Phase 32^MZA within Unit J4

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Stratigraphy

This phase, dating back to the Imperial Akkaddian period, is of great importance as it demonstrates the deposition of a 3rd millennium layer very high on the mound and directly below a c layer. This phase consists of 6 features in J4 (f10 wall, f50 accumulation on which f10 rests, f121, f150, f158 and f160 interpreted as ^glacis3 same as J6f164 (cfr. J06 ^glacis3) made to protect stone wall J02f129 located to the west.

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Typology

In the beginning, the dating was unclear due to the mixed nature of the ceramics, based on preliminary examination of shapes and decoration. Some Khabur was mixed with Mittani sherds in the q-lots belonging to f121.

For f150, the assignment based on similarity with dateable feature and on pottery analysis (cfr. mKB S901), which led to dating this feature the same as f164 in J6, belonging to stratum 49.

After the excavations of J6 and subsuming some of J4’s loci under J6, it was possible to understand why there were Mittani sherds mixed with Chalcolithic sherds, indicated by some sherds from f158 and f160. These excavations revealed that in this portion of the Tell, 3rd millennium BC layers were located right below Mittani accumulations.