Nonstructure 101, midden

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Features

Other (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Amorphous rock concentration with no clear articulation or shape.
Use history
Mounded stone of unknown purpose. Such mounds at other Basketmaker III sites are associated with stockade fences or other boundary markers. However, it is possible that this pile of stone is simply a secondary dump of construction stone.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Bisected the feature north-south, and started excavations on the eastern half. Used a trowel and 1/8-inch mesh. The feature was excavated in a full cut. Identical methods were used on the west half.
Portion excavated
Whole feature.
Horizontal location
The rocks are concentrated toward the northwest and northeast corners of the excavation unit.
Vertical location
Modern ground surface.
Construction
Rock was mounded or stacked on the Basketmaker III ground surface. The feature was likely dry-laid.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor
Degree of preservation
The sediments in this area have likely deflated below the level of the original Basketmaker III occupation surface leaving this stone feature disarticulated and scattered down the slope.
Shape in plan view
Actual: 
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  other
Inferred:  other
Shape comments
This amorphous rock scatter has no clear articulation and/or shape.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
180
No
200
This is an amorphous rock scatter; there is no real shape or articulation for metric measurements.
Width
76
No
178
This is an amorphous rock scatter; there is no real shape or articulation for metric measurements.
Height
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Post-occupational loess mixed with deflated midden sediments.
Two flakes in the north profile face.
Minimal root disturbance.
Brown.
Silty clay loam.