Discards

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Discards through time

There are relatively few examples of discard in J5. In the earliest stage (Early Dynastic) yet excavated, the revetment wall system (wall, glacis, and escarpment) served to separate sacred from secular activity regions. Dumping, pits, and burials would have been inappropriate either on the mound or near the bottom of the revetment wall.

During the interval when we have no accretion or construction evidence (EDIII to early Mittani periods) there were also no accumulations or discarded items recovered. This leads to the assumption that it was kept clean for use for sacred purposes during the entire interval. This corresponds to observations in J2.

In the first half of the Mittani period, we have no excavation data to suggest that the mound contained inside the revetment wall was regarded as anything but a part of sacred space. However, outside the wall small numbers of sling balls, mortars, and grindstones were recovered. A more complete analysis can be found in Secular Spaces.

In the second half of the Mittani period the relocation of the temple entrance, monumental stairway, plaza, and revetment wall to the west firmly established that the area inside the wall as well as the new stairway and new plaza assembly space were sacred. Discards here would have been inappropriate.

Upon abandonment, and during scattered occupation events, one pit, a1, was dug and one child buried, f27. Otherwise, there is no evidence of discards.