  Using a relativistic hadron transport model, we investigate the utility of
the elliptic flow excitation function as a probe for the stiffness of nuclear
matter and for the onset of a possible quark-gluon-plasma (QGP)
phase-transition at AGS energies 1 < E_Beam < 11 AGeV. The excitation function
shows a strong dependence on the nuclear equation of state, and exhibits
characteristic signatures which could signal the onset of a phase transition to
the QGP.
