https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/A15/D/K/0002.htm

Unit Book A15

A15k2

Processed on 2024-03-21

1. OVERVIEW

Roster Date Author Record
Best image 2038-06-16 jW [Input: ZH616jW.j]

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Description (summary) 2001-06-26 okk Second square from N, western extent of excavation. [Input: L916okk2.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Recovery/Assignment

Roster Date Author Record
Daily notes about recovery of elements 2001-06-26 okk Today we opened k 2, digging a topsoil feature. The goal is to level the square and determine the southern extent of the Khabur period structures in this area. [Input: L629OKK.J]
2001-06-26 okk Today we opened k2, digging a topsoil feature. The goal is to level the square. This square might give us a picture of the southernmost extent of the khabur period structures in this area. [Input: L708okk.j]
2001-06-27 okk The tops of more bricks were found, probably the continuation of walls f12 and f13, although there is not yet a clear wall line. There is also the rim of a large vessel. [Input: L629OKK.J]
2001-07-01 okk Ramadan excavated in the ac south of wall f31. He found that there was a layer of hard red matrix with small white chunks (calcium carbonate?) that appears to be the same as in k3, f28. [Input: L709okk.j]
2001-07-23 okk In k2 we have dug in a small area in the SW quadrant, because it is much higher than the square to the south. [Input: L727okk.j]
2001-07-31 sb In k2, yesterday found a floor in the NW corner, which we had seen in section from A13, it appears to be the same height as f174 in k1. By removing the baulk we should expose the whole feature. Meanwhile, in k2 we are seeing a different situation. There is a rectangular band in the middle of gray ac, new f198 and some red around it. Now it's all levelled, same elevation 8840 -125. There might be a pit. It looks like a rectangular grey ac bound by two walls. [Input: L823okk.j]
2003-08-03 ms began cleaning this area and looking at the red bricky material here, f476. We had a pit in this area and cleaned out the fill, f473. We also started removing some of the brown accumulation, f474, which is on top of the red bricky material, f476. [Input: N803MS.j]
2003-08-04 ms continued removing accumulation in baulk f479. This is a continuation of the kiln waste, f373 of k13. This kiln waste must have been in k3 in MZ14 since it has continued so far over in the baulk. Also continued removing f476 brown accumulation above the crumbly bricky material, f474. No new features or ideas from the locus. [Input: N804MS.j]
2003-08-05 ms finished removing fill f484 and fill f485 from pits in k2. f484 seems to be in the middle of kiln waste, f373 and we will continue removing this tomorrow. f485 cuts possible wall f489 which is made of red brick. It is unusual because the bricks seem to be laid on end and almost look as though the wall has fallen. This was uncovered during removal of generic accumulation, f472. We will continue removing f472 tomorrow to see the full extent of the wall and take photos. [Input: N805MS.j]
2003-08-06 ms continued removing f472 accumulation throughout the area. Should finish removal tomorrow. We also took photos, v213, of f489, the red brick wall. This is a very good wall but it is being removed because we are removing all the later red brick material per meeting with gb on N804. [Input: N806MS.j]
2003-08-07 ms finished removing the accumulation f472 and also the brick wall, f489. We have declared f492 to be a wall that is primarily brickmelt at first glance. This is red brick and runs north-south in the eastern section of the k. While removing the accumulation f482 we also uncovered f494 which are large stones running under the wall, apparently foundation stones. This wall may connect with stones found in k3 just w of f493. [Input: N808MS.j]
2003-08-09 ms meeting with gb, fab, jw, ms to discuss f489. This is the vertical red brick wall that is difficult to interpret. We removed most of it on N807 but there is one course left. There appears to be a coating of perhaps plaster or or paint, f500, and this is what we are interested in. It seems as the the wall fell completely on its side. There is no evidence of bricks at an angle. The white layer does not appear to be a floor because there is nothing in section to show any accumulation or packing underneath that would indicate a floor surface. sb, ba and bm will remove a piece of the wall with the plaster. They will attempt to determine what the material is which may give us an idea of what it is, paint or plaster. One point is that this white layer adheres more to the surface under the wall, rather than to the bricks themselves. We will also finish removing the small areas of kiln waste and accumulation, f472, that still remain in the area. There may be a pit that extends further into k3. We will clean well and scrape to see if there is indeed a cut here. [Input: N809MS.j]
2003-08-10 ms removed, hopefully, last remnants for f472 newer accumulations. Per gb, we will begin going down in accumulations from south to north. This is f501. We will remove the along the western edge of w f492. There are stones running EW at s edge of accumulation f501. They may be more foundation stones and we will examine further tomorrow. [Input: N810MS.j]
2003-08-12 jw gb, fab, ba, sb, bm and jw met in the locus to discuss how to excavate wall f489 in a way that preserves the possible finely finished face. We decided to remove a 33cm square block at a time from the approximately 3 sq m surface, each of which would include a wall segment, its coating and the matrix into which it fell. [Input: N812jw.j]
2003-08-13 jw Stef cleaned the accumulations around the fallen wall f489. bm strung the grid, we relayed the corners, and photographed it from above. We finished excavating a shallow trench to the east of f489, observing no traces of the plaster face seen on the north, west and south sides. sb suggested that we excavate the eastern bank of 33 cm square segments (489.31 to 489.39) from east to west looking for traces of the plaster. The only traces of plaster were found at the bottom of segments 489.38 and 489.39. Yestafad continued to remove f501 from south to north. He found a horizontal line of plaster at the southern edge of f489, clearly separating this feature from the accumulation below, f511. [Input: N813jw.j]
