Phases

James L. Walker – September 2024

Introduction

Seventeen phases were identified during the excavations. Five were in the Akkadian horizon, three were in the Ur III/Isin Larsa horizon, four were in the Old Babylonian (Khabur) horizon, two were in the Mittani horizon, while three were modern. What follows is a brief summary of each phase. Full texts can be found in this section under ELEMENTS.

Akkadian

The palace built by King Tupkish is the focus of five phases. Phase 4f includes pre-palace features discovered in a probe below a floor in the reception room. Phase 4j covers the period when this part of the palace was constructed and used as intended as a formal reception area. Phase 4l notes when the formal functions ceased and the rooms began to be used for non-royal functions. This part of the building was extensively remodeled during phase Phase 4m and used until the building was abandoned in phase Phase 4r.

Ur III/Isin Larsa

The palace building was now an empty shell and used randomly by the occupants of the tell. Pits, small floors, low walls, and other minor construction dominated. The time duration of this horizon was divided into three phases, none of which could be associated with the two cultural
groups in the horizon. No burials were recorded. Natural accumulatios built up; the surface, but some was erodid by gullies. Phase 5c, Phase 5h, and Phase 5m collected the elements at successive elevations.

Khabur

Occupation and use of this portion of the tell increased during this time. House and graves were found in adjacent excavation units, while this unit contained an industrial complex focused on ceramics production. The basic infrastructure was built duing Phase 6c, including an industrial courtyard and possibly a shop. The next phase addresses specific activities over the entire period of occupation. Phase 6h comprises three substrata; 250a, 250b, and 250c devoted to burials, kilns, and pits respectively. Burials and pits are ubiquitous, but the kiln features are unique. They are pit kilns with some of the contents intact, including fired ceramic vessels and fuel. Phase 6s covers the period when the Khabur settlement is retreating. Accumulations begin to cover floors and other working surfaces. Features reflecting Kabur abandonment when wallss are being covered are collected in Phase 6v.

Mittani

There was a large Mittani presence at Tell Mozan. At first concentrated near the top of the central mound, it gradually moved westward as the temple and plaza complex filled with accumulations. Phase 7m notes the features designated as Mittani. All were located along the east baulk line and consisted of a long, low wall the terminated in a room in the southeast corner. Identification as Mittani was base on a limited ceramics inventory distributed among floors and accumulations stacked vertically. Also a unique brick shape and the existance of many Mittani features directly to the east in unit A17 contributed to the identification, The aftermath of abandonment at the end of Mittani occupation is covered by Phase 7z.

Modern

Phase 9c comprises the post-abandonment soil layers (here primarily gully wash). Phase 9m documents the topsoil and soil layers immediatiely below. Phase 9s covers the soil and other materials contained in baulks that have been excated as a unit rather than stratigraphically.