Nonstructure 7-N, midden

Back to Study Unit

Features

Wall: other (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Masonry enclosing or retaining wall.
Use history
Inferred to have retained the area around Structure 105 and associated courtyard; possible role in defense as well.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Not excavated--exposed only.
Portion excavated
Only the portion within the excavation unit.
Horizontal location
On slope below Structure 105; crosses northwest corner of excavation unit.
Vertical location
Surface in midden.
Construction
Wall constructed on layer of refuse.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Original height unknown.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  other.
Inferred:  other.
Shape comments
Linear.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
75
No
Southwest-northeast.
Width
23
No
Width partly exposed.
Height
64
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Wall: other (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
One-course-high alignment of rocks.
Use history
Appears to have been used as an initial retaining wall to create a more level area on a slope for the construction of a taller, more formal retaining wall (Feature 1).
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Not excavated--exposed only.
Portion excavated
Only the portion within the excavation unit.
Horizontal location
On slope south of Structure 105; crosses south half of excavation unit diagonally.
Vertical location
On constructed surface below midden deposits.
Construction
Layer of clean construction fill was placed on slope; wall constructed on top of that fill and additional construction fill was then placed upslope behind the wall.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Original height unknown, probably not much higher.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  other.
Inferred:  other.
Shape comments
Linear.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
115
No
Northeast-southwest.
Width
37
Yes
Height
15
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Wall: other (Feature 3) Top of page
General description
Coursed masonry retaining wall below kiva.
Use history
Constructed after some refuse accumulated on slope below Structure 103. East row of stones possibly constructed first (west face of this row is the "finished" looking side), and large, irregular rocks were later placed on the downslope side in order to stabilize the base of the wall.
Associated features
None.
Excavation procedure
Not excavated, just exposed.
Portion excavated
Only the portion within the excavation unit.
Horizontal location
Wall crosses unit from grid northwest corner to grid southeast corner; unit is on slope, grid south of Structure 103.
Vertical location
Wall rests on an ephemeral surface (Surface 1) in midden fill, Nonstructure 7.
Construction
Wall was constructed on about 10-20 cm of refuse that rests on decomposing bedrock.Two distinct components of construction: east row of rocks are unshaped blocks whose smooth faces are oriented downslope; west row of rocks are very large unshaped rocks (some blocky, some irregular). East row of rocks consistently preserved at two courses high, west row is one course high, except in one place where it is two courses high.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. It is possible that the west row of large rocks was laid alongside the base of the nicer, upslope row in order to stabilize the upslope row on the slope.
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Original height unknown.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  other.
Inferred:  other.
Shape comments
Plan shape is linear.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
250
No
Northwest-southeast.
Width
77
No
Height
100
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture