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Nonstructure 1.1-N, midden
About this Nonstructure
General Location
Lower west side; base of talus slope near canyon bottom.
Specific Location
Uppermost fill in Segments 1-5, 7, and 9 (EU's 32-36, 38 and 40); rests above Nonstructures 1.2-N, 1.3-N, 1.4-N, and 1.5-N. Nonstructures 1.6-N and 1.20-N are surfaces within this deposit.
Selection Criteria
Part of Nonstructure 1-N testing; see Nonstructure 1-N and associated EU's for description and explanation of testing strategy.
Use
Refuse that has been naturally redeposited; mixed with natural deposits; most of this redeposition occurred after occupation, however, some of the material was redeposited during occupation as two walls and a pit were built when this deposit accumulated; refuse is believed to have originated from structures upslope and north and east of Nonstructure 1-N.
Abandonment
Not applicable.
Postabandonment Process
See Use.
Dating of Midden
Pottery data suggests that this trash was discarded in the Pueblo III period. The predominant formal white ware type is Mesa Verde Black-on-white,followed closely by McElmo Black-on-white. The trash was redeposited; it might have come from multiple sources and probably includes materials that were deposited at different times.
Date Range
2 (A.D. 1140–1280)
Site-Wide Dating
Groups to Which This Study Unit was Assigned
See The Archaeology of Woods Canyon Pueblo (specifically the chapters on architecture, chronology, and artifacts) for more information on study unit groupings at Woods Canyon Pueblo.
| Type | ID | Description |
| area | 1 | Area of canyon bottom |
| section | LW | Lower west side (canyon bottom) |
| subperiod | 8 | Early Pueblo III (A.D. 1140-1225) |
Excavation Details for Excavation Units
In order by excavation unit number.
Excavation Unit
32
Location
Segment 1 N E.
(1 x 1 m unit)
Lower west side.
South edge of Nonstructure 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva; unit rests adjacent to a stone alignment that forms the south boundary of Nonstructure 1.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
33
Location
Segment 2 N E.
(1 x 1 m unit)
Lower west side.
South end of Nonstructure 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Bedrock. In places where bedrock was absent, undisturbed native sediment was present; bedrock and the undisturbed native sediment are believed to represent the floor of Str 9.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
34
Location
Segment 3 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
North-central portion of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
35
Location
Segment 4 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
North end of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva; unit placed south of and adjacent to a stone alignment that forms the north boundary of Nst 1.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
36
Location
Segment 5 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
southwest quadrant of site.
Northeast corner of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1, was a plaza or great kiva; unit placed adjacent to and west of a retaining wall that encloses a kiva serves as boundary of Nonstructure 1; unit also placed south of a series of flat-lying
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Unclear if last stratum excavated is sterile soil or fill.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
38
Location
Segment 7 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
Along west boundary of Nst 1 between Segments 6 and 8.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1 was a plaza or a great kiva.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Fill continued. Sterile soil, defining what is believed to be a bench of Str 9, was encountered in most of unit making it impossible to continue excavations to kiva floor.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit
Excavation Unit
40
Location
Segment 9 N E.
(1 x 1 m)
Lower west side.
SE corner of Nst 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. Selected to identify if open, flat area, known as Nonstructure 1 was a plaza or a great kiva; placed north of a stone alignment running W/SW - E/NE.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit