Nonstructure 304, extramural surface

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Features

Posthole (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Feature 1 is an informal extramural pit.
Use history
Feature 1 is likely a posthole associated with a stockade on the east side of Block 300.
Associated features
Posthole features 2-4.
Excavation procedure
Feature 1 was bisected along an east-west axis (1425.30N line). The south half was collected as a constant volume sample and the north half was collected as a flotation sample.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
1-x1-m unit 1425N 516E.
Vertical location
Surface 1.
Construction
Feature 1 was excavated directly into the sterile soil; no attention was paid to its shape.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor
Degree of preservation
Extensive deterioration due to roots and rodents is present. Also, the prehistoric ground surface is only 10 cm below the modern ground surface, so it may have been exposed at times.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  irregular
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Actual shape in cross section is basin-shaped with a conical point.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
18
Yes
Width
30
Yes
Feature may have been widened by a rodent.
Height
No
Depth
17
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Decomposed organic material with secondary refuse.
Charcoal, burned adobe, fire-blackened rock, ceramics.
Rodent and root disturbance.
5YR 5/2 (brown).
Moderately compact (no sediment type given).
2
Decomposed organic material with secondary refuse.
Charcoal, ceramics.
None.
5YR 5/2 (brown) with 5YR 5/6 (strong brown).
Moderately compact (no sediment type given).
Posthole (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Feature 1 is an informal extramural pit.
Use history
Feature 2 is likely a posthole associated with a stockade on the east side of Block 300.
Associated features
Postholes 1 and 3-4.
Excavation procedure
The extent of the feature was determined. Then the feature was bisected on a north south axis. The east half was excavated in a full cut with a trowel and a spoon, and the profile was mapped. Then the west half was excavated in a full cut with a trowel and a spoon. A pollen sample and a constant volume sample were collected per the supervisory archaeologist's instructions. Charcoal and pottery were noted and were collected in the constant volume sample.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
1-x1-m unit 1423N 514E.
Vertical location
Surface 1.
Construction
A pit was dug into Surface 1 during the site's occupation; no slabs were recovered. There was one small piece of burned sandstone that may have helped to stabilize the post (if the feature is a posthole). The pit was subsequently filled with midden material.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Rodent and root activity has caused some deterioration.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
26.5
Yes
Width
20
Yes
Height
No
Depth
24
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Midden fill inside posthole feature.
Charcoal, sparse caliche flecking, pottery.
Minimal root and rodent disturbance.
7.5YR 3/3 (dark brown).
Silty clay.
Posthole (Feature 3) Top of page
General description
Feature 1 is an informal extramural pit.
Use history
Posthole 3 is likely associated with a stockade on the east side of Block 300.
Associated features
Postholes 1-2 and 4.
Excavation procedure
Feature 3 was first fully exposed. It appeared as a dark, roughly circular stain against the reddish-brown prehistoric ground surface. The feature was bisected, and the north half was excavated in a full cut with a trowel and a spoon. The sediment in the north half was collected as a constant volume sample. A profile map was drawn. Then the south half was excavated with a trowel and a spoon, and the sediment was collected as flotation and pollen samples.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
1-x1-m unit 1433N 514E.
Vertical location
Surface 1.
Construction
The posthole was excavated into the same area as the midden and was filled with midden deposits, so it was most likely constructed prior to the deposition of the midden. Sandstone slabs were placed around the edges of the feature.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Fire-reddened slabs were present inside the feature.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Some bioturbation was present. Historic disturbance from chaining and burning was also noted on the surface.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
17
Yes
Width
16
No
Width may be 17 to 20 cm, since the feature may exceed the limits of the 1-x1-m EU.
Height
No
Depth
20.0400009
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Midden fill inside posthole feature.
Charcoal flecking.
Minor root disturbance.
7.4YR 3/3 (dark brown).
Silty clay.
Posthole (Feature 4) Top of page
General description
Posthole 3 is a roughly circular feature filled with dark brown silty clay sediment. One burned upright sandstone slab and at least two other burned slabs were noted inside the feature. Charcoal flecking was present, but no caliche was observed.
Use history
Posthole 4 may have been associated with a stockade or other extramural structure.
Associated features
Postholes 1-3.
Excavation procedure
The feature was excavated as a whole study unit with a spoon and a trowel. Two liters of fill were taken as a flotation sample (PL 41), and the remainder of the fill was screened with 1/8" mesh.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
2-x2-m unit 1431N 515E.
Vertical location
Surface 1.
Construction
The posthole was dug into the sterile prehistoric ground surface which was then covered by Block 300 midden deposits. The presence of midden deposits (charcoal and fire-cracked rock) suggests that the post predates the midden.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Charcoal flecking is present in the fill.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
A small portion of the north half has been subjected to rodent disturbance.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  elliptical
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
19
Yes
Posthole is elongated on the north side by rodents.
Width
16
Yes
Height
No
Depth
19
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Midden fill inside posthole.
Charcoal flecks and two pieces of burnt sandstone.
Sparse root and rodent disturbance.
7.5YR 3/3 (dark brown).
Silty clay.
Pit: not further specified (Feature 6) Top of page
General description
Feature 6 is an extramural thermal pit feature.
Use history
Feature 6 was likely a roasting pit for preparing food. PNS 7 appears to be evidence of cleaning out Feature 6 or at least the erosion of Feature 6.
Associated features
PNS 7 (east of PNS 6 and still within Nonstructure 304).
