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Nonstructure 9.1-N, extramural surface
Features
General description
Check dam wall.
Use history
This wall is believed to have slowed down water, rather than containing it. The absence of constructional sediment behind this wall made it impossible for the wall to contain water for any significant period of time. Low velocity alluvial events were responsible for depositing sediments behind the wall during occupation, but there is no evidence in the stratigraphic record (no evidence of fining sequences, settling) of standing water behind the wall. Wall may have also helped to control erosion. It is also possible that sediment accumulated behind the wall so that gardening/farming could take place in the drainage (compare against pollen analysis).
Associated features
Another check dam wall (F-2) is located just north of this wall.
Excavation procedure
Not excavated; only exposed and documented.
Portion excavated
Portion within excavation unit; part of wall is visible outside of excavation unit, at modern ground surface.
Horizontal location
South end of Nonstructure 9, Segment 1.
Vertical location
Base of wall rests on or just above bedrock (Surface 1).
Construction
Large, irregular stones were roughly stacked on top of one another, using bedrock as an construcitonal surface; wall was dry-laid; see Masonry forms 300 and 301 for architectural details.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. From Slides 637-16 and 637-10.
Thermal alteration
Yes. From Slides 637-16 and 637-10.
Sooting
Yes. From Slides 637-16 and 637-10.
Sealed
Yes. From Slides 637-16 and 637-10
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Wall leans substantially to the south.
Shape in plan view
Actual:
irregular.
Inferred:
Inferred:
Shape in cross section
Actual: other.
Inferred:
Inferred:
Shape comments
Linear in plan view.
Dimensions
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
100
No
600
Actual length=exposed length in excavation unit; wall extends beyond excavation unit to the west and the east; total length visible at modern ground surface is approximately six meters.
Width
42
Yes
North-south; thickness.
Height
55
No
Measurement taken along north face; unknown if this is the original height or if some of the wall has collapsed.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
General description
Check dam.
Use history
This wall, in conjunction with the fill in front of the wall, may have helped to control erosion, or retain water, and/or allow sediments to accumulate. The sediment that has accumulated behind the wall (Stratum B on Map 187) is interepreted as alluvium that originated from the mesa top. It is unclear if this sediment accumulated during or after occupation but it illustrates that the wall is capable of retaining sediment and slow-moving/standing water. If the sediment accumulated during occupation, this wall may have been built so that gardening could take place. If the sediment accumulated after occupation, the occupants of Woods Canyon deliberately removed any accumulated sediment so that water could be stored, however, it is possible that some of this sediment was deposited during occupation.
Associated features
This wall appears to have worked in conjunction with two other check dam walls, F-4 and F-5.
Excavation procedure
Not excavateed; only exposed and documented.
Portion excavated
Portion within Nonstructure 9, Segment 3.
Horizontal location
Located near cliff edge in the main drainage and west of the main drainage; portion exposed during excavation is located in the north half of Nonstructure 9, Segment 3.
Vertical location
Surface 1; base of wall, along north face, rests just above bedrock; sediment between bedrock and base of wall is believed to be alluvium that was deposited after wall was constructed; south face of wall appears to rest on fill.
Construction
Constructed by piling large, unshaped sandstone boulders on top of one another; no patterning in the way the stones were stacked; the informal construction of the wall leaves open the possibility that this wall was built over time; see Masonry froms 329 and 330 for architectural details.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. From Slides 652-26, 27, and 28.
Thermal alteration
Yes. From Slides 652-26, 27, and 28.
Sooting
Yes. From Slides 652-26, 27, and 28.
Sealed
Yes. From Slides 652-26, 27, and 28
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Part of wall has collapsed based on rubble found south of wall; constructional fill was deposited in front of the wall which helped to preserve most of the wall.
Shape in plan view
Actual:
Inferred:
Inferred:
Shape in cross section
Actual: irregular.
Inferred: irregular.
Inferred: irregular.
Shape comments
Dimensions
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
100
No
1750
Extends beyond excavation unit to the northeast and southwest; additional sections of the wall are visible in both directions; inferred length is based on measurements taken from sections inside and outside of the excavation unit.
Width
136
No
Maximum thickness.
Height
112
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
General description
Check dam.
Use history
This wall served to control erosion. This wall was either (1) the first check dam constructed in this area, that was later replaced by the construction of another check dam to the north (F-3) and sealed by constructional fill; or (2) it was built at relatively the same time as F-4 as part of a larger water/erosion control system. If the two walls functioned together, this wall may have served as a back-up retaining feature that caught any sediment or water that permeated F-3. This is a relatively short wall that may have once stood taller and has collapsed or has been dismantled. It is also possible that this is the original height of the wall and like the single-course walls in Nonstructure 1, this wall was part of a series of walls that controlled run-off, rather than relying on a single, large retaining wall for water and erosion control. A check dam (F-5) was built to the south, after this wall was constructed. The southern check dam appears to have worked in conjunction with this wall and F-3.
Associated features
F-3 and F-5.
Excavation procedure
Not excavated; only exposed and documented.
Portion excavated
Portion within Nonstructure 9, Segment 3.
Horizontal location
Located near cliff edge, immediately west of the main drainage; portion exposed during excavation is located in the southern third of Nonstructure 9, Segment 3.
Vertical location
Base of wall rests on bedrock (Surface 1).
Construction
Large unshaped stones were laid next to one another and thin tabular stones were placed on top of the blocks. Wall was dry-laid (see Masonry forms 332 and 333 for architectural details). A total of three distinct deposits of fill were intentionally placed adjacent to, and in one case, on top of the wall. The fill may have been deposited during the intitial construction of the wall or it may have been added later in time. The fill probably provided additional support for the wall and aided in the retention of water.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. From Slides 652-29, 30, and 31.
Thermal alteration
Yes. From Slides 652-29, 30, and 31.
Sooting
Yes. From Slides 652-29, 30, and 31.
Sealed
Yes. Fill was intentionally deposited on top of the wall (Strata C, D, and E on Map 187); it is unclear if these deposits were part of a larger water/erosion control system that included F-3 and F-4 or if the fill was deposited, as part of the construction of F-4, to replace this wall
Preservation
Excellent.
Degree of preservation
Existing wall is in excellent condition but it is unclear if the wall stood taller and has partly collapsed or was dismantled.
Shape in plan view
Actual:
rectangular.
Inferred:
Inferred:
Shape in cross section
Actual: other.
Inferred:
Inferred:
Shape comments
Shape in plan view is linear.
Dimensions
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
90
No
Wall extends beyond excavation unit to the northeast and southwest.
Width
42
Yes
Thickness.
Height
32
No
Unknown if this is a complete height.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture