Structure 1511, masonry surface structure

Back to Study Unit

Features

Doorway (Feature 1) Top of page
General description
Raised-sill doorway.
Use history
Originally provided access between Structures 1511 and 1512; later, it was plugged.
Associated features
Possibly Feature 2 (masonry wall segment that forms a "step").
Excavation procedure
Exposed, not excavated.
Portion excavated
None.
Horizontal location
North wall of room.
Vertical location
In the center of the doorway, the sill is 26 cm above a bedrock boulder. Not clear from the notes how far above Surfaces 1 and 2 the doorway is, but on the basis of the profile elevations, the sill appears to be approximately 1.35 m above Surface 1 and 1.80 m above Surface 2.
Construction
The sides of the doorway are masonry. The lintel and the sill each consist of a stone slab.
Remodeling/ modification
Yes. Plugged with irregular block masonry and mortar ("adobe" coating on upper stones).
Thermal alteration
Not Recorded
Sooting
Not Recorded
Sealed
Yes. Plugged with masonry.
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
Sill slab broken; lintel slightly slumped.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  unknown.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
Not applicable.
Width
No
See Database Map 4233.
Height
63
Yes
East side.
Depth
No
See Database Map 4233.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture
1
Sandstone masonry used to intentionally plug doorway.
Not applicable.
Not recorded.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Wall: other (Feature 2) Top of page
General description
Short masonry wall forming a "step."
Use history
Originally, during the construction of Room 1511, this wall may have served to buttress the west wall of the room. Upon construction of the north wall and the floor of Room 1511, this feature was ideally located to serve as a step in front of the doorway (Feature 1).
Associated features
Possibly doorway (Feature 1).
Excavation procedure
Exposed, not excavated.
Portion excavated
None.
Horizontal location
Northwest corner of room.
Vertical location
Top of step is approximately 75 to 80 cm below the doorway (Feature 1) sill, 55 cm below the surface of the bedrock boulder in front of the doorway, approximately 50 to 55 cm above Surface 1, and approximately 1 m above Surface 2.
Construction
This is a masonry wall tied into the west wall of the room and abutting the bedrock boulder to the northeast. The masonry is irregular, and the stones of the exterior face are not vertically aligned.
Remodeling/ modification
No
Thermal alteration
Not Recorded
Sooting
Not Recorded
Sealed
No
Preservation
Good.
Degree of preservation
West end slumped.
Shape in plan view
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape in cross section
Actual:  irregular.
Inferred: 
Shape comments
Dimensions
 
Actual
Complete?
Inferred
Comments
Length
No
See Database Map 4233.
Width
No
See Database Map 4233.
Height
41
Yes
Measurement is at the west end. At the east end, the height is only 14 cm.
Depth
No
Not applicable.
Stratigraphy
Stratum
Interpretation
Inclusions
Disturbance
Color
Texture