Structure 13-S, aboveground kiva

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Features

Pilaster: not further specified (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Masonry pilaster located in the west-central area of kiva (Structure 13-S).
Use history
Pilaster was built in part to support the roof of the adjacent opening (F-2). The ends of three horizontally-lying beams rest on the top of the pilaster. This pilaster may have also supported part of the kiva upper lining wall, considering that a section of the wall rests on top of the roof of the shelf. If this is the case, the configuration of this kiva is very different from a typical Mesa Verde style kiva, where the pilasters support the roof and the upper lining wall rests behind the pilasters. This kiva appears to have been built by constructing the upper lining wall on top of the pilasters; the wall, not the pilasters, supported the roof.
Associated features
Opening to the north (F-2).
Excavation procedure
Not excavated, only documented; part of standing architecture.
Portion excavated
Portion visible at modern ground surface.
Horizontal location
West-central area of the kiva; flush with the upper lining wall.
Vertical location
Top of pilaster is 56 cm from modern ground surface. The distance from the pilaster to the bench or the kiva floor is unknown because they were not exposed.
Construction
Constructed of masonry blocks and a light red brown silt loam mortar. The faces and corners of all stones, except one, are uniformally pecked. One cornerstone has a ground face as well.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Part of the uppermost course has collapsed. The north end looks like it has slumped into Feature 2.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
64
Yes
Slumped slightly into shelf (F-2) to the north; measurement taken along front face of pilaster.
Width
38
Yes
Measurement recorded from front to back of pilaster.
Height
56
No
Probing indicates pilaster extends below modern ground surface. Base of pilaster not exposed for complete measurements.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Other (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Roofed kiva feature below upper lining wall and adjacent to a pilaster (Feature 1). Similar to a bench, but upper lining wall is built on top of it.
Use history
Based on the limited exposure of this feature, this appears to be a large opening between pilasters and below the upper lining wall. It is similar to a bench except that the upper lining wall is built on top of it. The presence of this feature makes the configuration of this kiva different from most kivas in the Mesa Verde Region. Function unknown, may have been used for storage. A tree ring sample from a roof beam produced a non-cutting date of A.D. 1212, indicating the feature was constructed after A.D. 1212.
Associated features
F-1; pilaster to the south.
Excavation procedure
Not excavated, only recorded; part of standing architecture.
Portion excavated
Portion visible at modern ground surface.
Horizontal location
West-central portion of kiva, north of pilaster (Feature 1).
Vertical location
Top of feature is only 10 cm from modern ground surface. The top of the feature is 35 cm below the top of an adjacent section of the upper lining wall. No measurement was recorded from the floor because it was not exposed.
Construction
Base of the feature is not exposed but is probably defined by the kiva bench. South side of the feature is defined by the north face of the pilaster. North side of the feature is not exposed, but is probably defined by a pilaster. Back of the exposed section of feature is defined by the west enclosing wall. Cliff face may have also served as the back of the feature, however, this cannot be confirmed from surface observations. This feature was roofed with at least three beams that were laid on an exposed pilaster (F-1) and presumably another pilaster to the north.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Beams have weathered.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
32
No
Width
No
Height
10
No
Taken from roof of feature to modern ground surface; base of feature rests below modern ground surface and was not exposed.
Depth
28
Yes
Taken along north side of pilaster (south side of feature) from front of pilaster to the west enclosing wall; even though this is a complete measurement, it probably does not represent the deepest part of the shelf.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture