https://urkesh.org/MZ/A/J05/D/K/0033.htm

Unit Book J5

The Mittani Staircase - Version 1a

J5k33

Processed on 2024-11-03

1. OVERVIEW

Roster Date Author Record
Best image 2009-03-13 jW [Input: T313JW.j]

2. IDENTIFICATION

Designation

Roster Date Author Record
Description (summary) 2008-08-20 jW Removed north baulk as volumetric material, f160. [Input: S820JW.j]
2009-03-18 jW This locus was the expected location of link between the monumental staircase, f21, and the stonework of locus k43. [Input: T318JW1.j]

3. STRATIGRAPHY

Recovery/Assignment

Roster Date Author Record
Daily notes about recovery of elements 2008-07-24 lH We started excavating its topsoil, f55, which looks chunky and compact. Under the top soil, we found a new natural accumulation, f59. [Input: S724LH1.j]
2008-07-26 lH We continued removing the natural accumulation, f59, which was soft and chunky. At midday we moved the workmen from this locus to remove the northern baulk of k22. [Input: S726LH.j]
2008-07-31 jW We continued to remove natural accumulation, f59 with two crews using large picks. Although not of uniform consistency having areas of soft and hard patches due to the action of water and erosion after abandonment, we kept digging it as one feature because the overall color and texture did not change. It contained few inclusions. [Input: S731JW.j]
2008-08-04 lH We removed the compact crusted natural accumulation, f98, which extended on all over this locus below the soft powdery accumulation, f94. This highly compact floor could be connected with the similar layers in the surrounding loci; f60 in k44, f93 in k43, f45 in k34, f39 in k23. Under the compact floor, f98, we found a new feature, f100, which is a lamination, full of nodules in a red sandy matrix. We removed the last mentioned lamination to find a very compact feature, f102. It has the same reddish brown sandy color of the lamination, f100, which was covering it. But it`s much more compact. [Input: S804LH.j]
2008-08-05 lH After drawing the western section of this locus, w8, we photographed it, v58. Also we drew the northern section, w9, and photographed it, v61. Then we drew the eastern section of this locus, w10, and photographed it, v63. [Input: S805LH.j]
2008-08-06 jW Finished removing the east baulk, f107, and a cluster of melon-sized stones that was imbedded in it, f111. Began excavating packed floor surface, f102, in order to define the interface between the staircase, f21; the wall, f41; and its glacis, f74. [Input: S807JW.j]
2008-08-06 lH For this eastern baulk, we started to remove it as one feature, f107, because all of the collected pottery from k23 is Mittani style. [Input: S806LH.j]
2008-08-09 jW Continued to carefully excavate the clean, hard, naturally compacted, fine-grained accumulation, f102. Under it was a very sandy laminar accumulation, f122. As we removed this acccumulation, we noticed a very hard-surface accumulation, f124, underneath, which abutted the N-S line of stones, f126, in the same way that glacis f74 abutted wall, f41 to the south. On this basis, jW tentatively called the accumulation in this area, glacis, f121. Later detailed analysis with the assistance of fAB and rE established that f121 was a continuation of f124, and that it was a natural glacis formed atop f74, which is several layers of accumulation below. Late in the day we began removing f124. [Input: S809JW.j]
2008-08-10 lH We continued excavating the eastern half including the eastern baulk of this locus, so we removed the rest of the compact natural accumulation of f124. Below the last mentioned accumulation there was another compact layer, f127, which formed by a lamination full of nodules, Mittani style pottery sherds, animal bones, and teeth for different kinds of animals (probably donkey and rodent..). The lamination of f127 covers a layer of natural accumulation, f128, which appears in the western section of k23. It also abuts the stones of f126 in the eastern baulk. In the northern part of the baulk we found traces of new stones in the same line as the stones of f126. [Input: S810LH.j]
2008-08-13 jW Began excavating laminated accumulation, f128, with the large pick as planned. Along the western face of the midline boundary, pickman Kamiran reported that the feature was now much harder and was breaking up into rectangular pieces of dense material. On the south end of the eastern border with stone installation f126, a lower stone in line with the staircase, f21, appeared. These data were evidence that the escarpment that we were searching for may possibly slope up to the west rather than down as we had expected. After thorough cleaning, the locus was photographed, v79. After shifting to the small pick, we started excavating a new soil accumulation, f135, below f128. We started from the far southeast corner, where we could see the escarpment, f74, about 10cm below and to the east. We began to remove f135 and found that it covered a very hard, gray layer with some embedded sherds. As it was still about 5cm above f74, we designated it floor accumulation, f137. Traces of f137 could be seen in the west section of the east half square in k33 and in the north edge of the west section of k22. [Input: S813JW.j]
2008-08-14 jW We finished excavating laminar floor accumulation, f135. It could be seen in section and differed in both color (brown versus gray) and texture (hard versus very hard) from the floor accumulation, f137, below it which in turn covers the almost stone-like escarpment, f74. Consulted with rE, supervisor of unit J1 (which has several similar escarpment surfaces with hard accumulations above) to properly instruct pickman. [Input: S814JW.j]
2008-08-16 jW We continued to excavate floor accumulation, f137. Two pottery lots, q204 and q209 were tagged for immediate evaluation of the phase by mKB. [Input: S816JW.j]
2008-08-17 jW We removed two more q-lots from floor accumulation, f137. There is a miniature wadi that has formed about 50 cm west of the stone installation, f126, and most of the pottery and bones came from the bottom of it. The situation was documented in v88. [Input: S817JW.j]
2008-08-18 jW Drew, w17, and photographed, v90, the bottom part of the north baulk in preparation for removal. [Input: S818JW.j]
2008-08-25 lH We removed the rest of the part of the floor accumulation, f137, that abuts the bottom step of the staircase, f21, and the stone installation, f126. Under the floor accumulation, f137, we found a compact escarpment which had been disturbed by a gulley, f168. The gulley runs south-north near the bottom step of staicase, f21, and continue its line parallel to the stone instalation, f126, in k23 then we can see the rest of it near the revetment wall, f3, in k22 and k12. We photographed the new feature, v105 and v106, in order to understand the sequence of the features that abut the staircase, f21, and the stone installation, f126, to the south of the staircase. [Input: S825LH1.j]
Strategy (projected or implemented) 2008-08-06 jW We will excavate f102 and the accumulations below it by starting in the far SE corner of the locus, move west to the N-S midline, then move north toward f21. [Input: S807JW.j]
2008-08-13 jW On S814 we will remove the balance of f135, which is primarily located in the eastern quarter of the locus. We well clean well and photgraph, then consult with gB and fAB before we begin to excavate f137. [Input: S813JW.j]
2008-08-17 jW as of today we will cease excavation in this locus for the MZ21 season. [Input: S817JW.j]

Volumetric Localization

Roster Date Author Record
Elements within locus 2008-07-23 dL f55 (topsoil) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-07-24 sNP f59 (accumulation D) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-02 sNP f94 (accumulation D) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-04 sNP f98 (accumulation D) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-04 dL f100 (accumulation D) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-05 sNP f102 (floor, type b), f103 (volumetric material) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-06 sNP f107 (volumetric material) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-07 sNP f111 (stone installation) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-09 dL f121 (accumulation D), f122 (accumulation D), f124 (accumulation D) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-10 sNP f126 (stone installation), f127 (accumulation D), f128 (accumulation D) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-13 sNP f135 (accumulation B) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-14 dL f137 (accumulation A) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-19 dL f160 (volumetric material) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-08-25 lH f168 (gully) [Input: S914LH.j]
2008-09-08 lH f194 (stone installation) [Input: S914LH.j]
2009-08-01 eA f229 (accumulation A), f230 (floor, type b) [Input: T901SE.j]
2009-08-01 sE f231 (stone installation), f232 (isolated stone), f233 (stone installation) [Input: T901SE.j]
2009-08-01 jN f234 (accumulation D) [Input: T901SE.j]
2009-08-03 sE f237 (isolated stone), f238 (lens type d), f239 (stone installation), f240 (volumetric material) [Input: T901SE.j]
2009-08-24 sE f286 (volumetric material) [Input: T901SE.j]
2008-08-07 sNP i25 (grinding stone) [Input: T323JW.j]
2008-08-09 sNP i27 (grinding stone) [Input: T323JW.j]
2009-08-05 jN i53 (bead), i54 (figurine) [Input: T820SE2.j]
2008-07-23 sNP q68 (pottery) [Input: S723DL3.j]
2008-07-24 sNP q73 (pottery), q78 (pottery) [Input: S726DL2.j]
2008-07-26 dL q82 (pottery) [Input: S726DL2.j]
2008-07-31 lH q116 (bones, pottery) [Input: S802DL2.j]
2008-07-31 dL q117 (pottery), q119 (pottery) [Input: S802DL2.j]
2008-08-02 sNP q126 (pottery), q131 (pottery) [Input: S803DL7.j]
2008-08-03 dL q135 (bones, pottery) [Input: S803DL7.j]
2008-08-03 sNP q138 (pottery) [Input: S803DL7.j]
2008-08-04 dL q141 (bones, pottery), q145 (bones, pottery), q148 (pottery) [Input: S805DL1.j]
2008-08-06 sNP q157 (pottery) [Input: S806DL1.j]
2008-08-06 dL q159 (pottery) [Input: S806DL1.j]
2008-08-07 sNP q163 (pottery), q167 (pottery) [Input: S807DL3.j]
2008-08-07 dL q170 (bones, pottery) [Input: S807DL3.j]
2008-08-09 dL q174 (pottery) [Input: S809DL1.j]
2008-08-09 sNP q176 (pottery), q179 (pottery) [Input: S809DL1.j]
2008-08-10 sNP q182 (bones, pottery) [Input: S810DL1.j]
2008-08-10 dL q184 (pottery) [Input: S810DL1.j]
2008-08-13 sNP q186 (bones, pottery), q191 (bones, pottery), q192 (bones, pottery) [Input: S813DL1.j]
2008-08-14 dL q197 (bones, pottery), q201 (bones, pottery), q202 (pottery) [Input: S816DL1.j]
2008-08-16 sNP q204 (bones, pottery), q209 (pottery) [Input: S816DL1.j]
2008-08-17 dL q214 (pottery) [Input: S817DL1.j]
2008-08-17 jW q215 (bones, pottery) [Input: S817DL1.j]
2008-08-19 dL q228 (bones, pottery) [Input: S819DL.j]
2008-08-20 sNP q231 (bones, pottery) [Input: S820DL.j]
2008-08-25 lH q258 (bones, pottery) [Input: S825DL1.j]
2009-07-31 eA q326 (bones, pottery) [Input: T802SE.j]
2009-07-31 sE q327 (pottery) [Input: T802SE.j]
2009-08-01 sE q329 (bones, pottery) [Input: T802SE.j]
2009-08-01 eA q330 (pottery), q332 (pottery) [Input: T802SE.j]
2009-08-02 jN q333 (bones, pottery), q334 (bones, pottery) [Input: T805SE1.j]
2009-08-02 eA q336 (bones, pottery), q337 (bones, pottery), q338 (pottery), q339 (pottery) [Input: T805SE1.j]
2009-08-03 eA q340 (bones, pottery), q342 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: T805SE1.j]
2009-08-03 jN q343 (bones, pottery) [Input: T805SE1.j]
2009-08-05 eA q347 (bones, items, pottery) [Input: T805SE1.j]
2009-08-06 sE q355 (pottery) [Input: T810SE2.j]
2009-08-24 jN q462 (bones, pottery), q465 (bones, pottery) [Input: T825SE.j]
Relays (applicable to elements) 2008-08-05 dL r497 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: S point) [Input: S805DL2.R]
2008-08-05 dL r498 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: N point) [Input: S805DL2.R]
2008-08-05 sNP r504 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: W point) [Input: S805DL2.R]
2008-08-05 sNP r505 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: E point) [Input: S805DL2.R]
2008-08-05 sNP r506 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: N point) [Input: S805DL2.R]
2008-08-05 sNP r507 (##### ##### - ##### / Relay location: S point) [Input: S805DL2.R]
Extension of locus or q-lot 2009-03-18 jW m4823 [Input: T318JW1.j]
Length of two sides 2009-03-18 jW 500E [Input: T318JW1.j]
2009-03-18 jW 500N [Input: T318JW1.j]

6. REFERENCE

Analogical Record

Roster Date Author Record
View/drawing of locus

w8
2008-08-04 sNP [Input: S819DL2.j]

w9
2008-08-05 sNP [Input: S819DL2.j]

w10
2008-08-05 sNP [Input: S819DL2.j]

v58
2008-08-09 lH [Input: S809LH.j]

v58a
2008-08-09 lH [Input: S809LH.j]

v61
2008-08-09 lH [Input: S809LH.j]

v61a
2008-08-09 lH [Input: S809LH.j]

v63
2008-08-09 lH [Input: S809LH.j]

v63a
2008-08-09 lH [Input: S809LH.j]

v73
2008-08-11 lH [Input: S811LH.j]

v73a
2008-08-11 lH [Input: S811LH.j]

v73b
2008-08-11 lH [Input: S811LH.j]

v79
2008-08-13 sNP [Input: S813DL4.j]

v79a
2008-08-14 jW [Input: S823JW.j]

v79b
2008-08-14 jW [Input: S823JW.j]

v79c
2008-08-14 jW [Input: S823JW.j]

v81
2008-08-14 jW [Input: S823JW.j]

v81a
2008-08-14 jW [Input: S823JW.j]

v81b
2008-08-14 jW [Input: S823JW.j]

w17
2008-08-17 sNP [Input: S819DL2.j]

v88
2008-08-24 lH [Input: S824LH.j]

v88a
2008-08-24 lH [Input: S824LH.j]

v88b
2008-08-24 lH [Input: S824LH.j]

v88c
2008-08-24 lH [Input: S824LH.j]

v90
2008-08-24 lH [Input: S824LH.j]

v90a
2008-08-24 lH [Input: S824LH.j]

v105
2008-08-25 lH [Input: S825LH.j]

v106
2008-08-25 lH [Input: S825LH.j]

v118
2008-09-19 jW [Input: S919JW.j]

v121
2008-09-19 jW [Input: S919JW.j]

v130
2008-09-22 jW [Input: S922JW.j]

v139
2008-09-22 jW [Input: S922JW.j]

p1
2009-03-23 jW [Input: T323JW1.j]

p5
2009-03-30 jW [Input: T330JW1.j]

p6
2009-03-30 jW [Input: T330JW1.j]

v164
2009-08-01 sE [Input: T804SE.j]

v167
2009-08-01 sE [Input: T804SE.j]

v167a
2009-08-01 sE [Input: T804SE.j]

v168
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v168a
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v168b
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v168c
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v168d
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v170
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v170a
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v171
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v171a
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v171b
2009-08-02 jN [Input: T805SE2.j]

v173
2009-08-05 sE [Input: T810SE1.j]

v176
2009-08-06 sE [Input: T810SE1.j]

v176a
2009-08-06 sE [Input: T810SE1.j]

v176b
2009-08-06 sE [Input: T810SE1.j]

v220
2009-08-30 jN [Input: T901JN.j]

v220a
2009-08-30 jN [Input: T901JN.j]

v226c
2010-08-12 jW [Input: U812JW.j]