Structure 1205, aboveground kiva

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Features

Bench segment #1 (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Typical bench surface in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva, although a bit oddly shaped because the upper lining wall is not curved.
Use history
Used to support pilasters, and probably for storage.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Segment 1 of the bench surface (north end) was exposed in 1995; Segment 2 (south end) was exposed in 1996.
Portion excavated
About 90 percent of this feature is thought to have been exposed; a portion of the pilaster that forms the northern boundary of the bench is visible on modern ground surface about 28 cm north of the northern boundary of Segment 1.
Horizontal location
Along the southwest wall of the kiva; kiva is 14 m east-northeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Approximately 1.04 m above bedrock.
Construction
A rectangular masonry room, or cell, was constructed on bedrock. A curved masonry bench face was then constructed inside the cell, also resting on bedrock. Then the space between this curved wall and the straight, double-coursed cell wall (that also served as the upper lining wall) was filled with construction fill. The top course of bench face masonry served as the bench surface, except in the southwest corner of the bench, where the top of the fill sediment formed the surface. Pilaster 1 forms the southern boundary of this surface.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
The slabs forming the surface had subsided into the fill below the bench surface, and tilt down 8 cm toward the upper lining wall; additional damage to the surface occurred as a result of exposure to the elements during the previous archaeological excavation.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  other.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  irregular.
Shape comments
Inferred cross section of the surface is linear.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Database Map 280.
Width
No
Database Map 280.
Height
106
Yes
Above kiva floor; Database Map 281.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Backfill from the previous archaeological excavation
Orange and dark gray adobe mottling and chunks, sandstone blocks, and cobbles
Historic excavation
Brown
Silty clay loam
Niche (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Niche in the upper lining wall of an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used for storage and/or ritual?.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Due to previous archaeological excavation, this feature contained only a small amount of sediment.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Southwest wall of kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Floor of niche is 18 cm above the bench surface.
Construction
Constructed by leaving a gap in two vertical courses of the upper lining wall (which is also the cell wall) masonry. The roof of the niche is a large slab, and the floor is formed by two stones. The back of the niche is formed by two vertical courses of stones that are also part of the outer course of the double-coursed masonry cell wall. No plaster was observed on any stones in this feature.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Stones above the niche had slumped eastward toward the interior of the kiva 5 to 10 cm, and the mortar had weathered out from between the stones as a result of incomplete backfilling after previous archaeological excavations.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
32
Yes
Side-to-side; Database Map 280.
Width
13
Yes
Into the upper lining wall; Database Map 280.
Height
14
Yes
Vertical measurement.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Sediment that recently washed in; original fill probably removed during previous archaeological excavation
None
dark grayish brown
silt loam
Niche (Feature 3) Top of page
General description
Small niche in a bench face of an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used for storage and/or ritual?.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Recorded in provenience data, which are available through the "Field Data: Provenience Data" query in the multisite research database.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Southwest kiva bench face; kiva is 14 m east-northeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Floor of the niche is 65 cm above the kiva floor.
Construction
Niche was formed by leaving a small gap in one course of bench face masonry, and then spanning that gap with a tabular stone in the course above the gap. A small vertical stone formed the back wall of the niche. The floor of the niche was plastered with the same mortar that was used in the bench face masonry.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Niche was only a few centimeters below modern ground surface (probably because of incomplete backfilling after previous archaeological excavation), and the mortar had weathered out from between the stones forming the feature. Exposure had also resulted in calcium carbonate being deposited on the stones.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  square.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
13
Yes
Into the bench face; Database Map 280.
Width
8
Yes
Side-to-side; Database Map 280.
Height
8
Yes
Vertical measurement.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Fill was sediment deposited after previous archaeological excavation
pebbles
Historic
dark grayish brown
silt loam
Niche (Feature 4) Top of page
General description
Square niche in a bench face of an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used for storage and/or ritual?.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
The fill in the north half of the niche was excavated first.Two strata were visible in the profile of the southern half. These strata were excavated and screened separately.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Located in the east bench face of this kiva; the structure is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Floor of the feature is 38 cm above the kiva floor.
