1. OVERVIEW
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best definition | 0000-00-00 | jl | uk [Input: K627JL.j] |
| Best image | 2001-02-26 | jl | V13d1051 [Input: M815JL.j] |
| 2001-02-26 | jl | V13d1054 [Input: M815JL.j] |
2. IDENTIFICATION
Designation
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description (summary) | 2000-06-26 | jl | This aggregate is a combination of a22 and a31, so that we can refer to the apsidal structure as a whole, including its entryway, by one title, embracing k23, k24, k25, k26, and k27 (old k21 and k22). [Input: K627JL.j] |
3. STRATIGRAPHY
Recovery/Assignment
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily notes about recovery of elements | 2000-07-27 | jl | In the N wall, there appears to be a stepping down of stones between the wall of a32 and the stone and brick apron f354. This is because we are interpreting the stone apron and the stone circle f353 as an earlier structure, underneath a32. Also, in terms of the overall layout of a32, the walls of the apsidal structure curve in slightly towards the circle before following its curve back out, similar to a keyhole. [Input: K727JL.j] |
Volumetric Localization
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locus | 0000-00-00 | jl | k22 [Input: K627JL.j] |
Spatial Aggregation
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elements in aggregate | 0000-00-00 | jl | k21, k22 [Input: K627JL.j] |
Deposition
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence | 2001-08-13 | jl | The clarification of the stone ledge, f375, shows that it is a continous part of the north wall of a32. It is also the upper half of f352. A fairly clear seam of mud-mortar separates the stones of the square, a36, from the stones of the circle, a33. The first floor in a37, f348, is much higher than the floor in a33 (which we have not yet reached). f353, the remains of the previous circular stone wall underneath the sherd packing, f349, seems to be in a fairly continous alignment with the stone ledge f375. a33 is becoming very deep, over a meter lower than the floor in a36. [Input: L913JL.j] |
| Assumption | 2001-08-13 | jl | Finally, the underground structure's architecture is beginning to make sense. It appears that f375 and f352 are the remains of the original western wall of a33, which was once the original extent of the underground building, i.e. it was a stone-lined circular shaft into the earth. At some point, this wall either fell or was knocked down, and a36 was added on in the western half as an entrance area to the building. Another possibility, of course, is that there was an earlier western antechamber, but that it was smaller than a36, and that they were forced to enlarge the hole in the western wall when they built a36. [Input: L913JL.j] |
Time Sequencing
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase (to which element belongs) | 0000-00-00 | okk | mkb mentioned that the pottery that was washed from the excavation of f307 and f308 appeared to be very early, Early Simple Ware. That would place this accumulation in Phase 1, Sr 18, the pre-palace phase. This is very interesting because it indicates that the apsidal structure a22 might not have been in use in the palace period because the accumulation pre-dates the AK occupation. It should be noted that this is a preliminary consideration because the pottery sample wasn't large enough to be conclusive, nor was the processing finished. We spoke about this with gb, and he suggested that the structure might not have been visible during the AK occupation. This morning jl, lr, ed and I spoke about all of these possibilities, and lr thought that it was unlikely that this structure wasn't visible because structure W was so close to the surface, and the brick fall and gully wash dip into the apsidal structure. See drawing A12w__. [Input: K701OKK.j] |
4. TYPOLOGY
Function
| Roster | Date | Author | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic function (1st degree of specificity) | 2001-08-13 | jl | Our current understanding of the evidence suggests that a32 was an ancient well of some sort. [Input: L913JL.j] |
| Notes on function | 2001-08-13 | jl | This building continues to surprise us. The clarification of f375 shows that a33 was probably the original extent of the building, and has brought us back to our original idea about the structure's function: a well. Urkesh was clearly a large city even in the middle of the Early Bronze Age, and such a city would have needed a lot of water, which either a large well or many small wells could provide. But if it was a well, why let it fill in? Perhaps the well went dry at a certain point, or perhaps the city was sacked and the well despoiled by invaders. That might explain the thick ash layer f307, which we currently believe immediately postdated the loss of the roof of a32. However, there is no evidence except possibly f307 for such a situation; further, the apparent progression of the pottery within the circle suggests that the accumulation within it occurred over an extended period of time. Further, why have one central well, rather than many smaller ones? gb has pointed out that one large well would probably deplete the water table in its area much more quickly than many smaller wells spread around. Of course, perhaps this is just what happened. Its later use is also unclear; the contents of the fill within the building, especially the circle, resemble the contents of a dump or a pit, but the fill itself seems to clean and orderly to have belonged to a garbage pit. gb has again jokingly raised the idea that it might have been some sort of cage for wild animals, such as a lion, but this idea also has its problems. One, the bone specialists ruled out the possibility of a lion having gnawed on the bones within the circle. Two, the mud ledge f326 seems to be precious little protection against the claws of a lion or other wild beast. Even though this theory is mostly tongue-in-cheek, it illustrates an important point: at some point, presuming that the structure started as a well, it changed its function at the same time that it began to fill in with accumulation. [Input: L913JL.j] |
