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Unit Book A16

The Courtyard of the Tupkish Palace (Version 2)

A16--DY

Processed on 2024-12-04


Date Author Record
2001-07-15 fAB We had a meeting in the field with gB to talk about the strata that we have in A16 and A15. We came to the conclusion that there are 3 sub-phases in phase 5: h5a sees a lot of pit digging by people in structures that we have not seen yet. These can be definitely dated to the Khabur (and so Phase h5) because of the pottery that was found in these pits during the MZ12 and MZ13 seasons. h5b contains the first houses in the area, in particular a2 which sits directly on a pit from h5a. h5c is the latest phase in the area, containing the rebuilding of a8 with the subsequent brickfall, a4. [Input: -M726-A.j]
2002-09-22 fAB Today we are continuing to remove the phase 4 red in the entire area f313, f314, and f318. The northern side is mostly exposed to the stones but the western side contains a thicker layer of red material at a higher elevation and will take a few more days to remove it. We have decided to only remove 10 centimeters at a time in case we find structures or seal impressions, however we are under the assumption that this red material is red wall fall of the palace and contains no structures or features below. The red material should sit directly on top of the stone pavement a12. [Input: -MX12-99.j]
2002-09-23 fAB We continued to expose the stone courtyard by removing the last 10-20 cm of red on top of the pavement. The sections were drawn, photographed, and partially excavated. The pit f250 continues to go down and is currently 1 meter below the stone pavement. [Input: -MX12-99.j]
2001-06-17 fAB We began the second week of excavation today. Today is Sunday, but on Saturday we continued to remove the backfill since the staff could not be present for the whole time. We worked in loci 1-7, coming down quite a bit in k2 k3 and k4. We have several distinct pieces we are working on. k6 contains the earliest structure, a2; work there is limited to scraping the walls and following the floor, which is merely a few centimeters below the level where we stopped work last season. k1 and k5 contain a structure (a1) that is hard to define, a U shaped structure with three walls that do not bond with each other, in fact the rows of bricks with which the walls were created do not even seem to bond with themselves: vertical cracks are visible from the top that go through several courses of bricks. This is the most complex question for the moment in A16: the stratigraphic situation within a1 and the connection to the cut and brickfall that is in k1. k2, k3 and k4 are all in topsoil layers, and we are coming quickly down to the brickfall that is present in k1 and k6 and seems to continue under these northern loci. Lastly k7: here we have immediately the brickfall we are expecting in k2,k3 and k4, with no topsoil. In the southern portion of the square there is even no brickfall: we see the faces of three walls (a3), beautifully plastered. The rooms open to the south, so A15 can expect to find walls relating to the same structure, but there may be a doorway, so there may be further rooms of the same structure under k7. k7 slopes up to the N sharply: could this be an indication of the Tell rising under a3, or large, well preserved portions of a3? [Input: L617FAB.j]
2001-06-07 lR We have 12 workmen under the supervision of mOmo working on the removal of the berm and backfill from last season; removal of these actually started on L606 afternoon through L607, with pause on L608 because it is Friday and will continue on Saturday (L609). [Input: L630LR.j]
2001-06-09 MISSING Today we finished removing the backfill in k1 and k5, and exposed the mud bricks/structure (a1) from last season. In k6 most of the backfill has been removed except for the western side and should be finished early tomorrow. We met with gB to discuss the strategy for excavating A16. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-10 fAB Work continues to focus on cleaning k1 and k6, cleaning section, and more than half of the workmen are still busy removing the berm. We hope it is finished tomorrow by breakfast. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-10 lR fAB, lR, cC, and sB at the site today-continued to remove backfill in K6, we met briefly with gB this morning to discuss the plan for today. We removed the grasses ontop of the unexcavated squares and along the baulks for safety reasons. The baulks of the excavated squares were also cleaned off with plans to draw sections. gB discussed the argument as to whether we should relate the two structures found in k5 and k6; since they are in line with each other yet have different wall thickness and different elevations. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-21 sB Discussed with gB the strategy for k5. The plastered floor, f51, is not found everywhere, i.e. not found yet in the south part of the room, but may still be there. It was decided to remove most of the section, leaving a ledge of 40cm against the North wall that is f7. In the section as well as the floor there are still a lot of bricks from the ^bf which is a4. gB thinks that the floor, f51, in k5 is contemporary; or at least at the same level as f29 (floor) in k6. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-25 lR Today we continued excavating the brickfall found in k2 and k3. In k2 we cut a trench running North-South in the middle of the k to determine the depth of the brickfall. The trench was 35cm below the rest of the k on the East and West sides when ashy pockets started appearing. This could be the mixture of the end of the brickfall with an ashy accumulation or just ashy pockets in the brickfall and the brickfallcontinues down. We stopped at this level and excavated the remainder of the k. In the section in k1 the brickfall measures approximately 170cm in thickness and in k2 it is almost at the bottom of this approximation. The workmen noticed that the brickfall was changing into larger components in the Easatern side. It is possible that this could be the wall found in k6 that is f8. Travis and I took the elevation of the bricky mass and it is 7cm above m2556; which makes it a little higher than the wall(f8) but not much. This seems odd to me since it appears that we are higher in k2 than m2665; but that is what the elevation calculated; double checked. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-26 fAB Today we focused all of our efforts on removing 3 baulks: k1E, k2E, and k3E. First photos were taken, sections drawn, and only about 8am were we able to begin excavating. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-26 lR We are taking down the west baulk of k2 and k3; so k1, k2, k3, k4 will be one area with out baulks. We have removed the markers on the baulk. They are removing them(the baulks) in layers first the topsoil and after the brickfall. More men are working in k4 since it is higher. The east sections were all photographed this morning. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-07-03 tR This morning we reviewed with gB the strategy for A16. We are finished removing baulks and are now ready to start going down. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-09 tR Today is our first day of excavation, so we spent most of the day clearing away backfill and the berm. We temporarily strung squares k2 and k3, as bWP will only be able to string our squares tomorrow in the early morning. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-10 lR fAB, lR, cC, and sb at the site today and continued to remove backfill in k6. We met briefly with gB this morning to discuss the strategy for today. We removed the grasses on top of the unexcavated squares and along the baulks for safety reasons. The baulks of the excavated squares were also cleaned off with plans to draw the sections. gB discussed the argument as to whether we should relate the two structures found in k5 and k6; since they are in line with each other yet have different wall thickness and different elevations. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-10 lR We began excavating f3 in k5 on the eastern side of a1. This feature contains ashy material mixed with pieces of reddish clay. The sherds encountered were in an oblique position, which suggests that it is an accumulation. Approximately 8-10cm was excavated. We opened up k2 today-the workmen have leveled off the NE section since the Tell has a slope in order to eventually make the whole k one level. We did not collect the pottery from the first 10-15cm since it would most likely be washed out of context. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-11 lR Today we opened up k3 and the workmen are leveling the square. In k5 cC and abk continued excavating the NE section of a1, f3 going 35cm down at the NE corner and are continuing at another 10cm down since they have not reached a floor or any change in soil type it is still f3 and the same q lot for pottery. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-12 lR Today we continued to remove the topsoil from k2 and found brickfall underneath which we labeled as f15. One big pick run was done; then we stopped for the day in that locus. In k7, bricks were noticed on the surface and a cleaning was done which exposed three walls and a circular jar located in a doorway, niche, or pit. We are not sure of the wall's (f18) width since we are unable to find the edge in the north; the brickfall makes it difficult to see this. On the southern face of the wall (f18) it is very smooth and appears plastered. A basalt grinding stone was also found next to the wall and is still in place. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-12 sB Today we started to level the surface that was left quite irregular yesterday. cC was moved to k7 with lR, I am working with another aRK. The Khabur jar i2 is still in place and is very large. The upper part is already at the lab being restored. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-13 sB Today gB had an excavation lesson in k5 and k6 until 9am. We excavated in k5 to try to find the floor where the jar (i2) should be sitting on, leveled the layer from yesterday, and went down another 10cm. There is another whole Khabur jar in the North corner i4, which we noticed today. We also found some human teeth and bone this morning, and appear that a1 is a burial. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-17 fAB After three days of backfill removal we are finally returning to the upper squares of A16. Today we are digging only in k3 and k4; removing topsoil to arrive at the brickfall, which is the last sign of occupation in the lower portion of A16. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-20 fAB Excavations today are concentrated in the following areas: k5, k8, k2, k3, and k4. In k5 we are following the floor f51, to determine its relationship to a3 and to the East we are digging the baulk to find the corner of a3. In k8 we are continuing to articulate the brickfall. In k2 and k3 we are digging trenches along the North baulk of the squares to determine brickfall thickness. In k4 we seem to have found a wall, f52, but it is not linked to anything we have found yet, so we continue to work around it. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-06-20 fAB we talked with gB about elevations in the AA area: A16 k5 is approximately 8680, A13 stone-paved surface is approximately 8500 and AK floor is approximately 8250. This means that we have 180cm of soil between k5 and the stone pavement. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-07-02 tR We continue to excavate baulks k6 N and E, k7 N and E, and k3 E. gB stopped by to check on our progress and give us some suggestions as to how we should proceed in our excavation of the box structure which is aggregate a6, subsuming f72, f73, f74, and f75. Afterwards we began to expose what appears to be a small retaining wall of sorts, which we called f80 in k4. [Input: L630TR.j]
2001-07-08 MISSING continued to remove the remaining brickfall throughout k105, k106, k3 and k5. In a6, the box structure, 80 cms has been excavated inside. The fill of the box contains broken bricks, pottery, and animal bones. The northern face shows clear brick faces with a mud plaster coating. The faces suggest a vaulted shape inside the structure. The brickfall to the west of the structure was also excavated which exposed a clearer view of the platform at the base of the box structure that protrudes one brick and a half west of the box. [Input: L707SVQ.j]
2001-07-08 lR continued to remove the remaining brickfall throughout k105, k106, k3 and k5. In a6, the box structure, 80 cms has been excavated inside. The fill of the box contains broken bricks, pottery, and animal bones. The northern face shows clear brick faces with a mud plaster coating. The faces suggest a vaulted shape inside the structure. The brickfall to the west of the structure was also excavated which exposed a clearer view of the platform at the base of the box structure that protrudes one brick and a half west of the box. cI has drawn the north section of k3 and began drawing k4 north section. [Input: L708LR.j]
2001-07-18 lR Yesterday we finished removing the north baulk of k6 which exposed f10 (wall) in its entirety. The round doorsocket that was found along the northern baulk in k6 is now completely exposed revealing two similar stones in a line next to each other. These three stones run north to south, are touching each other and all have rounded depressions at the center. The stone furthest to the south is the most round with the other two of a more elongated shape. To the immediate west of the stones are two rows of bricks. The first row which abuts the stones has a clay basin embedded between the wall f10, the stones, and a brick to the north and a brick to the west. This clay basin is compacted, reddish brown in color has elevated sides and a smooth inside curving out. There are only sides on the north and south ends. The row which includes this clay basin is completed with two bricks, stopping at the same width as the stones. The next row west of this row has three mudbricks and also has the same width. We made two features: one for the set of bricks that are next to the three stones, this feature is f143, and f138 for the three door sockets. f143 abuts f10 the wall and is located north of the wall. [Input: L722LR.j]
2001-07-19 lR Today we are removing the bricks of k5 with a strategy to remove them layer by layer to see the layout and construction of the walls that compose a1. This strategy will enable us to see if the walls are bonded with each other and understand the use of these walls since. aBK and gZ have drawn a sketch that shows this layout in four different steps. In k105 the workmen are contininuing to go down on the north side of a3 in the triangular section between the north baulk of k105 and f18 (the wall of a3). The wall continues to go down. In a9, Nicola has drawn the burial inside with the bones to scale since we are removing the bones later today at 4pm. Today we also took a large amount of relays from the new walls that have come out in recent days, a total of 20 were done today and we should be finished with most of the relays for A16 phase 5b and c structures. In k3, between a6 and the east baulk of k3, we continued to excavate in this rectangular area. A group of bricks were noted on the south west area which appear to belong with a6. In k1 and k2, the remainder of the accumulation from the east baulk of k5 has been removed bringing this area at the same elevation as k6. A floor was found in a6, f140 and is 150 cm below the top of the walls. A plumbbob was dropped at the top to see the width of the vault at the base and it was measured that the base is 60 cm vaulted in from the top bricks. In k5 it appears that f5 is now tow walls since one wall appears to be bonded with the larger wall f4 and not bonded with the adjacent paralles wall. In k105, a sherd pavement was found at the end of a3 eastern end which appears to link up with the other sherd pavement running north to south west of f75. In k107 the wall (f?) appears to end since we see gray layers underneath the reddish bricks. Underneath these gray layers we have another set of bricks that jet out from the wall above. These bricks are have a brick in width and are 6 running the same angle as the previous wall, the elevation for the new wall is 8817 -98. [Input: L722LR.j]
2001-07-21 lR In k105 we continued to remove the accumulation north of a3. Several medium sized stones have been uncovered, a small group of 4-5 stones located directly next to f18 next to the end of the wall and the beginning of the compact mud continuation. Directly east of the stones is a small concentration of dark ash, soft which abuts the stones and the wall f18. In a9 the tomb, the east wall currently has five courses of bricks in view with the bricks positioned so that the lower bricks jet out suggesting that the tomb is vaulted. The line of bricks continue on the east side then form a little outer area where a doorway is located in the east next to a 6. The north wall of this doorway is plastered. [Input: L722LR.j]
2001-07-22 lR We began excavating the pit seen in the north section of A12. We excavated a 150 cm by 100 cm trench in the center of k6. The interface between the floor from a2 and the beginning of the pit fill was very thin and we immediately began excavating dark gray soft ashy fill. The pit fill contains charcoal inclusions along with pieces of red clay. Organic materials are also present in the soil which include straw-like impressions and white thin roots. The fill is uniform in texture. In k5 we removed the bricks of f4 until the red bricks seen in the east side of f4. We were under the assumption that below these bricks was fill since no clear mortor lines were shown but after the top red bricks were removed it became evident from the top that there were bricks below, gray bricks. These bricks seem to be of a different construction phase than the top bricks belonging to phase b. In k2, we removed 10-15 centimeters in the whole locus which consisted of alternating layers of gray and pink. It it possible that a wall may connect f132 and the stones f118 together in k2. [Input: L722LR.j]
2001-07-23 lR We extended the trench from yesterday by 50 cm to the west and is located at the center of a2. The floor accumulation at the top is clearly visible which is only 3-5cm in thickness and shows that the pit is directly underneath the floor of a2. 90 cm below the top of the trench we came accross a change in color, more reddish compact material and made it into a new feature (f156). Within this layer several large pieces of pottery were found lying flat with a long bone at the side. We thought that this might be a burial but after inspecting the bone closer, it appears to be too large to be human and no other bones were found associated with it. We removed the bone and the pottery pieces were kept together incase they are from the same jar. After scraping the red layer, a thin line of plaster was seen and we decided to quickly excavate this area to see what this line may be. The pottery from this pit contains many diagnostic sherds, some painted and incised. In k107 and k1, we continued to remove the top sherd pavement that covered the entire area and discovered another sherd and pebble floor approx 8 cm below the top sherd pavement that abuts the bricks that protrude in k107, f158. In k2, Ahkmed excavated the fill of the cut and cleaned the east baulk to see the face of the wall associated with the vaulted structure a6. [Input: L722LR.j]
2001-07-25 lR yesterday we restrung the baulks of k1, k2, k5, and k6 in order to go down in these areas. We are currently the deepest in k6 since we began excavating this locus a few days ago. We are calling the material below a2 a pit, the same pit that we see in A12 North section that extends to the east in A15. This material contained approx 20cm of interface that changed to gray ashy fill. In k5, we have another pit under a1. We have removed all of a1 except for the portion within the north baulk. The material under this aggregate is the interface between accumulation of the structure and the beginning of the pit which is also seen in A12 North section. In k1, we are also excavating and predict that this will be the most time consuming and slowest area since in the east section of A10 we see layers of sherd and pebble floors going down. we are leaving the wall in the North-West corner to see if it continues down. In k2 we are excavating the whole locus West of the wall feature ??. This area contains large amounts of pottery in comparison to k6, k5, and k1 which is within a brown-gray matrix and is most likely the same pit as k6. The sherds contained no pattern and were not positioned in a way to suggest that it was a pavement or floor. [Input: L724SV.j]
2001-07-26 lR Today we are continuing to remove the two pits seen in A12 North section. In k6, the section has been cleaned and scraped and we can see the interface between house accumulation from a2 and the begginning of the pit which forms a nice clear line. The house accumulation is a reddish brown color which extends about 20cm below the bricks with a thin band of bright orange-red clay under this approx 3cm thick. This band extends through the north baulk into k2 area which leads us to belive that this is the same pit. Under this thin band is a unified gray which we have refered to it as pit fill. In k2, yesterday at the end of the day we defined the area with the large amount of pottery as a seperate pit, a kind of sherd pit since all the pottery was isolated in an area. Currently this pit is located within the south west corner but yesterday it extended throughout the k but was excavated so the pottery from this feature is mixed with the feature above it. The sherd pit is f170 and was completely excavated today. We made a new feature for the accumulation around this pit and it is most likely the same matrix as the fill ontop. It is strange that such a large number of sherds come from this area (which is the smallest) in comparison to k6 if they are the same pit. [Input: L728LR.j]
2001-07-26 lR In k5 we see a pottery lense which is quite thick in section and this might have been the same case in k2. In k5 we are still excavating the pit and are coming down on the sherd lense which we are using black garbage bags since there is too much pottery. A large stone was left pedestooled in the western area of the locus a few centemiters above the pottery lense. This stone is large and will probably take a while to remove. In the east section of k5 reddish brown bricks are visible but they are too scattered to form a wall, but something seperates the two pits (k6, k5) and is is located within the baulk. In k5, we are removing another 15cm in a reddish brown soil throughout the area. In the eastern side 50cm from the East baulk a change of color is evident. This side is gray and becomes black in the South-East corner. Evidence of some kind of burning was taking place in this area. A large amount of purple and green slag chunks were found yesterday in the North-West area next to the wall f??. The soil was a whittish gray in color with burnt pottery and slag, very soft. It extended 5-10 cm down and underneath was a chunky red layer with blocky peices of clay. [Input: L728LR.j]
2001-07-28 lR Excavating k1, k2, k5, k6 with dirt continuing to be removed during the afternoon and on Friday. We have alot of dirt accumulating in A12 pavement since both A15 and A16 are throwing are dirt into this area. We are excavating more dirt than we can remove and are trying to devise a faster way to remove this dirt. In k6, we noticed at the end of the day on Thursday that more red was appearing in the western section. We had noticed ealier that the fill material was mixed with small peices of reddish clay. Now the material is completely red clay and after scraping the section, we notices distinct clear brick lines, red bricks with a brown morter. A plaster line is also visible in section. The bricks do not hold together but resembles moist clay, making it difficult to find the faces. It is not until we cut back the section that we could see these brick lines. These bricks are running North-South, East of the West baulk. In the western area a tannur was found. The eastern area contains ash and is probably still pit fill while the weastern area is reddish. In k6 north section the accumulation from a2 is seen very nicely which forms a bowl. The gray underdeath forms bands of lighter gray sloping west to east with the western portion higher. Alternating layers of gray are seen, lightgray, dark, light, dark forming a bowl shape towards the east. If this is a pit, then it is quite large for it must extend the same lenght to the east making the pit almost 10 meters in diameter. [Input: L728LR.j]
2001-07-29 lR We are drawing the baulks in all the four loci currently being excavated since we plan on removing the baulks tomorrow. In k6, they are still continuing to remove the gray material to the East, and are coming down on red. This is probably the end of the pit as we start a new layer seen in A12 section, a red layer. We met with gB today to discuss phases, and he suggested that the fill we are excavating in k6, k5, and k2 is not a pit but large hallows created by depretions in the palace that conditioned the topography which then was used as dumps: so they weren't cut, but natural in a sense that they occured naturally after the palace collapsed. These hallows provided a ground for dumping which was filled up with Phase 5a material but in the lower end of the hallow we find Phase 4 material underneath. This level may be the strata to which the tannur and the accumulation around it belong to. fAB metioned that the tannur may be related to the tannur found in A12 which was ontop of the palace wall. In k2 we cleaned all the sections to see the pit fill which shows a series of layers of gray, a sterile silty fine powder lense, and granular sandy pink lense with pottery and pebbles which reminds me of material which has been exposed to water for long periods of time where the heavier material, pebbles pottery and granular material sinks to the bottom and the sitly fine powder lense forms at the top. [Input: L728LR.j]
2001-07-29 lR photograph and draw all baulks, remove k6 north baulk, k5 east and north baulk. Remove stones in k1. [Input: L728LR.j]
2001-07-28 lR Excavating k1,k2,k5,k6 and we have increased dirt removal to include afternoons and Fridays so we can continue excavating in these areas. We have a lot of dirt accumulating on the stone pavement since both A15 and A16 are piling the dirt from the large pits into this area. We are excavating more than we can remove and are trying to devise a faster way to extract this dirt. [Input: L728LR.j]
2001-08-01 lR Continuing excavating in the west of k5, extending it to 6 meters. Three new loci were created k108, k109, k110. In k110 removed the foundation stones from a1. In k108 we still have not reached the stone pavement and are deeper than 8500 which is the elevation of the pavement of A13. We decided to pound in a metal shish to see if the stones underneath and found that the shish hit something hard. The metal shish was pounded in at the elevation of 8498 and we believe to hit something by the next 25-30 cm. [Input: L801LR.j]
2001-07-23 sV The find of Khabur pottery inside the pit in k5 helps us to better understand the situation in terms of chronology of the whole area A16. The Khabur sherds from the pit would belong to the phase 5a which is below the floor f29 of the structure a2. This belongs to the phase 5b (a2) and seems to be the only well preserved structure of this phase. The other structures to the west of a2 shows a more complicated situation. The North wall of this house f7 appears to be on a slint basement which fAB believes to belong to the phase 5b, contemporary to the large stone components f118 aligned with the north wall to the East of it and supposed to be the basement of an earlier wall then destroyed (still in the phase 5b). fAB suggests that the reddish accumulation above the stones of the wall f7, a sort of fill between those and the bricks above, could belong to the following phase 5c similerly to the floor f51 and the accumulations above f50 and f24 within a1. Outside the house, we have to the North a series of three floors whose the upper one shows many inclusions of pebbles and sherds and can be associated to the stone basement of the South side and to the wall f114 on the North side of the locus. The floors are probably associated to an open area as the irregularity and the slope westward of their surface show. Above the wall which represents the North-West boundary of this outside area we can see a 30cm reddish accumulation at the bottom of the wall f114 to be attributed to phase 5c. [Input: L801LR.j]
2001-07-23 sV To the west a series of accumulations (cut by a pit f149 next to the north east corner of a1) included between the North wall of a2 f10 and the wall f132 appearing in the East part of locus k2, which we supposed to come still from phase 5b since they lie underdeath the ashy layer f22=f33 k6. This layer appears also on the top of the phase 5b east wall of a2. Some questions are not yet solved with regard to the a1 structure. The South wall appears to be consisting of two walls. The external one which we labelled f142 would seem to be bonded with the first wall f4 whereas the interneal one f5 shown a kind of bond with either of next walls. This wall is 70cm ends like one ethier buutress in wall distinguishable next to the north wall f7. At this moment we are removing slowly and accurately the courses of the bricks from each wall to bring to light the actual relationship between those walls and the floors below f50 and f51. [Input: L801LR.j]
2001-07-30 sV Removed f138 c1,c2,c3. This feature is associated to f136 the wall East-West in k2 and to the basin f137, consisting of three limestone door sockets irregular in shape. C1: northern door socket measuring 33x20x15cm C2: middle door socket measuring 31x22x19cm C3: southern door socket meauring 24x14x16cm [Input: L801LR.j]
2001-08-02 lr today we are cleaning the area and sections since it is the last day of excavation. In k110 we have quit excavating in this area since it is too large and will not reach the stone pavement and have concentrated all our efforst to exposing the stones in k109 and the northern portion of k108. k109 is two meters in width and at the end of the day we hit stones which extend throughout the entire locus. The elevation of the stones in k109 is 8486. In k108 we removed portions of the western red bricky material since we could not identify any clear brick lines to make the western section straight. A ceramic vessel was found in the north portion of k108 in the western area, black overfired jar in poor state of conservation. The jar was sitting upright in this bricky red material. It was triangulated and removed in pieces since it is so overfired that it fell apart easily. While removing the vessel, small bones were noticed inside which may belong to an infant or a small animal, likely a small animal since the bones are rather small but it has been defined as a burial and treated as one. [Input: L815LR.j]
2001-08-02 lr For the past few days we have been digging below Phase 5b in the large Khabur hollows that lie underneath the structures a1, a2, and a11 in k1,k2,k5, and k6. We have made three new loci to facilitate digging and q-lot assignment. Locus k108 includes k2, and k6; locus k109 includes the Northern portion of k1; and locus k110 includes the Southern portion of k1, k5 and the Northern baulk of k5. [Input: L815LR.j]
2001-08-02 lr In the Northern portion of k108 we hit stone pavement at an elevation of 8491. The brick pavement f194 is at 8470 and to the South the stone pavement is at 8503. The stone pavement continues to slope South to North and again down from East to West since k108 is higher than k109. In the Southeast part of k108, the pot smash i48 has been removed but some of the pot extended into the baulk and has been left in place. We decided to remove this pot smash since it sits on top of the stone pavement and would most likely suffer further damaged and lost if left in place until next season when we remove the baulk. [Input: L815LR.j]
2001-08-02 lr While excavating the large pit a13 we hit baked bricks instead of the anticipated stone courtyard. These bricks lie under the stone courtyard, seen by the cut f189 of the pit a13, which removed the stones, and left exposed the bricks f194 below. [Input: L815LR.j]
2001-07-23 sV Outside a1 we have to the North a series of three floors. The upper floor shows many inclusions of pebbles and sherds and can be associated to the stone foundation of the South side and to the wall f114 on the North side of the locus. The floors are probably associated to an open area as the irregularity and the slope westward of their surface show. Above the wall which represents the North-West boundary of this outside area we can see a 30cm reddish accumulation at the bottom of the wall f114 to be attributed to phase 5c. To the West a series of accumulations (cut by a pit f149 next to the North-East corner of a1) included between the North wall of a2 f10 and the wall f132 appearing in the east part of locus k2, which we supposed to come still from phase 5b since they lie underneath the ashy layer f22=f33 k6. this layer appears also on the top of the phase 5b east wall of a2. [Input: L818LR.j]
2001-07-30 lR removed f138 c1,c2,c3. This feature is associated with f136 (the wall running E-W in k2) and to the basin f137. [Input: L818LR.j]
2002-09-03 lR Today we opened up A16 for season MZ15 and began by removing backfill and scraping the entire area to eliminate the outer coating of soil caused by the winter rains. We met with gB early this morning to discuss the strategy for excavations in A16. We decided to string up new loci for k110 and have included a small square part to the west of k110 that was A10. This small square is now k201 and k110 will include k202, k203, k204, k205, k206, and k207. The East section of k110 will also become new loci k208,k209 and the area that protrudes out of the section k108 next to the tannur f180 will be k210. [Input: M903LR.j]
2002-09-04 MISSING Today we continued to excavate the east baulk of k110, which we have assigned k209. We finished excavating it completely to the level of k110, which was a good 90 cm below the top of the baulk. In the afternoon we began to excavate k208 the northern portion of k110 east baulk. We also excavated i83 the burial jar out of the soil since we did not want to leave it overnight. [Input: M904LR2.j]
2002-09-07 MISSING The main concentration today was on the cleaning of the entire A16 lower area. We still do not know when phase 4 begins so we are placing our efforts into cutting back the sections to expose a fresh face to see the layers and by leveling the upper surface of the area to see if there are any pits in view. These pits are extremely important to remove before excavating the material around it since we are assuming these pits are Khabur and may contaminate the area if not removed. The loci were surveyed in by bp and include relay numbers r307-r325. The burial a18 was also completely articulated and drawn by flp and photographed by gg. [Input: M907LR.j]
2002-09-18 lR This morning we prepared for the overhead photographs of the entire lower A16 area. These photographs are important for they show the beginning of the red in the area which is phase 4. We spent the morning cleaning the area and used a water bottle to spray down the red areas. A test of this procedure was done the day before and found that the red shows better when when. The overhead camera was used along with the slide camera. A total of 60 photographs were taken of the area. [Input: M919LR.j]
2002-09-19 lR yesterday a potsmash was uncovered while removing the last 10cm of red material ontop of the stones. We are referring to it as a potsmash since there are several sherds from the same vessel lying right on the stone pavement suggesting they were smashed. The sherds were triangulated today and we will keep them in situ. [Input: M919LR.j]
2002-09-19 lR yesterday we uncovered an item which we have called a potsmash. This vessel does not contain any base nor rim and consists of large fragments of thick pottery. They were all found lying face (outside) down. We triangulated this item then photographed in relation to the burnt area to the east and the stone pavement to the north. It was removed this morning. [Input: M919LR.j]
2002-09-19 lR today we continued removing the red layer, which covers the entire area. [Input: M919LR.j]
2002-09-24 MISSING Yesterday was the last day of full excavations and today we just have a few workmen to excavate the sections that were not finished yesterday. It took all day to remove the east and north sections in 10cm increments but did expose the entire stone courtyard today. The east section revealed a clay installation f328 a few cm above the stone pavement. This first appeared as a tannur but after cleaning the area it was found to have several holes in line inside this feature. It was cleaned and the conservator will consolidate it and remove it. We left a section to show it's relationship to the pavement and the matrix around it, photographed it then removed the section leaving f328 ontop of the pavement. The phase sequence of this installation is still in question and most likely falls into phase 4 similar to the tannur found ontop of the stone pavement in A13. The pit f250 continued to go down with the same black ashy fill as yesterday. It was completely excavated and reached 162 cm below the level of the stone pavement. Inside this pit is an interesting situation with a layer of baked bricks below and some that are vertically placed. The baked bricks are in line, orange in color, and appear to slope downward. The fill of the pit continued to yield a number of interesting items, pottery, and figurines. Taking relays was somewhat problematic since the relay rod is not that long and therefore a long thin wooden board was placed under the rod vertically then measured. It is unclear how accurate these measurements will be, regardless these items are located inside a pit and have no stratigraphic context except for being in a pit. [Input: M924LR.j]
2002-09-24 MISSING Yesterday was the last day of full excavations and today we just have a few workmen to excavate the sections that were not finished yesterday. It took all day to remove the east and north sections in 10cm increments but did expose the entire stone courtyard today. The east section revealed a clay installation f328 a few cm above the stone pavement. This first appeared as a tannur but after cleaning the area it was found to have several holes in line inside this feature. It was cleaned and the conservator will consolidate it and remove it. We left a section to show it's relationship to the pavement and the matrix around it, photographed it then removed the section leaving f328 on top of the pavement. The phase sequence of this installation is still in question and most likely falls into phase 4 similar to the tannur found on top of the stone pavement in A13. The pit f250 continued to go down with the same black ashy fill as yesterday. It was completely excavated and reached 162 cm below the level of the stone pavement. Inside this pit is an interesting situation with a layer of baked bricks below and some that are vertically placed. The baked bricks are in line, orange in color, and appear to slope downward. The fill of the pit continued to yield a number of interesting items, pottery, and figurines. Taking relays was somewhat problematic since the relay rod is not that long and therefore a long thin wooden board was placed under the rod vertically then measured. It is unclear how accurate these measurements will be, regardless these items are located inside a pit and have no stratigraphic context except for being in a pit. [Input: M924LR.j]
2002-09-09 lR Today we continued removing k210, which we have termed "the pillar" since it, is a long column of soil left from last season. We have concentrated the majority of our efforts into removing this pillar, which requires an increase in dirt removal slowing excavations in the other loci. Yesterday the khabur structure that was the highest level was removed and today the entire ashy pit fill was excavated leaving the material that the pit a17, a13 cut as the current elevation. We plan to stop at the red below, which is approx 30 cm leaving a 10cm buffer zone between the two layers. [Input: N304LR2.j]