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-08 jl r216 (44517 36567 - 8803 / Relay location: k 9) [Input: J708JL-R.j]
1999-07-10 jlw r231 (44966 36206 - / Relay location: k9 NW cnr) [Input: J710JLWR.j]
1999-07-22 jl r294 (44686 36638 - 8619 / Relay location: Deep cut) [Input: J722JLWR.j]
1999-07-22 jl r295 (44330 36504 - 8619 / Relay location: Deep cut) [Input: J722JLWR.j]
1999-07-22 jl r296 (44390 36324 - 8619 / Relay location: Deep cut) [Input: J722JLWR.j]
1999-07-22 jl r297 (44788 36435 - 8619 / Relay location: Deep cut) [Input: J722JLWR.j]

4. TYPOLOGY

Function

Roster Date Author Record
Space definition (2st degree of specificity) 1999-07-06 gb the discovery of a wall and good sherd floor in the northern part of k 9 is very interesting because it differs from everything else we saw in this general area. It marks the link between A7/A2 and A11 as organized settlements. To the south there is the large "empty quarter" of A9. This seems to support the perception I developed in MZ10 that there was a horse-shoe build-up around the exposed portion of AK, and that this corresponds to a raised or terraced portion of AK, where presumably the residential quarters of the king were located. The "empty quarter" of A9 would be, as hypothesized in 1997, the courtyard which developed into a bowl, where dumping and occasional burying took place. [Input: J707JLW.j]

6. REFERENCE

Analogical Record

Roster Date Author Record
View/drawing of locus

v23
1999-07-08 jl [Input: J806JL2.j]

v26
1999-07-11 jl [Input: J806JL2.j]

v26a
1999-07-11 jl [Input: J806JL2.j]

v29
1999-07-12 jl [Input: J806JL2.j]

v33
1999-07-21 jl [Input: J806JL2.j]

v50
1999-07-29 jlw [Input: J807JL.j]

v50a
1999-07-29 jlw [Input: J807JL.j]
v54a
1999-07-29 jlw [Input: J807JL.j]