2003-08-14 jw Stef and Yestafad continued to remove accumlation around the fallen wall f489. The first 10cm of the sequence of elements 489.21 through 489.29 was removed, revealing the plaster surface just below. After consulting with the conservationist, sb, we decided to excavate all the accumulation f? to the east between f489 and the wall f492/f494 to that elevation. What we then saw was a more or less uniform surface of plaster covering the entire area we had just excavated. [Input: N815jw2.j]
2003-08-16 jw Stef and Yestafad excavated the sectors of fallen wall f489 that did not contain the plaster coating seen in section and already found along the SE corner. Stef removed three isolated sectors that did contain plaster for cleaning and possible restoration by the conservator. We noticed a vertical line of plaster that corresponded to the face of wall f492/494 about 5cm to the west of f494 and Yestafad began removing the accumulation f517 south of f489 to approach it from the west. [Input: N816jw2.j]
2003-08-17 jw conservation specialist bm continued to assist Stef in removing portions of fallen wall f489. Four sectors were removed to the house for further work. Conservation specialist ba prepared a plaster mold for what may be the impression of a fallen cornice that would have capped the wall. It will be moved to the house tomorrow. Yestafad continued to excavate north in accumulation f517 towards the face of the N-S major brick and stone wall, f492/f494. Because of interference with the conservation work, his activities there were suspended. [Input: N817jw.j]
2003-08-17 ms removing wall. Also working in accumulation f517 toward west face of N-S wall. [Input: N817jw.j]
2003-08-18 jw Stef continued to remove the plaster coating, i279, from the face of the fallen wall f489. It will take less than a day to finish this task. Sultan excavated accumulation f517 east towards the west face of N-S wall f528 (f492/f494), which had a plaster coating f529 on its vertical face that was similar to i279. On the last pick run he discovered a line of plaster perpendicular to the one on the N-S wall, clear evidence that a room bounded by walls on the south and east sides lies under the fallen wall f489 and occupies most of the locus. [Input: N818jw.j]
2003-08-19 jw Yestafad, Stef, and bm finished removing the last row of plaster i279 which defined the underside of the fallen wall face f489. Then, Ibrahim and Khalid began to remove the accumulation f532 under f489. It was red, granular, and very clean. gb believes that it is most likely brickmelt from under and behind the portion of N-S wall f528 which fell to the west. Sultan continued to excavate accumulation f517 in the vicinity of wall f528. It became clear that it is contained to the south by an E-W wall f536 with a white plaster face. gb noted that an E-W line of stones f537 which he had assumed were Phase 3 and re-used for another purpose were indeed in line with f536. jw noticed that there seemed to be traces of white plaster on the north face of one of them. From this evidence, we can hypothesize that f536 and f537 are components of the same wall that bounds a Phase 2 room a38. Near the end of the day, Sultan found evidence of a granular floor f535 that may be associated with a38. It is at about the same elevation as the upper tread of a step that rises from the formal courtyard towards k2. [Input: N819jw.j]
2003-08-20 jw Khalid and Ibrahim continued to remove accumulation f532 which was sealed and contained by the wall fall f489. Close to the west face of wall f528 they found fragments of two relatively large door seals, at least one of which had a seal impression. mkb will analyze them and report the significance, if any. Later, they were joined by Ahmed who was detailed from unit J1 to assist. [Input: N820jw.j]
2003-08-21 jw We contined to excavate the accumlation under the wall fall f489 in k2. Among the significant finds were a fish carved from bone and a tablet containing a floor plan, probably for part of the palace. We continued to probe the NW corner of k93 to see if the line of stones f537 was founded and if so, what the relationship with the wall system might be. [Input: N821jw.j]
2003-08-22 jw Muhammad Kher 1 began to excavate accumulation f553, which we assumed must overlay the Phase 2 floor in that space because we found the tablet with the wall plans at the edge of it. Near the tablet findspot we found about a 1 sq meter patch of highly compacted or plastered floor surface f554 just under f553. A number of possible seal impressions were found in the SW corner of the locus and are being cleaned and analyzed. [Input: N822jw.j]
2003-08-23 jw Muhammad Kher 1 continued to clear accumulation f553 from atop floor f554. He found several more seal impressions and very little pottery. jw determined that floor f554 and the surface f535 where one would have stepped down from the brick paving to enter it are at the same elevation, 8542. [Input: N823jw.j]
Strategy (projected or implemented) 2001-06-27 okk To level to the top of walls f 12 and f 13, seen in N baulk. [Input: L629OKK.J]
2001-06-28 okk To level to the surface of walls f12 and 13, to excavate vessel i8 and find a floor surface associated with it. [Input: L629OKK.J]
2001-06-28 okk to level to the surface of walls f12 and f13, to excavate vessel i8 and find a floor surface associated with it. [Input: L708okk.j]
2001-07-01 okk To clarify wall f31, particularly its southern face. To finish the excavation of about 5 cm of accumulation in f16, in the N baulk of k2. [Input: L709okk.j]
2001-07-22 okk In k2 we plan to excavate further in f32 to see if there are further floor surfaces associated with the walls. [Input: L722okk.j]
2003-08-12 jw We will photograph the wall from above and systematically record the position of each block so that the face can be reconstructed after exposure and cleaning. Stef and Yestafad will assist the conservation staff in the project, which may last several days. [Input: N812jw.j]
2003-08-13 jw on N814 we will begin to remove the next bank of sectors to the west. If we find plaster, we will remove each segment individually in one piece, using plaster to stabilize it for transport to the conservation lab. [Input: N813jw.j]
2003-08-14 jw on N816 we will remove all the plaster by segments, as previously planned. [Input: N815jw2.j]
2003-08-16 jw gb, fab, and jw met to discuss the impact of the discovery of the vertical plaster face f518. It appears likely that it forms the eastern boundary of a room that was sealed by the fallen wall f489. If so, it means that we will have a room that is clearly associated with the ceremonial courtyard to the north and the Tar-am Agade seal impression to the west. It will be a major goal of this season to excavate this room. [Input: N816jw2.j]

Volumetric Localization

Roster Date Author Record
Elements within locus 2001-07-01 okk a12 (room), a20 (burial), a21 (burial), a28 (pit) [Input: L916okk3.j]
2003-08-27 jw a38 (room) [Input: N921jw3.j]
2023-12-12 jw a45 (pit aggregate), a46 (pit aggregate), a47 (pit aggregate), a48 (house), a52 (courtyard) [Input: ZHz12jW.j]
2001-06-24 ed f10 (topsoil), f12 (platform), f13 (wall) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-06-26 cc f16 (topsoil) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-06-30 sb f31 (wall), f32 (accumulation C), f36 (accumulation C), f47 (accumulation C) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-04 cc f59 (wall) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-18 okk f102 (wall) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-21 ed f109 (wall) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-23 ed f125 (accumulation) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-26 sb f152 (grave), f153 (fill) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-28 sb f158 (accumulation) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-28 ed f166 (accumulation) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-29 ed f172 (baulk) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-30 ed f178 (floorsurface in general), f182 (pavement, type c) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-07-31 ed f187 (grave), f188 (fill), f189 (floorsurface in general), f195 (accumulation) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-08-01 ed f198 (accumulation) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-08-02 cc f213 (accumulation) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2001-08-21 okk f225 (accumulation) [Input: ZG114jW.j]
2003-08-03 ms f472 (accumulation), f473 (fill), f474 (accumulation), f475 (layer), f476 (accumulation) [Input: N921jw1.j]
2003-08-05 ms f484 (fill), f485 (fill), f489 (wall) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-06 ms f492 (wall), f494 (wall), f495 (pit cut), f496 (pit cut), f497 (pit cut) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-09 ms f500 (wall face or plaster) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-11 jw f501 (accumulation C) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-14 jw f516 (accumulation), f517 (accumulation A) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-18 jw f528 (wall), f529 (wall face or plaster) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-19 jw f530 (accumulation), f532 (accumulation), f535 (floorsurface in general), f536 (wall) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-21 jw f546 (accumulation B) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2003-08-22 jw f553 (accumulation A), f554 (floor, type a) [Input: N921jw2.j]
2001-06-27 sb i8 (bowl) [Input: L909okk.j]
2001-07-23 ed i52 (human body), i53 (metal bracelet), i54 (jar), i55 (stand) [Input: L909okk.j]
2001-07-29 ed i60 (bowl), i61 (jar), i62 (metal artifact), i63 (human body), i70 (pot) [Input: L909okk.j]
2003-08-09 ms i266 (brick) [Input: N921jw.j]
2003-08-16 ms i279 (sample) [Input: N921jw.j]
2003-08-20 ms i307 (seal impression), i315 (seal impression) [Input: N921jw.j]
2003-08-21 ms i318 (seal impression), i319 (shell artifact), i320 (seal impression), i321 (ta) [Input: N921jw.j]
2003-08-22 ms i328 (seal impression), i329 (clay lump), i330 (clay lump) [Input: N921jw.j]
2003-08-23 jw i332 (sealing), i333 (clay lump), i334 (seal impression), i335 (metal pin) [Input: N921jw.j]
2003-08-27 jw i338 (seal impression), i339 (seal impression) [Input: N921jw.j]
2001-06-24 okk q7 (items), q10 (pottery) [Input: L910okk.j]
2001-06-25 cc q15 (pottery), q19 (bones, pottery) [Input: L910okk.j]
2001-06-26 sb q22 (pottery) [Input: L910okk.j]
2001-06-27 cc q28 (bones, pottery), q39 (pottery) [Input: L910okk.j]
2001-06-28 cc q44 (bones, pottery), q50 (pottery) [Input: L910okk.j]
2001-06-30 cc q53 (pottery), q56 (pottery), q70 (pottery), q76 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-09 cc q159 (pottery), q161 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-15 sb q209 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-21 ed q245 (bones, pottery), q246 (items, pottery), q253 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-22 ed q262 (pottery), q265 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-23 ed q289 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-25 ed q341 (pottery), q342 (pottery), q351 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-26 ed q369 (pottery), q376 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-26 cc q387 (pottery), q390 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-28 ed q396 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-28 sb q401 (pottery), q403 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-28 ed q411 (pottery), q414 (pottery), q423 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-28 cc q430 (pottery), q435 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-27 okk q436 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-29 sb q437 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-29 ed q439 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-29 sb q444 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-29 cc q450 (bones, pottery), q456 (pottery), q457 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-29 ed q459 (pottery), q461 (bones, items, pottery), q466 (items, pottery), q467 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-29 cc q477 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-30 ed q480 (items, pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2001-07-30 cc q483 (bones, pottery), q491 (pottery), q492 (pottery), q493 (pottery), q497 (pottery), q504 (bones, pottery), q505 (pottery) [Input: L915okk.j]
2003-08-04 ii q948 (pottery), q949 (bones, pottery), q957 (pottery), q958 (pottery), q959 (bones, pottery) [Input: N919jw.j]
2003-08-05 ii q963 (bones, pottery), q968 (bones, pottery), q972 (bones, pottery) [Input: N919jw.j]
2003-08-06 ii q974 (pottery), q975 (bones, pottery), q980 (bones, pottery), q982 (pottery), q983 (pottery) [Input: N919jw.j]
2003-08-07 ii q985 (pottery), q986 (bones, pottery), q991 (bones, pottery) [Input: N919jw.j]
2001-07-30 sb q1000 (pottery), q1001 (pottery), q1002 (bones, pottery), q1006 (pottery), q1007 (pottery) [Input: L903okk3.j]
2001-07-31 sb q1009 (pottery), q1010 (bones, pottery), q1011 (pottery), q1012 (pottery), q1013 (pottery), q1015 (pottery), q1016 (pottery), q1017 (pottery), q1018 (bones, pottery), q1019 (pottery), q1020 (pottery), q1021 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: L903okk3.j]
2001-08-01 sb q1023 (bones, pottery), q1029 (pottery), q1030 (pottery), q1035 (pottery), q1039 (pottery), q1040 (pottery) [Input: L903okk3.j]
2003-08-11 ii q1118 (pottery) [Input: N920jw.j]
2003-08-12 ii q1135 (pottery) [Input: N920jw.j]
2003-08-13 ii q1140 (bones, pottery), q1141 (pottery), q1147 (pottery) [Input: N920jw.j]
2003-08-14 ii q1152 (pottery), q1158 (pottery), q1159 (pottery) [Input: N920jw.j]
2003-08-16 ii q1162 (bones, pottery), q1167 (bones, pottery) [Input: N920jw.j]
2003-08-17 ii q1173 (bones, pottery), q1176 (bones, pottery) [Input: N920jw.j]
2003-08-18 ii q1186 (pottery), q1197 (bones, pottery), q1199 (pottery), q1200 (bones, pottery) [Input: N920jw.j]
2003-08-19 ii q1204 (pottery), q1212 (pottery), q1216 (pottery), q1217 (pottery) [Input: N920jw1.j]
2003-08-20 ii q1224 (pottery), q1225 (pottery), q1231 (pottery) [Input: N920jw1.j]
2003-08-20 ms q1234 (items, pottery) [Input: N920jw1.j]
2003-08-21 ii q1242 (bones, pottery) [Input: N920jw1.j]
2003-08-22 ii q1263 (bones, pottery) [Input: N920jw1.j]
2003-08-24 ii q1302 (pottery) [Input: N920jw1.j]
2003-08-27 jw q1326 (items) [Input: N920jw1.j]
2003-08-30 jw q1327 (items) [Input: N920jw1.j]
Relays (applicable to elements) 2001-07-13 okk r49 (40063 37916 - 8997 / Relay location: top of rebar) [Input: L713OKK.R]
2001-07-13 okk r50 (40210 37534 - 8903 / Relay location: top of rebar) [Input: L713OKK.R]
2001-07-13 okk r57 (39683 37771 - 8941 / Relay location: top of rebar) [Input: L713OKK.R]
2001-08-28 jlw r1503 (40166 37715 - 8676 / Relay location: r502 equals m5529) [Input: L829JW.R]
2001-08-28 jlw r1504 (40146 37499 - 8631 / Relay location: r503 equals m5526) [Input: L829JW.R]
2001-08-28 jlw r1505 (40624 37717 - 8722 / Relay location: r504 equals m5525) [Input: L829JW.R]
2001-08-28 jlw r269 (40624 37717 - 8722 / Relay location: r269 equals m5525) [Input: L901JW1.R]
2001-08-28 jlw r305 (40146 37499 - 8631 / Relay location: r305 equals m5526) [Input: L901JW1.R]
2001-08-28 jlw r308 (40166 37715 - 8676 / Relay location: r308 equals m5529) [Input: L901JW1.R]
Extension of locus or q-lot 2001-06-26 okk m2545 [Input: L916okk2.j]
Length of two sides 2001-06-26 okk 400E [Input: L916okk2.j]
2001-06-26 okk 400N [Input: L916okk2.j]
Notes on volumetric localization 2001-07-31 sb The top of f189 is 8702. [Input: L823okk.j]