Excavation procedure
Feature 6 was bisected into east and west halves. Each half was excavated in a full cut with a trowel. One pollen sample and one flotation sample were collected from the fill. The remaining fill was screened with 1/8" mesh. Gray ware sherds, flakes and debitage (possibly quartzite), and non-human bone were recovered from the fill.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
Along the west edge of the 2-x2-m unit 1435N 515E, centrally located along the north-south axis.
Vertical location
Excavated into Surface 1 (silty red loess), approximately 15 cm below the modern ground surface.
Construction
Feature 6 was dug into Surface 1, then lined and filled with sandstone.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. The feature was lined and filled with sandstone for thermal purposes. It is possible that the inconsistency of the sandstone suggests that the pit was used multiple times. Feature 7 may also represent an episode where Feature 6 was cleaned out, but it is not clear how many times the pit was used.
Thermal alteration
Yes. Feature 6 appears to be a thermal feature.
Sooting
Yes. Soot is present.
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
The majority of the feature is well-preserved since it is fairly small and deep, which has prevented wind and precipitation from having much of an effect. Minor insect and rodent disturbance is present, primarily from leaving the unit open over a long period of time.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  other
Inferred:  other
Shape in cross section
Actual:  elliptical
Inferred:  round
Shape comments
Actual shape in cross section is conical; inferred shape in cross section is U-shaped or V-shaped.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
50
Yes
Dimensions were not filled out in the field, but in the office by JAM from looking at feature maps.
Width
30
Yes
Dimensions were not filled out in the field, but in the office by JAM from looking at feature maps.
Height
No
Depth
28
Yes
Dimensions were not filled out in the field, but in the office by JAM from looking at feature maps.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Fill inside a roasting pit or heating unit.
Charcoal.
Insect and rodent (while unit was left open).
Dark gray to black.
Compact, fine-grained silt.
Pit: not further specified (Feature 7) Top of page
General description
Large shallow pit filled with dark, organic-rich, and probably clay-rich deposit.
Use history
Feature 7 appears to have been created during either the maintenance and cleaning of Feature 6 or the erosion of Feature 6.
Associated features
PNS 6 (west of Feature 7 but still within Nonstructure 304) is a possible source feature for Feature 7.
Excavation procedure
Feature 7 was bisected into north and south halves. Each half was excavated in a full cut with a trowel. Two two-liter flotation samples and one pollen sample were collected from the fill; the rest was screened with 1/8" mesh. Gray ware sherds, flakes and lithic debitage, and nonhuman bone were recovered from the fill.
Portion excavated
The entire feature was excavated.
Horizontal location
In the center of the 2-x2-m unit 1435N 515E, extending along the north-south axis.
Vertical location
Surface 1, extending 22 to 28 cm below the modern ground surface.
Construction
Feature 7 likely consists of fill from Feature 6 (the center of Feature 6 is roughly 28 cm west of the west edge of Feature 7.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Yes, if the fill is fill from Feature 6 (a thermal feature).
Sooting
Yes. Yes, if the fill is fill from Feature 6 (a thermal feature).
Sealed
Yes. Feature 7 is likely not an intentional feature.
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
The majority of the feature is well-preserved, although some of the fill may have spread into the reddish native sediment. Some rodent disturbance is present in the southern extent.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  irregular
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
146
Yes
Width
102
Yes
Height
14
No
Depth
28
Yes
Depth ranges from 22 to 28 cm below the modern ground surface.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Possibly fill from Feature 6 deposited here during the maintenance of Feature 6.
Flecks of redder soil in patches.
Animal burrow in south extent.
Dark brown/gray/black.
Fine-grained and silty; loosely compacted.
Pit: not further specified (Feature 10) Top of page
General description
Small slab-lined extramural pit.
Use history
Feature 10 was a pit of unknown function. It may have been slab-lined at one time.
Associated features
None known.
Excavation procedure
Feature 10 was identified while clearing Surface 1 (Nonstructure 304) east of Structure 311. Since only a small amount of the feature was present, it was excavated in a full cut and profiled. One pollen sample was collected from the fill.
Portion excavated
The portion extending within the 1-x3-m unit was excavated.
Horizontal location
Southeast corner of 1-x3-m unit 1435N 505E.
Vertical location
Dug into Surface 1.
Construction
A pit was dug into native sediment and was likely framed with sandstone rocks.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor
Degree of preservation
Some associated stones were likely disturbed by chaining and associated surface disturbance.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
16
No
Width
16
No
Height
No
Depth
3
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Feature fill (left blank on Stratigraphic Description form, filled in by GKE in the office on 3/17/15).
Charcoal flecks and caliche flecks.
Minor roots, slabs displaced by chaining.
Reddish brown.
Sandy to silty clay loam.
Posthole (Feature 11) Top of page
General description
Extramural posthole.
Use history
Extramural post-hole associated with the north-south stockade fence below the midden deposits in Block 300.
Associated features
Other postholes on Nonstructure 304 include Features 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Excavation procedure
Feature outline was exposed and mapped on undisturbed native deposit use surface. The feature was not excavated but auger tested to determine its depth.
Portion excavated
1" auger test in center of feature.
Horizontal location
Southern end of Block 300.
Vertical location
On an extramural use surface below Nonstructure 302 midden deposit.
Construction
Pit excavated into undisturbed native sediment.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
38
Yes
Width
38
Yes
Height
No
Depth
17
Yes
Based on auger test
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture