Nonstructure 104, extramural surface

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Features

Pit: not further specified (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Large amorphous shallow pit south of Pit Rooms 108 and 109.
Use history
This feature could represent the disturbed remains of a third pitroom in the vicinity or simply s a smear of construction material from Pitrooms 108 and 109 to the north.
Associated features
Pit not further specified, number two.
Excavation procedure
The west half of the feature was fully exposed on the surface of undisturbed native sediment. A trowel and shovel was used to remove feature fill. Excavation stopped when all fill was removed. The sediment was put through eighth-inch mesh.
Portion excavated
West half.
Horizontal location
Just south of Pitrooms 108 and 109.
Vertical location
On the prehistoric ground surface Nonstructure 104.
Construction
Feature pit was excavated into an extramural surface. It eventually refilled with a mix of crumbled adobe and secondary refuse.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. While there was charcoal in the fill and some of the adobe was burned, the sediment itself was not thermally altered.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor
Degree of preservation
Modern plowing activities and prairie dogs have severely impacted this feature. The rodents completely blew out the southern edge of the feature, and have made the northern edge nearly impossible to detect.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  irregular
Inferred:  unknown
Shape in cross section
Actual:  other
Inferred:  unknown
Shape comments
Semi-circular.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
112
Yes
192
Prairie dogs disturbed the southern end of the pit.
Width
78
No
100
Height
No
Depth
53
Yes
At its deepest the pit is 53 cm, at its shallowest it is 46 cm.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
This stratum most likely represents a smear of construction materials from the structure to the north of this feature, and from the surface rooms adjacent to this feature.
Charcoal, calcium-carbonate, sandstone.
Prairie dogs.
Brown.
Silty Clay.
Pit: not further specified (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Feature 2 is a round, moderately shallow, extramural pit filled with secondary deposits.
Use history
This feature is either a posthole or extramural pit of unknown function.
Associated features
Pit not further specified number one.
Excavation procedure
Exposed the feature against Surface one and collected the entirety of this feature's fill as a flotation sample.
Portion excavated
The whole thing.
Horizontal location
South-west end of the excavation unit.
Vertical location
Surface 1, the prehistoric ground surface.
Construction
The pit was excavated directly into Non-Structure 104, the prehistoric ground surface. The fill within the feature was construction materials, which probably originated from Structures 108 and 109.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good
Degree of preservation
Prairie dogs blew out the west side of this pit.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
16
Yes
Width
16
Yes
Height
No
Depth
11
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Construction fill from nearby surface rooms, Structures 108 and 109.
Charcoal, adobe, caliche.
Prairie dogs.
Brown
Silty Clay