Structure 815, aboveground kiva

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Features

Bench: not further specified (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Southern recess in masonry-lined kiva.
Use history
Use unknown (storage?); structural collapse accumulated on bench surface after structure was abandoned.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Only upper fill was excavated. Some artifacts were provenienced with the bench, some were provenienced with the kiva main chamber.
Portion excavated
Portion within excavation unit--portion along the west wall of the southern recess.
Horizontal location
South end of Structure 815, a large kiva near the southwest end of pueblo, south of the great kiva complex.
Vertical location
Top of bench face is 94 cm above kiva floor.
Construction
Description limited because the surface of this southern recess was not exposed. The west edge of the recess was defined by a pilaster (Feature 3).
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Section of bench face closest to west profile has almost completely collapsed.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
See Database Map 4298.
Width
No
See Database Map 4298.
Height
82
No
From bench to top of pilaster (Feature 3).
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Postabandonment wall fall and roof fall.
Sandstone blocks, charcoal (tree-ring samples collected), pockets of brown silt loam.
Roots.
Gray-blue.
Clay.
Human remains occurrence , HRO 28 (Feature 2) (NOTE: Additional information on human remains is archived at the Anasazi Heritage Center, Dolores, Colorado.) Top of page
General description
Partly exposed remains of a human adolescent; some bones are disarticulated.
Use history
After the structure was abandoned but before the roof was burned, the remains of this individual were deposited on the floor. Does not appear to have been a formal burial.
Associated features
None.
Excavation procedure
Removed sediment around the remains with a variety of bamboo tools, dental picks, and brushes. Bones were described, mapped, and photographed in the field.
Portion excavated
Portion within excavation unit, which includes the lower portion of the individual (from the pelvis to the feet).
Horizontal location
Approximately 1.50 m north of the south bench face in Structure 815.
Vertical location
Some bones rest on the floor of the kiva, some are in fill just above the floor.
Construction
Not applicable.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. Not applicable.
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Pelvis, legs, and a vertebrae were damaged by wall fall postmortem. Possible canid damage as well.
Shape in plan view
Actual: 
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual: 
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Not applicable.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
55
No
From pelvis to left foot; remains continue beyond east edge of excavation unit.
Width
43
No
From left knee to left foot; this is probably not the widest part of the remains. The upper half of the remains is outside the excavation unit.
Height
No
Not recorded.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Pilaster #1 (Feature 3) Top of page
General description
Masonry pilaster.
Use history
Roof support; pilaster partly collapsed after structure was abandoned.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Not excavated; only exposed and documented.
Portion excavated
Portion within excavation unit (east edge).
Horizontal location
West edge of southern recess in Structure 815; flush with west southern recess wall.
Vertical location
Unknown; base of pilaster not exposed.
Construction
Description limited because feature was only partly exposed; east face consisted of seven partly exposed courses of pecked sandstone blocks.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Yes. Some of the stones in east face were fire-reddened.
Sooting
Not Recorded
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Northeast corner has collapsed and the upper courses of the east edge have slumped to the east. Two sets of cornerstones were found just north of the pilaster in the structure fill and are believed to be from this pilaster.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
See Database Map 4208.
Width
No
See Database Map 4208.
Height
76
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Ventilation system (Feature 4) Top of page
General description
Floor-level ventilation system in kiva.
Use history
Used to draw fresh air into kiva; was open when structure was abadoned.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Not excavated; only exposed and documented.
Portion excavated
Portion within excavation unit; west edge of ventilator tunnel opening.
Horizontal location
Southern recess bench face of Structure 815; Structure 815 is a large kiva near the southwest end of pueblo.
Vertical location
Base of ventilator tunnel opening is 17 cm above kiva floor.
Construction
Tunnel opening was constructed as part of the bench face. The top of the opening is a pecked lintel stone. The west edge is formed of seven stones that are pecked on two faces (most were abraded on one face as well). The bottom of the tunnel opening (which was only partly exposed) was formed of one sandstone block.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Excellent.
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape comments
Inferred shape in plan view is rectangular.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
See Database Map 4298.
Width
No
See Database Map 4298.
Height
49
No
Measured from floor of tunnel to top of tunnel opening.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Postabandonment deposit visible in ventilator tunnel opening.
Small adobe nodules; shale.
Roots; rodents.
Gray.
Clay.