Construction
Niche was constructed by leaving a gap in 2 to 3 horizontal courses of bench face masonry, and by using tabular stones for the floor and roof of the niche. The front floor stone does not reach all the way to the back of the niche, so several smaller flat stones were used to complete the floor surface. No plaster was observed.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Excellent.
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  square.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
24
Yes
Into the bench face; Database Map 280.
Width
24
Yes
Side-to-side; Database Map 280.
Height
25
Yes
Vertical measurement.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Sediment deposited after previous archaeological excavation (insect disturbance is recent)
Charcoal flecks; caliche flecks; insect exoskeletons
Rootlets; insects
Brown
Silty loam
2
Construction fill redeposited as backfill during previous archaeological excavation
Adobe; charcoal flecks
None
Red-brown
Silty clay loam
Niche (Feature 5) Top of page
General description
Niche in a kiva bench face of an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used for storage and/or ritual?.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
The south half of the niche was excavated first.Two strata were visible in the profile, so the north half was excavated in these two natural strata.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Located in the east bench face of the kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Floor of niche is 41 cm above bedrock (possible kiva floor).
Construction
Constructed by leaving a gap in two vertical courses of bench face masonry. The floor stone is much more tabular than most other stones in the bench face, as is what remains of the lintel stone. The wall stones and floor stone were carefully shaped--pecked on both visible faces. The back of the niche is one large, unshaped slab set on end. The edge of the lintel stone might have been flaked, but it is difficult to tell, as the lintel stone is broken and exfoliating. No plaster was observed.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Mostly intact, although there is some damage, possibly from the previous excavation.The upper left course of stones and half of the lintel is missing.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
28
Yes
Side-to-side Database Map 280.
Width
26
Yes
Into the bench face; Database Map 280.
Height
23
Yes
Vertical measurement. Lintel stone is intact at south end of niche, north half of lintel is missing. Measurement was taken from south end of niche.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Disturbed fill; probably from an insect nest/ burrow
Caliche flecks; insect exoskeletons; rootlets; small sandstone pebbles
Extensive disturbance from insects
Brown
Silty loam (loose and unconsolidated)
2
Backfill from previous archaeological excavation
Orange and dark gray adobe clumps; caliche flecks
Some mixing, most likely human disturbance
Brown
Silty clay loam
Deflector (Feature 6) Top of page
General description
Coursed masonry deflector in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used presumably to deflect air flow from the ventilator tunnel opening away from the hearth.
Associated features
Niche (Feature 7) Hearth (Feature 8) Ventilator system (Feature 14).
Excavation procedure
Not excavated--exposed only.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
At the south edge of the hearth in a kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Rests on bedrock kiva floor.
Construction
Constructed as a small, double-coursed masonry wall, resting on bedrock.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Not Recorded
Sooting
Not Recorded
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Could not determine if it was taller originally, but the top as preserved is not complete or level.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  trapezoidal.
Inferred:  trapezoidal.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
85
Yes
East-west; Database Map 280.
Width
27
Yes
North-south; Database Map 280.
Height
56
No
Could not determine if it was originally taller; Database Map 282.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Niche (Feature 7) Top of page
General description
Rectangular niche unusually located in the north face of a kiva deflector, in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
No direct evidence of the use of this unusual feature; perhaps related to food preparation or ritual purposes.
Associated features
Deflector (Feature 6).
Excavation procedure
The west half was excavated first, "full cut"; the east half was excavated in two strata.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Centered in the north face of an east-west trending deflector; kiva is 14 m east-northeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Floor of the niche is 9 cm above the kiva floor.
Construction
This niche in the face of a deflector is not as finely constructed as bench-face niches; some stones on the face of the deflector are pecked, but few stones within the niche are shaped. The side walls are irregular, and the back wall has many chinking stones. The niche floor is formed partly by the stones that form the south rim of the hearth (Feature 8) and partly by orange silt loam. The floor is uneven; the back wall is also uneven, consisting of several horizontal slabs and sandstone chunks.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Excellent.
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  rectangular.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
34
Yes
Side-to-side; Database Map 280.
Width
17
Yes
Into the deflector; Database Map 280.
Height
17
Yes
Vertical measurement; Database Map 282.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Sediment deposited by water after abandonment
Small sandstone pebbles (sparse)
None
Light orange and light gray brown laminae
Silty loam
2
Appears to be undisturbed--either intentionally deposited during occupation or naturally deposited after abandonment
Charcoal (small pieces and twigs), small sandstone pebbles
None
Medium gray
Silty clay loam
Hearth (Feature 8) Top of page
General description
Central hearth in an above-gournd, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Inferred to have been used for heat, light, and cooking. Difficult to determine feature history because the feature is so poorly preserved. Feature was probably left intact at abandonment, and was nearly destroyed during the previous archaeological excavation of this structure.
Associated features
Deflector (Feature 6) Ventilation system (Feature 14).
Excavation procedure
Only small remnants of the hearth survive; these were exposed during excavation of the kiva floor.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Situated just north of the deflector in a kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Hearth is constructed on bedrock.
Construction
So little of this hearth remains that it is difficult to specify the construction technique. The north and south walls were constructed at least partly of stones anchored to the bedrock kiva floor with adobe. The east and west walls could have been similarly constructed, or could have been merely adobe. The thickness of the adobe where the hearth contacts the deflector is as high as 10 cm, which could be an indication of the original height of the hearth rim. The hearth floor was probably constructed of adobe (the absence of thermal alteration of the bedrock floor indicates that the hearth floor was lined with something that has since been destroyed).
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Only small portions of the north and south walls exist, and none of the east and west walls survive.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  basin-shaped.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  elliptical.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
70
Yes
North-south; Database Map 280.
Width
65
No
80
Sides of the hearth are missing; Database Map 280.
Height
7
Yes
Distance from bedrock to top of stones defining north rim of hearth; Database Map 282.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Sediment deposited as backfill during previous archaeological excavation
Pilaster #1 (Feature 9) Top of page
General description
Typical horizontally-coursed, masonry-column pilaster in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used to support the kiva roof.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Feature not excavated--exposed only.
Portion excavated
All three faces were exposed, but modern ground surface was left intact on top of the pilaster due to time constraints and to concerns about the stability of the feature.
Horizontal location
Located at the west edge of the southern recess; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Pilaster rests approximately 85-90 cm above bedrock (the base of the pilaster has slumped and the bench face beneath it has collapsed).
Construction
The pilaster face was constructed as a column, mostly of shaped sandstone blocks; the width of the column is consistent from bottom to top. Corner stones were pecked on two sides to create right angles. This pilaster was constructed at the same time as the west wall of the southern recess; they are one continuous construction. The sides, or eastern and western faces, are not parallel to each other. The faces flare outward to abut the southern and western structure walls, respectively.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Upper courses are missing; stones from the face of the lower courses are missing, and the stones of the lower course are tilted up to the north, indicating the pilaster has slumped substantially.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Database Map 280.
Width
No
Database Map 280.
Height
50
No
72
Upper courses have collapsed; maximum of 5 courses present.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Pilaster: not further specified (Feature 10) Top of page
General description
Typical horizontally coursed, masonry-column pilaster. in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used to support the kiva roof.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Pilaster not excavated--exposed only.
Portion excavated
The front and right sides of the pilaster were fully exposed, but due to time constraints, only a small amount of the top (along the front of the pilaster) was exposed.
Horizontal location
Along east wall of kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower; if this is a 6-pilaster kiva, this would be the fifth pilaster counting clockwise from the southern recess.
Vertical location
Base of pilaster masonry in back is 10 cm below bench surface in front--95 cm above bedrock Original bench height was probably 104 cm above bedrock.
Construction
Pilaster was constructed on the bench surface, and was built of pecked blocks that enclosed a rubble core. It appears that part of the second course also rested on the bench surface. No plaster was observed.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Front face of masonry is missing (possibly destroyed during previous archaeological excavation), and the back of the pilaster has subsided.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  trapezoidal.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Database Map 280.
Width
No
Database Map 280.
Height
34
No
45
Height from bench surface to top of pilaster as preserved; 3 courses maximum.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Pilaster: not further specified (Feature 11) Top of page
General description
Typical horizontally coursed, masonry-column pilaster in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used to support the kiva roof.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Pilaster not excavated--exposed only.
Portion excavated
Only the faces of the pilaster were exposed; due to time constraints and preservation concerns, all sediment on top of the feature was left in place.
Horizontal location
Pilaster in the southeast portion of the kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower; if this is a 6-pilaster kiva, this would be the sixth pilaster, counting clockwise from the southern recess.
Vertical location
Pilaster rests on the bench surface 1.12 m above bedrock.
Construction
Pilaster was built of semi-coursed pecked blocks (about 60 percent) and slabs (about 40 percent). The corners are nicely pecked and the pilaster is well-constructed. There is gray-brown mortar between the stones. This pilaster was built after the south wall of the southern recess, but before the upper lining wall to the north.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
The lowermost two courses are well preserved, but a portion of the third course is missing, and the stones that are present have shifted.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  rectangular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  irregular.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Database Map 280.
Width
No
Database Map 280.
Height
37
No
37
Height of pilaster above bench; 3 courses maximum are preserved.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
Bench: not further specified (Feature 12) Top of page
General description
Irregularly shaped southern recess in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Supported pilasters, probably used for storage, possible ritual use?.
Associated features
Ventilation system (Feature 14).
Excavation procedure
A tabular stone at the same elevation as the bench surface east of this southern recess is believed to be the original level of the bench surface. Sediments 5 cm and above the elevation of the stone were excavated as Stratum 1 Level 1; no definitive surface was exposed. Instead, an irregular surface of constructional fill was found. Because no prepared or distinct surface was defined, the 0-5 cm arbitrary level was labeled Stratum 1 Level 2, and the constructional fill beneath it was labeled Stratum 2. Stratum 2 was removed until the stones defining the ventilation system were revealed, confirming that this bench is the southern recess.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Southernmost bench in the kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Uppermost courses of the masonry bench face that form the front edge of this surface are missing; most of the stones now at the top of the bench face are 1 m above bedrock.
Construction
Construction technique of this feature is not clear. The kiva was constructed inside a rectangular room, or cell, built on bedrock. The cell walls also served as upper lining walls. So to construct this feature, the circular bench face was constructed inside the cell, with a ventilator tunnel opening in the bench face below the southern recess. Then probably the ventilator tunnel and shaft were constructed, and the space between the bench face and the cell wall was filled with constructional fill up to the level of the bench surface (except for the area of the vent system). It is unknown if the top of the constructional fill was plastered to form a southern recess surface, but no prepared surface remained at the time of our excavation. Then the pilaster that forms the west wall of the southern recess (Feature 9) was constructed on this bench surface, as was the pilaster at the east edge of the recess bench surface (Feature 11). Then a small section of curved wall was added between Feature 11 and a section of poorly preserved south wall (that appears to be part of the ventilator system). The cell wall itself formed most of the south wall of the southern recess.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Recess surface is poorly preserved or was poorly constructed to begin with. Also, a portion of the south wall of the recess appears to have partly collapsed or been disturbed.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  other.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Surface cross section is more or less linear.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Database Map 280.
Width
No
Database Map 280.
Height
100
No
Height of the recess surface above floor.The absence of a preserved bench surface prevents an accurate measurement, however. Database Map 282.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Material redeposited by previous archaeological excavation
Gravel-sized charcoal; fist-sized sandstone; masonry rubble; burned and unburned adobe
None
Red-brown
Silty clay loam
2
Constructional fill and remnants of possible southern recess surface disturbed by previous archaeological excavation
Large unburned adobe nodules; large yellow-grey clay nodules; fist-sized sandstone
Possible disturbance by previous excavations
Red
Silty clay loam
Bench: not further specified (Feature 13) Top of page
General description
Unusually shaped kiva bench surface in above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva.
Use history
Used to support pilasters. In addition, the depth and shape of this bench surface indicate that it might not have been solely for storage. The presence of a low, sill-like stone and a possible vertical face in the kiva cell wall suggest that this bench might also have served as a pass-through to Structure 1208 (a mealing room to the east).
Associated features
Excavation procedure
Backfill from previous archaeological excavation and orange clay loam that was possibly intact were mixed during excavation and were designated Level 1. The lowermost 5 cm of fill above the bench surface was designated Level 2. A small amount of intact fill above the bench surface was excavated separately.
Portion excavated
All.
Horizontal location
Bench along the east-southeast side of the kiva; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower; if this is a 6-pilaster kiva, this would be the fifth bench segment, counting clockwise from the southern recess.
Vertical location
Surface is 110 cm above kiva floor.
Construction
The kiva cell wall was constructed first, then the bench face masonry. Construction material was then placed between these two walls up to the top of the bench face masonry. Feature 11 (pilaster) was then built on the bench surface. The southeast and east upper lining walls were then built, abutting that pilaster and the cell wall. The unusual shape of this bench surface results from these two sections of upper lining wall. The south upper lining wall would normally be the north face of the pilaster (Feature 11), and the east upper lining wall should be the cell wall. However, these two upper lining walls are actually two odd sections of poorly built wall that curve in different directions. The intersection of these two sections of wall is rough and poorly preserved so bonding/abutting couldn't be assessed. The front portion of the bench surface is formed of shaped slabs (pecked and flaked; one stone has been abraded).
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Some of the bench surface masonry might have subsided slightly.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Database Map 280.
Width
No
Database Map 280.
Height
110
Yes
Height of bench surface above kiva floor.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1a
Backfill from previous archaeological excavation
Orange and black adobe
Historic excavation
Brown
Clay loam
1b
Possible construction fill or undisturbed postabandonment fill
Patches of black adobe
None
Orange
Clay loam
2
Undisturbed post-abandonment fill
Charcoal; burned adobe; gray clay
None
Medium brown
Silty clay loam
Ventilation system (Feature 14) Top of page
General description
Ventilation system in an above-ground, blocked-in, late Pueblo III kiva; the tunnel portion exposed is typical of ventilation systems in Pueblo III kivas--location of the shaft is unclear, however.
Use history
Used to bring fresh air into the kiva; left open at abandonment. Possibly damaged during previous archaeological excavation.
Associated features
Deflector (Feature 6) Hearth (Feature 8) Southern recess (Feature 12).
Excavation procedure
This ventilator tunnel opening was exposed in the south bench face, and, to clarify construction, a small test pit was excavated at the juncture of the ventilation system and the cell wall.
Portion excavated
Ventilator tunnel opening was exposed in the south bench face. Some of the stones forming the tops of the masonry tunnel walls were exposed during removal of construction sediment below the surface of the southern recess, and an exploratory 25 x 25 cm pit was excavated into the southern recess bench surface where the ventilator tunnel construction abuts the kiva cell wall.
Horizontal location
Tunnel portion is located beneath the surface of the southern recess; kiva is 14 m east-southeast of the great tower.
Vertical location
Base of the tunnel opening is at kiva floor level; the opening extends 75 cm up from bedrock.
Construction
Because the feature was not excavated nor fully exposed, construction details are unclear. However, the rectangular enclosing cell was constructed (on bedrock) first, with or without an opening for the ventilator tunnel in the south wall (vertical shaft portion of the system was not discovered). Then the bench-face masonry was constructed, the vent-tunnel opening, and probably the masonry that formed the vent-tunnel walls were constructed. The tunnel opening was well constructed, with most stones shaped to form uniform corners. All areas between the masonry bench face walls and the cell walls (except for the vent tunnel) would then have been filled with construction material up to the level of the bench surfaces. Then the vent tunnel would have been roofed over by some means, completing the southern recess surface. If the vent shaft is not outside the cell wall, then it is possible that a chimney-like structure (that would have extended up through the kiva roof) was constructed just inside the cell wall to serve as a shaft. An upright slab was found where the vent tunnel meets the cell wall, indicating that the vent tunnel did not pass through the cell wall.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Degree of preservation
Unknown.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Database Map 280.
Width
No
Database Map 280.
Height
No
Database Map 282.
Depth
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Construction fill
Black adobe chunks; yellow/gray clay
Possible disturbance by 1930s excavations
Red-brown
Silty clay loam