Laserfiche WebLink
Within and among the clasts of Feature 2 the fill exhibited a slightly grayer color (IOYR <br />4/1) at the 12-17cm level, and the charcoal flecks and oxidized sandstone fragments in the soil <br />increased in number at this depth as well. This indistinct concentration of charcoal and soil <br />grayness — possibly a result of ash content — is all that remains of what was plausibly a thermal <br />feature such as a hearth. A charcoal sample obtained from this level was sent to International <br />Chemical Analysis, Inc. of Miami, and yielded an AMS date of 1090±30 BP (calibrated age <br />890-1010 AD). <br />The area encompassed by Feature 2 measures approximately 55cm northeast -southwest <br />by 70cm northwest -southeast, depending on which of the numerous sandstone clasts are <br />included in the interpretation of what is and is not a feature stone. An examination of which of <br />the rocks were oxidized and which were unaltered proved to be of little help in that <br />interpretation. Below approximately 16-22cm beneath the base of Feature 2, the soil color <br />reverted to the less gray l OYR 3/3, but the presence of charcoal and oxidized rock continued to <br />the contact with bedrock. <br />Artifactual collections within Test Pit 3, isolated by sifting through a 1/8" screen, <br />consist of 51 flakes from the 0-10cm level (FSs 219, 223, 227, 239, and 240) — including 10 <br />from within Feature 2 (FS 240), 44 from 10-20cm (FSs 222, 224, 229, 230, 241, and 243), and <br />5 from Feature 2 (FS243). Additionally, a ground stone fragment (FS221) was found resting at <br />17cm. Charcoal was collected from 12-17cm — from the interior of Feature 2, 13-18cm, and <br />10-18cm — also from the interior of Feature 2. A series of pollen samples was also taken from <br />the exposed walls of TP3 and ST5 at depths of 5-8cm, 13-16cm, 20-23cm, 18-22cm — on the <br />interior floor of Feature 2, 22-27cm, and 35-38cm — atop the exposed bedrock. <br />Grid Unit 6NOE, identified by the southwest corner of the one -meter grid and situated <br />within the main activity area, or central portion of the site, was completely excavated; <br />extending southwards from Test Trench 3/A1 (Figure 2). The purpose of selecting this unit for <br />excavation was to provide a more substantial profile view of the subsurface cultural deposits <br />than what was afforded by the auger tests, shovel tests, and 25cm-wide test trenches. As <br />elsewhere; however, the changes in soil color, texture, compactness, and cultural content were <br />indistinct and did not reveal any stratigraphic variation that could be construed as distinct <br />cultural layers, occupational surfaces, hiatuses between occupation contexts, or formal features. <br />Significant artifactual remains, however, were found and collected. <br />Keeping in mind that the data from grid unit 6NOE entails only 3/4 of a square meter <br />(the northern 1/4 of the unit was collected as Test Trench 3/A1) artifactual materials recovered <br />from grid unit 6NOE, isolated by sifting through a 1/8" screen, consist of 12 flakes from the 0- <br />25 <br />