Accretion

Yasmine Mahmoud – June 2025

Accumulations

J4 is an area of minor use, therefore, the majority of its deposits are natural accumulations, tthat built up over the periods of no use.

Imperial Akkadian

The Imperial Akkaddian period, located directly below the Mitani level, was very minimally explored in J4. Therefore, it is only logical that there aren’t many accumulation layers belonging to this period. f50 is the only accumulation layer exposed in this unit.

Early Mittani

During the Early Mitani, there aren’t many accumulation layers. f116 and f169 are two consecutive natural accumulatin layers from this period, both contained a cluster of stones very close to wall f10, belonging to The Imperial Akkaddian period. These stones, which could be related to f10, were covered by a natural accumulation layers during the natural build up phase of this period. The upper portion of f116 belongs to s14, while the lower portion belongs to s19.

Middle Mittani

During the Middle Mitani period, the area of J4 went throught various depositional events, from a minor use, to being affecte by the brickfall in J6, to being re-used again in a humble phase of rebuiling, before the gradual buildup took place towards the end of the Middle Mittani. This is reflected to some extent in the accumulation layers of this phase, ulternating between natural accumulations covering human activites (f64 covers a large quantity of sherds and broken vessels and two tannur), and other accumulattions containing many kiln wastes and sherds or lithic artifacts (f89) while some contained organic material, ash and animal bones (f76), representing the scattered use phase. All the accumulations that belong to s14 and sub stratum s14a, are accumulations above the structures built in stratum 14c and are part of the gradual build up (f72).

Late Mittani

The accumulations of this period are natural accumulations that formed the build-up of the Tell in this area. Most accumulations contained phytolitics, some sherds and stones. f60, and others containedd bricky material related to the erosions that took place later in this period, such as f55. Some of these accumulation layers can be further charecterized by the presence of several lamination layers, due to water f90.

Middle Assyrian

During this period, J4 was covered by the gradual build-up, and the layers belonging to this period are a series of consecutive natural accumulations, some of which are a result of modern day inter seasonal depoits.