Nonstructure 227, extramural surface

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Features

Posthole (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Feature 1 is a shallow posthole north of Structure 220. It was dug into Surface 1 (Nonstructure 227).
Use history
Feature 1 was dug in order to support a post, perhaps for the construction of an outdoor ramada.
Associated features
Another posthole approximately 0.5 meters away from Feature 1 may have been used in conjunction with Feature 1. A thermal feature is also located approximately 1 meter away from Feature 1.
Excavation procedure
Feature 1 was excavated with a trowel in a full cut down to sterile. One pollen sample was collected, and the remaining fill was screened with 1/8" mesh. No artifacts were recovered from the feature.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
Feature 1 is located in the southeast corner of the 2-x2-m unit 1375N 506E. This EU is on the north side of Structure 220.
Vertical location
Feature 1 is excavated into Surface 1 (the surface surrounding Structure 220).
Construction
Feature 1 was dug into sterile sediment. It was later filled with secondary refuse.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Sparse deterioration is present due to a rodent run.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
11
Yes
Width
12
Yes
Height
No
Depth
7
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
A
Midden material filling the posthole.
Charcoal and adobe.
Rootlets, rodent run.
Dark grayish brown.
Silty loam.
Firepit (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Feature 2 is an extramural firepit on the north side of Structure 220.
Use history
Feature 2 was used as an extramural firepit, mostly likely for cooking. It was later abandoned and filled with cultural midden deposits.
Associated features
It is likely that Feature 2 was used by the inhabitants of Structure 220. Posthole 1 may be evidence of a ramada structure that was used in association with Feature 2.
Excavation procedure
Firepit 2 was bisected into north and south halves. The south half was dug in a full cut with a trowel, and the resulting profile was mapped. The north half was also excavated in a full cut. Two 2-liter flotation samples were taken from the south half (one from the upper fill and one from the lower fill), and one pollen sample was taken from underneath the sandstone slab (also in the south half). The remainder of the fill was screened with 1/8" mesh. Artifacts recovered from the feature included gray ware sherds, both rim and body.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
Feature 2 is located in the central northern half of the 2-x2-m unit 1375N 506E. This EU is located directly north of Structure 220.
Vertical location
Feature 2 was excavated into Surface 1.
Construction
Firepit 2 was dug into Surface 1 (sterile, preoccupational sediment). The feature was then filled with cultural midden deposits both during and after occupation. Several sandstone slabs were lining the outside of the pit, and one large tabular sandstone slab was present at the bottom.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Thermal alteration extended in a quarter of a ring, predominantly around the south half of the feature.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
There is a moderate amount of bioturbation caused by rodents and a sparse amount of disturbance caused by rootlets.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
47
Yes
Width
50
Yes
Height
No
Depth
21
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
A
Midden fill dispersed above Surface 1 and associated with Structure 220.
Charcoal, calcium carbonate, burned adobe, and sherds.
Rodent runs, rootlets.
5YR 2/3 (dark reddish brown).
Silty clay loam.
Burial pit (Feature 3) Top of page
General description
Feature 3 is a slab-covered burial pit.
Use history
Feature 3 is a large pit in the open area between Structures 205-226 and 220-234. A burial was interred within the pit and the pit was sealed with sandstone slabs and adobe.
Associated features
Burial remains HRO-4 is interred within the pit.
Excavation procedure
The edge of the feature was defined and excavation was started with a trowel. Fill was screened with 1/8" mesh. The feature was not fully excavated and no samples or artifacts were collected due to the HRO within the pit. All artifacts from the pit were reinterred.
Portion excavated
The southwest portion of the pit was excavated (the part within the 2-x2-m excavation unit).
Horizontal location
Northwest corner of 2-x2-m excavation unit 1373N 502E.
Vertical location
Surface 1.
Construction
Pit feature was excavated into the preoccupational deposit and subsequently filled with midden sediment. A burial was found within the pit. There were sand stone uprights and slabs on the body and in the spaces between bones. The BUP itself was not sealed, but the sandstone slabs over HRO 2 may have been sealing the individual buried within. No slabs lined the pit's edge. See HRO form for description of burial.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Bioturbation.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  other
Inferred:  round
Shape comments
Actual shape in plan view is a quarter circle.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
107
No
Width
56.5
No
Height
No
Depth
42
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Midden deposit inside pit feature.
Charcoal, adobe, caliche.
Minimal bioturbation.
Dark brown.
Silty clay.
Human remains occurrence , HRO 2 (Feature 4) (NOTE: Additional information on human remains is archived at the Anasazi Heritage Center, Dolores, Colorado.) Top of page
General description
Burial interred in BUP-3 between Pithouses 205-226 and 220-234.
Use history
Human remains interred in BUP 3.
Associated features
BUP 3.
Excavation procedure
HRO 2 was found while excavating in a pit feature (BUP 3). No artifacts or samples associated with the HRO were collected. See HRO form for more details.
Portion excavated
The remains were exposed only to the extent necessary to determine the sex of the individual. The pelvis, five lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum, the left humerus, the left upper scapula, and the right side of six ribs were exposed.
Horizontal location
Northwest corner of the 2-x2-m excavation unit 1373N 502E.
Vertical location
Surface 1.
Construction
See HRO form.
Remodeling/ modification
Thermal alteration
Sooting
Sealed
Preservation
Degree of preservation
See HRO form.
Shape in plan view
Actual: 
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual: 
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Dimensions not applicable, as this is an HRO.
Width
No
Height
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture