Nonstructure 603, extramural surface

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Features

Burial pit (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Disturbed burial pit originally excavated into prehistoric ground surface.
Use history
Used for interment; disturbed in recent times. Interpreted as a burial pit because pit boundaries are clear, discrete, and easily definable, but it is possible that the pit was created during recent, nonprofessional excavation.
Associated features
Human Remains Occurrence 5 (Nonstructure 603, Feature 2).
Excavation procedure
Recorded in provenience data, which are available through the "Field Data: Provenience Data" query in the multisite research database.
Portion excavated
Only the portion of the pit within the excavation unit; feature continues outside the unit to the east and the south.
Horizontal location
Located in southeast corner of a 1 x 1 excavation unit; south of the roomblock in Architectural Block 600.
Vertical location
Prehistoric ground surface (about 1.39 m below modern ground surface).
Construction
Pit was excavated into undisturbed native sediment.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
Unknown
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Recently disturbed.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  irregular.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  elliptical.
Shape comments
Inferred plan view based on assumed pit function.
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
72
No
East-west.
Width
48
No
North-south.
Height
No
Depth
31
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Fill originally covered the body; the burial was recently disturbed by nonprofessional excavation
charcoal
recent
dark yellowish brown
silty loam
Human remains occurrence , HRO 5 (Feature 2) (NOTE: Additional information on human remains is archived at the Anasazi Heritage Center, Dolores, Colorado.) Top of page
General description
Partial, disarticulated adult remains.
Use history
Unknown, but these bones were probably originally part of a formal burial of an adult body; skeleton was disarticulated, probably during recent, nonprofessional excavation.
Associated features
Burial pit (Nonstructure 603, Feature 1).
Excavation procedure
Bones were exposed, mapped, photographed, and analyzed.
Portion excavated
Only the portion within the 1 x 1 m unit; feature continues outside the unit to the east and the south.
Horizontal location
Located in south and east portion of a 1 x 1 m excavation unit; feature is south of the roomblock in Architectural Block 600.
Vertical location
From 1.17 m to 1.74 m below modern ground surface.
Construction
Not applicable.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
No
Sooting
No
Sealed
Unknown
Preservation
Poor.
Degree of preservation
Assuming this was originally a formal burial, the skeleton has been greatly disturbed.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  unknown.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
80
No
North-south.
Width
65
No
East-west.
Height
No
Depth
47
No
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Bones were disarticulated, so the fill surrounding them is probably also disturbed, possibly by recent nonprofessional excavation
charcoal flecking in bottom of pit
historic
dark yellowish brown
silty loam