Time Sequencing

Roster Date Author Record
Notes on time sequencing 2003-08-13 jw It appears now more clearly that f489 (composed of reddish bricks 20cm by 20cm by 8cm) stood with the plaster face oriented vertically, then fell atop the uneaven horizontal surface accumulation, f511. [Input: N813jw.j]

6. REFERENCE

Analogical Record

Roster Date Author Record
View/drawing of locus

v1
2001-06-23 okk [Input: L916okk.j]

v6
2001-06-27 okk [Input: L916okk.j]

v18
2001-07-03 okk [Input: L916okk.j]

v18a
2001-07-03 okk [Input: L916okk.j]

v18b
2001-07-03 okk [Input: L916okk.j]

v93
2001-07-31 ed [Input: L917okk.j]

v103
2001-08-21 ed [Input: L917okk.j]

v104
2001-08-21 ed [Input: L917okk.j]

v274
2003-07-09 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v274a
2003-07-09 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v182
2003-07-14 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v183a
2003-07-14 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v213
2003-08-06 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v222
2003-08-13 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v235
2003-08-21 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v235a
2003-08-21 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v237
2003-08-22 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v237a
2003-08-22 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v244
2003-08-26 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v250a
2003-08-27 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v254
2003-08-27 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v254a
2003-08-27 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v254c
2003-08-27 jw [Input: ZH330jW.j]

v51
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]

v51a
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]

v51b
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]

v51c
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]

v51d
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]

v54
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]

v58a
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]

v59
2024-01-30 jw [Input: ZI130jW.j]