Nonstructure 904, extramural surface

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Features

Firepit (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Firepit on an extramural surface.
Use history
Used as firepit (cooking, heat, light?). Sandstone rocks were put in the bottom of the pit. There was continued use of the feature as a firepit. Use-associated fill was left in the pit at abandonment.
Associated features
Excavation procedure
East half was excavated first, then west half.
Portion excavated
Only the portion of pit within the excavation unit; feature continues outside unit to the north and west.
Horizontal location
Located in northwest corner of a 1 x 1 excavation unit; south of the roomblock in Archictural Block 900.
Vertical location
On prehistoric ground surface (about 71 cm below modern ground surface).
Construction
Pit was excavated into fill.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. Possible--east half of firepit had a layer of five pieces of sandstone that were burned and appeared to have been intentionally placed sometime during the use of the pit.
Thermal alteration
Yes. Floor and walls were slightly fire reddened.
Sooting
No
Sealed
No
Preservation
Excellent.
Degree of preservation
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  basin-shaped.
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred:  irregular.
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
66
No
North-south.
Width
63
No
East-west.
Height
No
Depth
22
No
Middle of feature.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Fill is burned material related to use as a firepit
abundant charcoal flecking; moderate number of artifacts; moderate amount of burned sandstone; sparse burned earth nodules
brown
silt loam
2
Pocket of burned material
abundant charcoal flecking; reddish yellow mottling
brown with reddish yellow
silt loam
3
Loose fill from rodent disturbance
charcoal flecking
rodent
brown
silt loam
4
Fill of early use of firepit
charcoal flecking; sandstone pebbles
reddish yellow
silt loam