| Date | Author | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-06-26 | mh | GB, Marillyn, Iko, Barbara and I went out this morning to discuss where to lay the squares for J02. We agreed on six squares west of the long German trench revealing the staircase. The exact location of the trenches will be decided upon once Barbara plots the location of the door jams and the oval into a map. The overall goals for J02 are: 1) to create a perspective view of the monumental platform, i.e. to create enough space in front of the staircase and the terrace wall that allows the viewers to appreciate the size and complexity of the temple complex; 2) to expose the door jam and the possible apron flanking the staircase; 3) dating the floor(s) that go with the staircase. This will give us a date for the temple complex. 4) link the staircase with the oval in J01 East excavated last year. [Input: O626MH.j] | |
| 2004-06-27 | mH | In the morning we first collapsed more of the walls in k100 for safety reasons. Most of this and the earlier collapse is probably from the upper 2m of the trench. Once enough of the wall was down we started removing it in layers from north to south. Through the day we moved ca. soil from an area of 2m south from m3583 and perhaps 30cm down. At the same time Barbara was laying squares for J02 according to the plans decided upon yesterday. In the morning we suffered from several power outages, which made the work slow. When the power was on, everything was working well. In the afternoon the elevator stopped working. We had reached moist soil in the north and this moist soil must have clogged the elevator. This did not stop work for long, since at this point Barbara had nearly finished with two squares, k4 and k5, which we opened soon afterwards. During the rest of the day we were able to remove one big pick full in k4 and two pick fulls in k5. In both squares the removed material was mostly topsoil, which contained plenty of organic material. In k5 the soil immediately below topsoil also contained plenty of pebbles. We also found a flint flake from k5. [Input: O627MH.j] | |
| 2004-06-28 | mH | We continued going down on k4 and k5. We did not work on k100 since the elevator was still broken. [Input: O628MH.j] | |
| 2004-07-06 | mH | The top elevation for the southern most stones in the German trench north of k3 is top@9243, the top elevation for the stones f45 in k3 is top@9252, for the stone near the northern baulk of the eastern half of k13 it is top@9233, for the stone is the northwest corner of k13 it is top@9234, and for the stone near the southern baulk of k13 it is top@9210. Of these only the last stone is at an elevation significantly different from all the rest. That stone also does not seem to sit on another stone. Hence it is probably an isolated, eroded stone. The other two stones in k13 are also perhaps isolated stones, while those in k3 are most likely in situ. [Input: O706MH.j] | |
| 2005-08-02 | mH | We started by removing the top 10cm of the surfaces of k3, k4, k13, and k14. This surface had been contaminated during the winter. In one of the corners near marker m3956, for example, someone had lit a small fire. After removing the first 10 cm, we made the the surface of these units roughly level. During this initial work the whole team of 16 workers worked as a single team. After the surface of the units was level, we separated a 2 x 2 area from k13 for the column k101. This column abuts wall f128 and the western baulk of k13. After this we divided the workmen into two teams. One team will be working on both k101 and k13 around it, and the other team will work in what is left of k3 and k4. We then continued work with these two teams. We took several photographs of the first apron f131 with the intent of showing how the tarp and the plaster placed in between the steps to project the mortar between them had held up during the winter. These are v73 and v74 their subviews. [Input: P802MH.j] | |
| 2005-08-03 | mH | We started by removing a small area in k13, which was left over from yesterday's attempt to remove a layer of dirt from the whole loci. In k13 we then removed the small pseudobaulk differentiating k101 from k13. At this point the surfaces of k13 and k101 were approximately level. We then continued down again in k101 with a big pick. aL and pC practiced small picking at the SE corner of k13 amidst and above emerging stones. They also picked one small big run in k101. Starting from q374 in k101 we started using the small pick in order to see whether we found more pottery, bones and other finds compared to using the big pick. In k4 we continued with the northern half of the unit, the portion of the loci that is approximately level with k13, with a big pick. [Input: P803MH.j] | |
| 2005-08-04 | mH | We worked in three loci today: k100, k13, and k3. [Input: P806MH.j] | |
| 2005-08-06 | mH | We worked only in k4 and k100 today. [Input: P806MH2.j] | |
| 2005-08-07 | mH | By the end of the day we finished removing the back dirt that had piled in k5 before the installation of the elevator. [Input: P807MH.j] | |
| 2005-08-17 | mH | We finished excavating at 12.30 today because gB held a meeting for the workmen explaining what we were doing this season and why. [Input: P817MH.j] | |
| 2005-08-20 | vVE | Today we continued excavating in k4, k14 and k15 in order to reach their respective goal depths. We stopped excavating in k100 for today because we reached a floor level which is positively associated with the steps of f130 and the other squares were given more priority by gB. Excavation was also started again in k102 where we eventually hope to create a sloping section baulk to increase the safety for the people working in k100. [Input: P820VVE1.j] | |
| 2005-08-27 | mH | We opened k24 today south of k23 in order to continue with making the steps for the stepped section west of k101, k14, and k15. We continued removing the north baulk of k15 in order to bring in parallel with the north baulk of k5. The removal of the east baulk of k5 was finished today and thus I assigned that workteam to start working on the ledges in k5. [Input: P827MH.j] | |
| 2005-08-29 | mH | We finished work a few minutes early so that gB could give the workmen the sad news of Prof. Peccorella's death earlier in the day and announce that we would not work tomorrow. [Input: P830MH.j] | |
| 2008-01-19 | pC | a series of different features covering the apron f131 are characterized by bricky material, meaning melted bricks, complete bricks or brick crumble: theese are f112, f106 which were excavated on season 2004 by aP and mH and recognized as accumulations whith bricky consistence and red. The thickness of this accumulations is 51 cm (top elevation of f106 is 91.02, bottom elevation of f112 is 89.73): they may be the result of the collapse of a structure or even a part of the mudbrick terrace to the North of the monumental access. Theese features are not to be related to other features whith the same characteristics found in k4 at the same elevation, to which is to be ascribed a brickfall coming from south: theese are f189, f188 (aggregate a6) which lay at 89.46 top elevation: the presence of wall f144 served to frame a collapse of a structure and therfore the stratigraphy South of it is different from the stratigraphy to the North. Top elevation of wall f144 is 91.47 [Input: S119PC2.j] | |
| 2005-09-07 | mH | The South section of k4, as seen in v133, shows several layers of dark thin bands alternating with thicker brown bands; then bands end at the brickfall approximatly 3-3.5 m toward k100 edge. Theese bands were not identified during excavation. The layers are circa of 3-4 cm thick and the topmost band is at an elevation of 88.34 (located inside f286) [Input: S307PC.j] | |
| 2009-07-20 | cJC | Today we had our first day of work. We will begin with 8 workmen, 2 pickmen, 4 shovelmen and 1 wheelbarrow driver. Today we had 7 workmen as one workman did not come because his son is sick. We spent most of the time before breakfast cleaning the staircase and the apron. After breakfast we removed the backfill dirt and the plastic at the bottom of the apron and cleaned the tops of the sections. Work was slow because all the dirt had to be carried up the cement staircase next to J7. sH and cJC were in the field to supervise the work. When we removed the plastic the area underneath was damp and the layer underneath appeared to have laminations. These are presumably due to the accumulation of water under the plastic during the past 4 inactive years not due to any ancient reasons. We will scrape the whole area tomorrow. [Input: T720CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-19 | cJC | Yesterday yM, cJC and sH went to the field to discuss the strategy with fAB for both J02 and J06. The purpose of this year's excavation in J2 is to understand the stratigraphy of the layers immediately in front of the apron. If there is time we also would like to excavate to the west of the apron and the small wall (f127) in order to clarify the relationship of the area west of the apron and the plaza area, perhaps allowing for comparisons with J1. The goals for the season include the clarification of the chronology of the construction of the staircase and the apron as well as exposure of the earliest layers associated with the bottom of the apron. To begin we will open some limited areas, probably 2 loci immediately in front of the apron in order to maintain tight control over the excavation. We plan to leave to baulks running north-south leading up to the apron to clarify the relationship of any floors, etc. that may be recovered. We will work with limited workmen due to the small area and the need for close control. [Input: T720CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-21 | cJC | Today we finished cleaning J2 before breakfast. We had seven workmen today. We cleaned the area just west of the apron. The plastic had been removed and the area cleaned in MZ21 for kite photos so the work went quickly. After we finished cleaning we removed the small curtain wall that was to the west of f127, the north-south wall to the west of the apron. mO came to help remove the stones, we also had assistance from some of the workmen from J6. After we removed the stones we excavated f336 under the wall. Dirt removal was slow as the workmen had to carry all the dirt up the cement staircase of J7 in zambils. [Input: T721CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-22 | cJC | Today we continued cleaning and we removed the baulk in k54. After discussions with fAB, pC, cJC and sH it was decided that it is best to retain this baulk in the same location even if it makes the locus north of it (the area running up to the revetment wall) fairly narrow. We want to keep the sections the same as those from the previous J2 excavations where possible. [Input: T722CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-23 | cJC | Today we cut the south section of J2 back about 40 centimeters to get rid of the eroded pieces and to create more room for excavation. After breakfast we tried to install the shaffat but unfortunately it was the wrong size and so it had to be removed again. We will try a different shaffat on Saturday after the day off. The dirt removal was slow as a result and we did not finish removing the section. [Input: T725CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-25 | cJC | Today in the morning we finished removing the southern baulk in k54 (f338). We were finally able to install the shaffat. It is placed on the raised section south of the apron in k4. Afterwards we [Input: T725CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-26 | cJC | Today in the morning we continued working in k14 and k5. We spent most of the morning helping Adeeb to put in the squares. We have resolved the placement issues by running an east-west line and then a north-south line and seeing where they cross. We have measured all the squares and baulks from that one established corner. We continued excavating the brickfall (f341) in k14 [Input: T726CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-27 | cJC | Today first thing in the morning we cleaned the whole area so it could be photographed. We anticipated beginning excavation today and wanted to photograph the area with the squares in place and after everything was cleaned, cut back and scraped. After photographs we relayed several stones (f345) that we then removed. We continued to remove the brickfall f341 in k14. We began to excavated the small south portion of k110 that is being cut back to match the south section of the other squares. We removed one hard sloping floor (f344). After breakfast we scraped the west section of k100 so it can be drawn this afternoon. We also began removing f335 in k14. [Input: T727CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-28 | cJC | Today we spent the morning taking measuremnts, relaying f349 and f346. sG and cJC finished drawing the west sections of k100. The workmen cleaned and removed some of the conservation materials while the staff took measurements. Before breakfast we had a meeting with gB and fAB. We discussed the strategy for J2. Kameron scraped the west section of k100 along the part that borders J7k6 so we can draw it when we have time. [Input: T728CJC.j] | |
| 2009-07-29 | cJC | Today there was a sandstorm and so we will work inside the house instead of in the field. This will give us the opportunity to catch up on the UGR documentation. cJC will focus on templates, data entry and running the programs while sH will work with sG on object descriptions. [Input: T729CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-01 | cJC | Today we were able to begin going down in all of k110. First we removed the remaining portions of the floor f355 before going down about 15cm across the whole square. Mohammed Ker, one of the pickmen, did not come back after breakfast due to a family emergency so we continued with only 2 pickmen. Before breakfast sG and sH finished drawing the western section of k100. It will be photographed tomorrow when the light is better. [Input: T801CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-02 | cJC | Today in the morning we continued removing the layers in k110. The goal was to expose the salmon-colored layer, f359. We were able to remove the last of f357 and expose f359. We spent some time then discussing the strategy (see sg entry). fAB gave a lecture to the workmen explaining the importance of our area and the importance of the f359 as a stratigraphic seal. After breakfast we started excavating in k5 to expose the salmon layer. We had some difficulties correlating the layers in k5 with k110 so we decided to stop for today and discuss the strategy in the afternoon with fAB and gB. [Input: T802CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-03 | cJC | Today the first hour of work the workmen cleaned J7 while sG and cJC drew the west section of k110. After that we removed the portions of the west section of k110 layer by layer. We intend to follow the layers across the baulk and go down in k5 without the east baulk (same as west baulk k110). After breakfast we photographed the pebble floor f362 and removed it. The work is proceeding slowly because we are primarily using the small pick