https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/J05/D/I/0031.htm

Unit Book J5

The Mittani Staircase - Version 1a

J5.31

Processed on 2024-11-03

1. OVERVIEW

Roster Date Author Record
Category 2008-09-24 jW clay artifact [Input: S924JW2.j]
Best definition 2008-08-26 !! figurine [Input: S826SNP.j]
Best image 2009-10-01 jW [Input: TX01JW.j]

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Definition 2008-08-26 sNP figurine [Input: S826SNP.j]
Description (summary) 2008-08-26 sNP fragment of an animal figurine. Probably is the head of an animal with the mouth open: it could be a lion, but no traces of the mane are preserved. If we accept the suggestion of an animal head, we notice that the nose, and part of the ears and of the left side of its mouth is missing. Another suggestion is to turn the figurine, seeing a fragmentary body of a camel or a zebu (the lower part of the previous mouth has to be seen as a hump), missing his head, his anterior paws, and all the posterior part of his body. But this option seems less probable because the point where the neck should start doesn't looks like a broken surface. [Input: S826SNP.j]
2008-09-24 jW The broken forebody of a humped animal. [Input: S924JW2.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Volumetric Localization

Roster Date Author Record
Locus 2008-08-26 lH k32 [Input: T323JW.j]
Relays (applicable to elements) 2008-08-26 lH r772 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: center) [Input: S827DL1.R]

Contact Association

Roster Date Author Record
Type of contact: contemporary events/movable items 2008-08-26 lH i31 (figurine) sits in f167 (volumetric material) [Input: T323JW.j]

Spatial Aggregation

Roster Date Author Record
q-lot with which item is associated 2008-08-26 lH q263 (bones, pottery) [Input: T323JW.j]

Time Sequencing

Roster Date Author Record
Stratum (to which element belongs) 2012-10-16 !! s120J5B [Input: WX16JW.j]
Phase (to which element belongs) 2012-10-16 !! h7vJ5B [Input: WX16JW.j]

4. TYPOLOGY

Measurements

Roster Date Author Record
Height 2008-08-26 sNP 6.1 [Input: S826SNP.j]
2008-09-24 jW 6.2 [Input: S924JW2.j]
Length 2008-08-26 sNP 7 [Input: S826SNP.j]
2008-09-24 jW 7.2 [Input: S924JW2.j]
Width 2 or diameter of body 2008-08-26 sNP 4.2 [Input: S826SNP.j]
2008-09-24 jW 4.3 [Input: S924JW2.j]

Items Field Record

Roster Date Author Record
Field definition 2008-08-26 lH figurine [Input: T323JW.j]
Field height 2008-08-26 lH 7 [Input: T323JW.j]
Field length 2008-08-26 lH 6 [Input: T323JW.j]
Field width 2 2008-08-26 lH 4 [Input: T323JW.j]
Field ware or material 2008-08-26 lH cl [Input: T323JW.j]
Field color 2008-08-26 lH pale brown [Input: T323JW.j]
Notes on field record 2008-08-26 lH animal figurine; fragmentary body or complete head [Input: T323JW.j]

Morphology

Roster Date Author Record
Ware or Material, species 2008-08-26 sNP clay [Input: S826SNP.j]
2008-09-24 jW clay-baked [Input: S924JW2.j]
Color 2008-08-26 sNP very pale brown [Input: S826SNP.j]
Color number (Munsell) 2008-08-26 sNP 10YR 7/3 [Input: S826SNP.j]
2008-09-24 jW 10YR8/2 [Input: S924JW2.j]
Condition 2008-08-26 sNP broken [Input: S826SNP.j]
2008-09-24 jW The front legs, parts of the head, and the hindquarters are missing. [Input: S924JW2.j]
Notes on items 2014-03-30 rAH    Once again, the angles chosen to photograph this object do not help with the identification. "Humped" animals are exceptionally rare; zebus are practically the only examples of such representations.
   If photograph V21d7688 can be construed as a dorsal view of the forequarters, then one most interesting detail appears: the feet, not broken, each display marks in a triangular pattern. These marks are mere dots, and quite shallow. One might surmise that they mark the pads of an animal foot. The detail is similar to the cloverleaf pattern of dots that surrounds the penis of Felis 302. See Plate XL, page 516.
   The appendage visible in photograph V21d7689 is difficult to explain; the representation appears to be in the process of modeling, as a fingerprint may be visible at the top of the so-called "appendage"/tab. The indentation is quite deep, yet the so-called tab does not appear to be finished. Perhaps the representation was discarded during the very process of its making-"unmade," as it were. [Input: Y401JW.j]

6. REFERENCE

Analogical Record

Roster Date Author Record
Photo of individual elements (studio)

2008-08-28 dM [Input: J05_VWX.j]

2008-08-28 dM [Input: J05_VWX.j]

2008-08-28 dM [Input: J05_VWX.j]
View/drawing of item

p2
2009-03-23 jW [Input: T323JW1.j]

Disposition

Roster Date Author Record
Storage 2009-09-25 !! ZSB 002-021 [Input: J05ZSB.j]