Nonstructure 241, extramural surface

Back to Study Unit

Features

Pit: not further specified (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Feature 1 is a circular pit filled with caliche, charcoal, and redeposited mottled sediment.
Use history
Indeterminate. The feature may be an extramural pit or a posthole.
Associated features
None.
Excavation procedure
The feature was exposed horizontally and bisected. The west half was collected in its entirety as a constant volume sample and a flotation and pollen sample were collected from the east side. All remaining sediment was screened through 1/8" mesh.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
3-x1-m excavation unit 1384N 486E.
Vertical location
Surface 1.
Construction
Pit was excavated into a mottled soil deposit. It subsequently filled with dark organic sediment with calcium carbonate, adobe, and charcoal flecking.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Some root disturbance is present.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
30
Yes
Width
24.5
Yes
Height
No
Depth
9
No
27
The east wall in the south third of this excavation unit shows what may have been part of the feature, but it was dug through before it was noted there was a feature.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Midden deposit.
Charcoal and calcium carbonate.
Some roots.
7.5YR 3/3 (dark brown).
Silty clay.
2
Redeposited native sediment.
Calcium carbonate.
Minimal roots.
7.5YR 6/4 (light brown).
Silty clay loam.
Pit: not further specified (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Feature 2 is an oval extramural pit in line with a series of postholes.
Use history
Feature 2 is an extramural pit associated with a series of postholes. The pit refilled with light midden refuse and redeposited native sediment. Its original use is indeterminate.
Associated features
Posthole features 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Excavation procedure
The edges of the feature were revealed, and the feature was bisected into northeast and northwest halves. The entirety of the northwest half was collected as a constant volume sample. A flotation sample (PL 5) and a pollen sample (PL 6) was collected from the northeast half. The rest of the fill was screened with 1/8" mesh, but no artifacts were recovered. The feature extends south and east of the 3-x1-m EU, so the northwest and northeast halves are only "halves" of the exposed portions of the feature. In reality, the feature may be much larger.
Portion excavated
The portion contained within the 3-x1-m unit 1384N 486E.
Horizontal location
Feature is located in the 3-x1-m unit 1384N 486E.
Vertical location
Feature was excavated into Surface 1.
Construction
Feature 2 appears to have been excavated into an extramural surface 1 (Nonstructure 241). It subsequently filled with dark brown organic soil. The plan view shows a "bulge" extending north of the feature which has lighter brown fill and probably represents bioturbation.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Roots, insects, and rodents have caused some deterioration.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  irregular
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  elliptical
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
59
No
Length as measured from north to south. The feature extends beyond the Excavation Unit, so true dimensions are indeterminate.
Width
20
No
Width as measured from east to west. The feature extends beyond the Excavation Unit, so true dimensions are indeterminate.
Height
No
Depth
27
Yes
Feature may be deeper in the areas extending beyond the Excavation Unit.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Cultural fill.
Charcoal and calcium carbonate.
Sage roots.
7.5YR 3/4 (dark brown).
Silty clay.
2
Cultural fill.
Charcoal and calcium carbonate.
Sage roots.
7.5YR 5/8 and 7.5YR 4/6 (strong brown).
Silty clay loam (mottled).
Posthole (Feature 3) Top of page
General description
Extramural posthole containing lightly burned post remnants.
Use history
Extramural posthole associated with a ramada or stockade built on top of redeposited native sediment. The structure eventually burned.
Associated features
Postholes 4 and 5 are located north of Feature 3; Features 1 and 2 were excavated on Surface 1 (Nonstructure 241) above Postholes 3, 4, and 5.
Excavation procedure
Feature 3 was excavated in one stratum as a full cut. No other strata were observed during excavation. All fill was collected as a flotation sample; no artifacts were observed.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
The feature is located in the southwest portion of the 3-x1-m unit 1384N 486E.
Vertical location
The feature was originally dug into NST 241 (Surface 1) approximately 13 to 16 cm above the current elevation.
Construction
A pit was dug into the structure fill of the previous structure. Then a post was inserted into the hole for a possible structure.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Some burned and unburned wood was located inside the posthole.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Excellent
Degree of preservation
The top 13 to 16 cm was excavated away by participants.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
14
Yes
Width
14
Yes
Height
No
Depth
16
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Cultural fill inside posthole. Note: the fill table was not filled out for this posthole, but according to CAS the fill was very similar to that in Posthole 6. Therefore, this information is taken from the Posthole 6 feature form.
Charcoal and calcium carbonate.
None.
7.5YR 4/4 (brown).
Silty clay.
Posthole (Feature 4) Top of page
General description
Extramural posthole containing burned post remnants.
Use history
Extramural posthole associated with a ramada or stockade built on top of redeposited native sediment. The structure eventually burned.
Associated features
Postholes 3 and 5 are located near Posthole 4. Features 1 and 2 were also excavated on Surface 1 (Nonstructure 241).
Excavation procedure
Feature 4 was excavated in one stratum as a full cut. No other strata were observed during excavation. All fill was collected as a flotation sample, and no artifacts were observed.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
The feature is located in the southwest portion of the 3-x1-m unit 1384N 486E.
Vertical location
The feature was excavated into Nonstructure 241 (Surface 1) approximately 13 to 16 cm above the current elevation.
Construction
Feature 4 was dug into the structure fill of the previous structure. Then a post was inserted into the hole for a possible structure.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Three pieces of dendro sample (PL 7) and charcoal chunks were collected from the fill.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Excellent
Degree of preservation
The top 13 to 16 cm were excavated away by participants.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
13
Yes
Width
13
Yes
Height
No
Depth
20
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Burned post and midden deposit.
Charcoal and calcium carbonate.
None.
7.5YR 4/4 (brown).
Silty clay.
Posthole (Feature 5) Top of page
General description
Extramural posthole containing burned post remnants. Unburned wood and charcoal was collected from the feature fill.
Use history
Extramural posthole associated with a ramada or stockade built on top of redeposited native sediment. The structure eventually burned.
Associated features
Postholes 3 and 4 are located near Posthole 5. Features 1 and 2 were also excavated on Surface 1 (Nonstructure 241).
Excavation procedure
Feature 5 was excavated in one stratum as a full cut. No other strata were observed during excavation. All fill was collected as a flotation sample; no artifacts were observed.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
Feature 5 is located near the central part of the western edge of the 3-x1-m unit 1384N 486E.
Vertical location
Feature 5 was excavated into Surface 1.
Construction
Feature 5 was dug into the structure fill of the previous structure. Then a post was inserted into the hole for a possible structure.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Unburned wood and charcoal was present and was collected.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Excellent
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
13
Yes
Width
13
Yes
Height
No
Depth
21
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Cultural fill inside posthole. Note: the fill table was not filled out for this posthole, but according to CAS the fill was very similar to that in Posthole 6. Therefore, this information is taken from the Posthole 6 feature form.
Charcoal and calcium carbonate.
None.
7.5YR 4/4 (brown).
Silty clay.
Posthole (Feature 6) Top of page
General description
Extramural posthole containing burned post remnants.
Use history
Extramural posthole associated with a ramada or stockade built on top of redeposited native sediment. The feature is associated with Nonstructure 241 (Surface 1) which originates 36 cm above the elevation where this feature was noted suggesting that the upper portion of the feature was not noted. The ramada or stockade eventually burned.
Associated features
Features 1 through 5 were all also dug into Nonstructure 241.
Excavation procedure
The entire feature was excavated with a trowel, and the fill was collected as a flotation sample. No strata were observed and the sample was collected as a full cut. No artifacts were observed while excavating, but some may exist in the flotation sample.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
Feature 6 is located in 3-x1-m unit 1384N 486E.
Vertical location
Feature 6 was excavated into Surface 1.
Construction
Posthole 6 was dug into redeposited native sediment which may be part of an earlier structure or an extramural area.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Some charcoal is present, which may be the remains of the burned post.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
The top 36 cm was excavated away by participants. Some bioturbation is also present.
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
13
Yes
Height
No
Depth
26
Yes
Rodent disturbance may have increased the depth of this feature.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Cultural fill inside posthole.
Charcoal and caliche.
None.
7.5YR 4/4 (brown).
Silty clay.