to avoid cutting through any layers. [Input: T803CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-05 | cJC | Today we continued excavating only in k5. We had hoped to reach the salmon-colored floor (f359) in this locus today but we were unable to. Work was slow as we are only using the small pick to avoid cutting through any layers. Also, we stopped several times for Adeeb to remeasure our markers. We decided to change features about 10cm down into f363 as the matrix became slightly more reddish. This was called f364. At noon the workmen went for a lecture about the site with gB so we ended work early. [Input: T805CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-08 | cJC | Today in k5 we started the day hoping to expose all of f359. We finished following it to the west. After cJC and sH drew the north section of k5 we began excavating k4 up to the apron. We did not find f359 continuing north up to the apron f131. Instead we found a gray layer with some larger sherds (f368) sloping up and abutting the apron (f131). Just south of this feature, but partially overlaying it we found brownish red layer we called f367. It is similar to f365 but not identical. f367 overlays f359 and f369. f359 slopes down sharply and partially overlays the gray floor surface of f369. We decided to excavate f367 first because it seems to be the latest as it overlays all the other features. When we began removing it we noticed what appear to be pieces of a broken plaster floor. At this point fAB and gB came to visit J2. They discussed the possible relationships of the plaster floor to the other features as well as discussing what might have caused the break in continuity of f359. pC suggested that perhaps water came down from the apron and created a puddle which destroyed some of the layers immediately in front of the apron (f131) including f359. We discussed the different possibilities of relationships of the features, with the most puzzling being the break in f359 and the relation of the plaster to the other features. gB would like us to change the way we excavate and stop using trowels and instead use only the small pick and brush to avoid creating artifical surfaces which he thinks may clarify the situation. He gave a demonstration to the workmen. Also during the day we finished removing the brickfall in k111 (f352) and sH and mCT drew the west section of k5. [Input: T808CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-09 | cJC | Today in the early morning we continued excavating in k4 and k5 along the border of the two loci. We did our best to only remove the brownish feature (f367) while preserving f369 underneath and any remaining portions of the plaster (f370). Because we were excavating using only the small pick and the brush (no trowel) this task took one pickman (Mohammed Kher) the whole day. We also began excavating in k15. We followed f364 across through our section but found that instead of being just f365 underneath as in k4 and k5 we found a more complicated situation. Therefore, we continued very slowly also in k15. [Input: T809CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-10 | cJC | Today we focused work primarily in k15 working with our two pickmen both in the same area. Because we have so many different layers and the cut of the erosion we are proceeding slowly to understand each layer before removing it. [Input: T810CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-11 | cJC | Today we worked only in k15. In the morning we mostly cleaned for the first year as the area we wanted to excavate was damp from having the plastic covering it. Once we had cleaned everything we did our best to expose f375, the floor with plaster inclusions. We photographed it when we thought it had reached its full extent but then as we were removing f365 we found it continued and so we photographed it again. After that we removed f375 and started removing the accumulations of f365 by moving from the west section of k5 in a westward direction. In the south portion of k15 f365 came down on top of the salmon-colored floor f359 just as we expected. We did not finish exposing f359 and will work on exposing its extent tomorrow. In the north part of k15 we found the situation was more disturbed possibly due to erosion as we saw in k5 with the erosion of f359 and the brown accumulation of f367. It seems that f367 continues into k15 with some disturbed accumulations (not in nice thin layers of accumulations like f365) and some sherds that are not lying flat as well as some pebbles. We will explore this area tomorrow. We met with gB and fAB after breakfast and gB reminded the workmen again to only use the brush and not the trowel to avoid creating artificial surfaces. [Input: T811CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-12 | cJC | Today we continued working in k15 to finish removing f365 and then proceed down to expose all of f359. We found that it was difficult to follow f359 as it appears to have been damaged by erosion (the cut of the erosion has been assigned f376). We appear to have a similar situation in k15 as we had in k4 and k5 where the salmon-colored floor (f359) was cut by erosion exposing the gray floor f369 and then the cut of the erosion was filled in by a softer brown accumulation f367. In k15 we find that the erosion (f376) did not completely remove the salmon-colored floor f359 but instead only damaged its top surface (the hard gray/salmon color layer). Then f359 was partially overlaid by the brown accumulation f367. It appears that the pink layer (f373) is in fact a continuation of f359 but is heavily damaged and very soft unlike the rest of f359 which was hard and formed a nice surface. I say that are likely the same though because we seem to have a stratigraphic continuation from f359 across to f373 with no interruption and the damaged portions of f359 are slightly darker in color but of the same consistency. Also today, In the morning we cleaned and then dM came to take a video of the pickmen working with the pick and the brush for the archives. At noon, as we have finally exposed all of f359, we began cleaning for the views we will take this afternoon. Today pC will go with dM to the field in the afternoon to take the views. gB and fAB want nice views of f359 and its relation to the apron (f131) because they have suggested that it is the first floor associated with the construction of the apron. [Input: T812CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-13 | cJC | Today we first cleaned the area and took a few photos of the overall area showing the extent of f359 and then we removed f359 in k110, excavated the feature underneath, f377 and exposed f379 and removed a portion of f379 to reveal f381 with an animal pawprint in it. [Input: T815CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-15 | cJC | Today we continued working in k110. We started by removing the remaing portion of f379. In the process of removing this feature we uncovered more impressions in f381 which is immediately below. Some of the prints appear to be of human feet so we decided to stop, clean, photograph and make plaster casts of the impressions. Then, before breakfast gB and fAB came and we discussed leaving the footprints to be excavated next season instead of doing it this year. gB thought we should pedestal the south portion of k110 and only work in north k110 but I would rather not as the area is very small. At breakfast there was a strategy meeting between pC, fAB, gB and cJC to discuss how to proceed. After discussing several options (excavating north k110, working in k13, cutting a trench in front of the apron, excavating down in J6k84, and making a sounding in k100) we decided to work in k100. We will remove the backfill and then go down to see if we can find the bottom of the first staircase (f380) and get enough ceramic material for a solid date of construction. After breakfast we began removing the backfill of k100. We will continue tomorrow. [Input: T815CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-16 | cJC | We continued removing the backfill in k100. We used v127 as a guideline for how the features looked at the end of 2005. Before breakfast we finished removing all the backfill and began excavating what appears to be a pit (a12) or at least some kind of cut. We started removing the fill (f382) and found it went down quite far. We excavated f382 for the rest of the day. Akmed and sH tried to take 2 more casts of the footprints in k110 but they were unsuccessful. We decided not to try again and to backfill k110 today or tomorrow. [Input: T816CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-17 | cJC | We continued removing the fill (f383) of the pit (a12) in the southwest corner of k100. At the bottom we found a row of small stones, relatively straight (f384) sitting in a hard surface (f385). We decided this was a good stopping point for the pit for this season. We decided to remove the pebble floor from last season (f292) and proceed down in the rest of k100. Under f292 we found a nice sherd and bone floor (f386)that took awhile to expose. We also cut back the section of the pit cut (f382) to look for a good stopping point for the rest of k100. We continued work in the afternoon so we can reach a good point and achieve some of our goals of finding the floors associated with the construction of the lower staricase (f380). [Input: T819CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-18 | cJC | We worked in k100 removing a series of sherd and pebble pavements and their subfloors. We removed f386 and its subfloor, f387 and then floor f388 and its subfloor f389 before stopping at the exposure of f390. gB and fAB came to give candy to our workmen and make a video of the workmen giving them candy. gB had a discussion about the archaeology of J2 with the workmen. In the afternoon we worked to reach a good stopping point and also to cut back the west section of k100. [Input: T819CJC.j] | |
| 2009-08-30 | cJC | Today we removed the backfill from k100 for final photographs. We also cleaned all of J2. We will attempt to rephotograph the human footprints as well. [Input: T830CJC.j] |
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