.bk A09
.fl J613jl.j
.fd introduction
.ri jw
.rd J613
.ed J613
.ei jl

--i The primary goal of excavations in a9 this year is to establish the perimeter and extent of the baked brick floor (f 84) originally discovered by Jamal Omar two years ago in k 5 during Season H.  Although the western edge to the floor was found in Season H, the area uncovered was very small and its purpose could not be ascertained.  It has been hypothesized that the floor is part of a central patio in the AK building, allowing access to the kitchen and storerooms on the south and other sections, perhaps even a ceremonial area and residential area, on the other sides.

-sg 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.

-sg 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.

-lg Due to the unavailability of complete excavation records from A9 two seasons ago, we have been forced to estimate our starting numbers for all data.  Therefore, we shall use the following starting numbers: v 25, i 50, a 25, k 7, f 100, q 200.  Any gap in the sequence directly preceding these numbers can be attributed to this factor, since we are trying to create a clear safety margin to avoid duplication.