Unit J6 structures: The Temple Terrace

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Introduction

The Temple Terrace has been extensively exposed in J6, J2, J3, J1, J5, B6. For a comprehensive description of the whole structure see JP. Here it will be described the function of the structure found in J6, which is only a small portion of it.

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Elements

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Discussion

The two walls ^wall6 and ^wall12 are part of a larger structure, mainly the Temple Terrace, which extends east-west for about 70 meters during the Mid-Late Third Millennium: it consist of
(1) a revetment wall which encloses at least on the southern, eastern and western sides the terrace,

(2) a monumental staircase,

(3) the mound and several other elements.

In J6 ^wall12 is the eastern portion of the revetment wall, which bends here to the north. It is interrupted from the projecting monumental staircase in J2, where it continues to the west in J3, J1, J5.

cThe monumental staircase is flanked to its western and eastern sides by walls. The eastern wall is ^wall6, which runs all along the staircase and abuts revetment wall ^wall12. Both walls delimit the eastern portion of the temple terrace and define the space, especially ^wall6, flanking the staircase used from people to rise up to the temple. The two stelae f100 and f177 at the very beginning of the wall and of the staircase, invite the ascending/rise.

Several floors floor11, f303, f312 were found in direct contact association to the stelae f100 and f177, part of wall6 continuing in front of the staircase: this area was the plaza, an open free space of structures, allowing the assemblage of many people There are other elements which are part of the terrace: ^wall11 is a screen wall delimiting the area to the north, while at the meantime is also a wall which frames the slope of the mound in this area. While it runs at about 4 meters parallel to the revetment wall ^wall12, following the same direction, it has also the function of a revetment wall: here the mound is enclosed firstly by the big ^wall12 and secondly by ^wall11.

Between the revetment wall ^wall12 and ^wall11 there are no use areas or floor associated to them, but only a glacis f300, not meant to walk on it, while the slope is too sharp: this is the surface of the mound. Wall ^wall11 is built probably also to keep people far from ^wall12. Probably other structures were located east of J6, where this area was a buffer zone during the Late Third Millennium were few activities were taken, as dumping (f200), pits (f192).

During the Mid-Late Second Millennium the structure of the Temple Terrace in this area maintains the same function, while the monumental staircase is still in use. ^wall12 is half covered by accumulations, but still visible, while the eastern side of ^wall6 is covered. On top of it are laid stones f127 and associated to it a glacis ^glacis1, which is the surface of the mound in this period.

Another shallow wall is laid following the orientation of ^wall11, which is wall f201. Probably has the same function as ^wall11, but while in this period the mound is not sloping so sharply, the wall is only one course high. It is related to f127.