Structure 4-S, subterranean kiva

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Features

Pit: not further specified (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Informal floor pit.
Use history
Informal pit that may have only been used for a short time; the presence of charcoal and possible ash may indicate some type of burning activity took place; if burning occurred in this feature, it had to be a low intensity fire because there is no evidence of thermal alteration in the pit; the two small depressions in the feature fill may represent indentations that were formed when something was inserted into the fill (i.e. paho, incense); pit was taken out of use when Surface 1, the latest kiva floor, was laid.
Associated features
F-2 is another shallow pit immediately north of this feature; the similarity in the fill and the morphology of the pits may indicate they are related.
Excavation procedure
Recorded in provenience data, which are available through the "Field Data: Provenience Data" query in the multisite research database.
Portion excavated
Entire feature.
Horizontal location
South half of Structure 4-S, Segment 2; southwest quadrant of kiva, near bench face.
Vertical location
Surface 2.
Construction
Shallow pit excavated into sterile soil.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
Yes. Sealed by Surface 1, the latest kiva floor
Preservation
Excellent.
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  elliptical.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
10
Yes
East-west.
Width
8
Yes
North-south.
Height
No
Depth
2
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Cultural deposit that may have been created from a short-term burning activity
Charcoal flecks; possible ash
None
Dark gray
Silt
Pit: not further specified (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Ephemeral floor pit.
Use history
Informal pit that may have only been used for a short time; the presence of charcoal and possible ash may indicate some type of burning activity took place; if burning occurred in this feature, it had to be a low intensity fire because there is no evidence of thermal alteration in the pit; pit was taken out of use when Surface 1, the latest kiva floor, was laid.
Associated features
F-1 is another shallow pit immediately south of this feature; the similarity in the fill and the morphology of the pits may indicate they are related.
Excavation procedure
Recorded in provenience data, which are available through the "Field Data: Provenience Data" query in the multisite research database.
Portion excavated
Entire feature.
Horizontal location
South half of Structure 4-S, Segment 2; southwest quadrant of kiva, near bench face.
Vertical location
Surface 2.
Construction
Shallow pit excavated into sterile soil.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
Yes. Sealed by Surface 1, the latest kiva floor
Preservation
Excellent.
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  round.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
14
Yes
East-west.
Width
10
No
12
North-south; south edge of pit truncated by excavation.
Height
No
Depth
2
Yes
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Cultural deposit that may have been created from a short-term burning activity
Charcoal flecks; possible ash
None
Dark gray
Silt
Pilaster: not further specified (Feature 3) Top of page
General description
Typical Mesa Verde style pilaster.
Use history
Support for kiva roof.
Associated features
F-4, another pilaster.
Excavation procedure
Not excavated; only exposed.
Portion excavated
Portion within excavation unit; front face and a portion of the northwest side of pilaster exposed.
Horizontal location
Southwest corner of Structure 4-S, Segment 2; south end of kiva, probably immediately west of the southern recess (Pilaster 1).
Vertical location
Rests on top of bench; recessed 5 cm from the edge of the bench face.
Construction
Pilaster was built on top of the kiva bench using sandstone blocks and mortar; the majority of stones are pecked with the corners being pecked on two faces; plaster was applied over the pilaster, however, only a small portion of the plaster is preserved; see masonry form for architectural details.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Top of pilaster has collapsed and northwest side has partly collapsed.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Width
68
Yes
Width of front face.
Height
65
No
Rubble found above and adjacent to pilaster indicates it once stood taller.
Depth
19
No
Measured along northwest side of pilaster; exposed depth along southeast side is 6cm.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Pilaster: not further specified (Feature 4) Top of page
General description
Typical Mesa Verde style pilaster.
Use history
Kiva roof support.
Associated features
F-3, another pilaster.
Excavation procedure
Not excavated; only exposed as a result of profile collapse after a storm.
Portion excavated
Portion within excavation unit; front face of pilaster.
Horizontal location
Northwest corner of Structure 4-S, Segment 2; probably Pilaster 2.
Vertical location
Rests on top of bench; recessed 7 cm from the edge of the bench face.
Construction
Pilaster built on top of bench using sandstone blocks and mortar; stones were pecked; plaster was applied over the stones, however, plaster is only preserved at the base of the pilaster; see masonry form for architectural details.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Top has probably collapsed.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Width
30
No
Height
40
No
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture