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Nonstructure 1-N, noncultural
About this Nonstructure
General Location
Lower west side; base of talus slope near canyon bottom.
Specific Location
East of Structure 1 ( a tested kiva) and west of Structures 2 and 3 (tested kivas).
Selection Criteria
Selected to determine if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1-N, was a plaza or great kiva. North, west and east boundaries of Nonstructure 1-N were defined by the architecture surrounding the flat area. South boundary was defined by a rough stone alignment running northeast-southwest. A total of 11 judgmental units were excavated in Nonstructure 1-N (Segments 1-11)--four 1-x-1-m units (Segments 1-4) were placed along the central north-south axis of Nonstructure, an additional six units (Segments 5-10) were judgmentally placed along the east and west boundaries of Nonstructure 1, and one unit was expanded to remove a cow that had fallen into the unit (the expanded area was designated Segment 11). Testing indicated that neither a great kiva nor a plaza are present. The absence of great kiva architectural features, the lack of a plaza surface, and the accumulation of secondary refuse deposits and other types of cultural deposits throughout Nonstructure 1-N support this interpretation. This area appears to have been used for multiple purposes for a long period of time. A total of 23 cultural deposits, including secondary refuse and extramural surfaces with associated features were exposed. Each cultural deposit has been assigned a unique study unit number (Nonstructures 1.1-N - 1.23-N). All noncultural deposits have been grouped with study unit Nonstructure 1-N.
Use
Not Applicable
Abandonment
Not Applicable
Postabandonment Process
Not Applicable
Dating of Construction
Not Applicable
Dating of Remodeling
Not Applicable
Dating of Abandonment
Not Applicable
Dating of Midden
Not Applicable
Dating of Reuse
Not Applicable
Date Range
No dates available
Site-Wide
Dating
Groups to Which This Study Unit was Assigned
See The Archaeology of Woods Canyon Pueblo (specifically the chapters on architecture, chronology, and artifacts) for more information on study unit groupings at Woods Canyon Pueblo.
| Type | ID | Description |
| area | 1 | Area of canyon bottom |
| section | LW | Lower west side (canyon bottom) |
| subperiod | 8 | Early Pueblo III (A.D. 1140-1225) |
Excavation Details for Excavation Units
In order by excavation unit number.
Excavation Unit
32
Location
Segment 1 N E.
(1 x 1 m unit)
Lower west side.
South edge of Nonstructure 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva; unit rests adjacent to a stone alignment that forms the south boundary of Nonstructure 1.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
33
Location
Segment 2 N E.
(1 x 1 m unit)
Lower west side.
South end of Nonstructure 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Bedrock. In places where bedrock was absent, undisturbed native sediment was present; bedrock and the undisturbed native sediment are believed to represent the floor of Str 9.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
34
Location
Segment 3 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
North-central portion of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
35
Location
Segment 4 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
North end of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva; unit placed south of and adjacent to a stone alignment that forms the north boundary of Nst 1.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
36
Location
Segment 5 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
southwest quadrant of site.
Northeast corner of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva; unit placed adjacent to and west of a retaining wall that encloses a kiva serves as boundary of Nonstructure 1; unit also placed south of a series of flat-lying
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Unclear if last stratum excavated is sterile soil or fill.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
37
Location
Segment 6 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
Northwest corner of Nonstructure 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva; placed adjacent to and south of a stone alignment that forms the north boundary of Nonstructure 1.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Unclear if last stratum excavated is sterile soil or fill.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
38
Location
Segment 7 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
Along west boundary of Nst 1 between Segments 6 and 8.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1 was a plaza or a great kiva.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Fill continued. Sterile soil, defining what is believed to be a bench of Str 9, was encountered in most of unit making it impossible to continue excavations to kiva floor.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
39
Location
Segment 8 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
Southwest corner of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1 was a plaza or a great kiva; placed up against a stone alignment that forms south boundary of Nst 1; unit is also situated on the east edge of a low rubble mound that extends further to the
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
40
Location
Segment 9 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
SE corner of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1 was a plaza or a great kiva; placed north of a stone alignment running W/SW - E/NE.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
41
Location
Segment 10 N E.
(1 x 1m)
Lower west side.
East edge of Nst 1; 4-5 m east of Segment 3.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1 was a plaza or a great kiva.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Unclear if last stratum excavated is sterile soil or fill.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
42
Location
Segment 11 N E.
(see plan map)
Lower west side.
East edge of Nst 1; expansion of Segment 10.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. This unit was excavated in order to free a cow that fell into Segment 10.
Excavation Strategy
Other. Fill around edges of Segment 9 was removed as a full cut.
Unit Ends at
Fill continued.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit