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Nonstructure 4.5-N, midden
About this Nonstructure
General Location
Lower west side; base of talus slope near canyon bottom. Immediately south of Nonstructure 1-N and southwest of Structure 1 ( a tested kiva).
Specific Location
Upper half of Segment 2 (EU 52); rests below Nonstructures 4.1-N, 4.6-N, and 4.7-N.
Selection Criteria
Part of Nonstructure 4-N testing; see Nonstructure 4-N and associated EU for description and explanation of testing strategy.
Use
Refuse discarded from kiva unit to the north (Structure 1-S); probably same deposit as Nonstructure 4.3-N; the top of this deposit was used as an extramural surface from which a pit was constructed (Nonstructure 4.7-N).
Abandonment
Covered with natural deposits that include redeposited secondary refuse.
Postabandonment Process
See Abandonment.
Dating of Midden
Pottery data suggest deposition occurred during Pueblo III times; the two most common formal pottery types are McElmo Black-on-white and Mesa Verde Black-on-white. Based on stratigraphic position, this midden predates two extramural surfaces (Nonstructure 4.6-N and 4.7-N).
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
52
Location
Segment 2 N E.
(1- x- 1- m)
Lower west side.
North part of Nonstructure 4; immediatley south of a suspected retaining wall which defines the south boundary of Structure 1.
Selection Criteria
Judgmental. This unit was placed upslope of all the random units in Nonstructure 4 to look for thicker secondary refuse deposits and to expose the suspected retaining wall associated with Structure 1.
Excavation Strategy
Strata subdivided into arbitrary levels.
Unit Ends at
Undisturbed native sediment.
Study Unit(s) Identified in this Excavation Unit