FLOOR CONTACT ARTIFACTS

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 6
Twenty-one artifacts were recovered from the floor of Feature 6. One Sacaton Red-on-buff jar (potbust) and two small, whole seed jars of Gila Plain, Salt variety were situated on the floor. The walls of the seed jars were extremely thick and were similar in thickness to that generally observed for ceramic censers (Haury 1976). A fragmentary censer of Salt Plain, approximately 50% of which was present, also was recovered from the floor of this pithouse. Other than these three vessels, four Salt Plain jar sherds were recovered from the floor.

Seven pieces of ground stone were concentrated on the floor northwest of the hearth. Two of the total five manos were formally shaped, suggesting use within a trough metate. Three of the manos were informal and could have been used on any grinding surface. A small, whole grinding slab and a multiple use tool also were found in association with the floor. In addition, two tabular schist knives were located within the northwestern portion of the structure. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 7
There were 20 artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 7. A single tabular knife of schist was found on the floor, along with five pieces of chipped stone debitage. Most of the debitage was located within the entryway and immediately east of the hearth and consisted of primary and secondary flakes of quartzite, basalt, and chert.

Six pieces of ground stone also were recovered from the floor including a single, whole formal mano of olivine basalt, two fragmentary formal manos of basalt and vesicular basalt, two vesicular basalt metate fragments (one of which represented a trough metate), and one indeterminate fragment of ground stone. Two of the manos represented two-hand specimens that were suitable for use in trough metates. Two of the manos were situated adjacent to one another, approximately 1 m southeast of the hearth. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 14

There were 1,676 artifacts on the floor of this feature. The floor of this pithouse was characterized by many in situ undecorated potbusts (primarily jars) that apparently had broken when the house collapsed; a minimum of nine plain ware and two buff ware vessels were represented on the floor. These broken vessels were situated within the central portion of the structure, away from the eastern and western walls. Gila variety of Gila Plain represented at least two jars and one larger olla. There were also three vessels of Salt variety of Gila plain. The buff wares were Pioneer period. Decorated ceramics on the floor consisted primarily of sherds of Snaketown Red-on-buff, all but three of which were bowl sherds. In addition, a whole Snaketown Red-on-buff mini jar and a partially reconstructible (25% present) Snaketown Red-on-buff bowl were situated on the floor of Feature 14.

Small quantities of Snaketown, Gila Butte, Gila Butte, and Sacaton Red-on-buff sherds, almost exclusively representing bowl forms, also were found on the floor, but appeared to reflect mixing of post-occupational fill materials.

Eleven pieces of debitage and eight pieces of ground stone were recovered from the floor of Feature 14. No formal chipped stone tools were identified. The ground stone tools consisted of two semiformal manos (one whole and one fragmentary), a whole slab metate, a small whole grinding slab, a reconstructible stone bowl, a possible reamer fragment, a fragmentary palette, and a polishing stone fragment. The larger pieces of ground stone (i.e., the metate, the grinding slab. and the manos) were generally distributed near the edges or walls of the structure; the smallerspecimens of ground stone were located among the potbusts, nearer to the center of the pithouse.

Three pieces of shell, including two unworked fragments of Anodonta and a finished zoomorph of an indeterminate marine bivalve, were obtained from the floor contact zone within Feature 14. The zoomorph was a fragmentary bird effigy that had been intricately carved (incised) on both the interior and exterior; thus, the bird was made to be viewed from both sides. An eye, the beak, wing feathers, and legs were portrayed in incising on both sides of the specimen. The marine genus most likely represents either Glycymeris or Laevicardium, however, the specimen was too badly burned to allow definite taxonomic identification. It is probable that this shell zoomorph burned when the structure burned and collapsed.A whole sherd disk had been fashioned out of a Snaketown Red-on-buff bowl sherd. The specimen was relatively large (9.5 x 9.3 cm) and displayed edges that were irregular, having been chipped to shape, but not ground smooth. The function of this decorated sherd disk is unknown, but the specimen was not burned, suggesting that it may represent post©abandonment trash.

A chunk of raw hematite also was obtained from the floor. The specimen was a dull brick red in color and was soft and slightly grainy. The hematite measured 2.9 x 1.9 cm and exhibited a single flat surface that resembled a grinding facet. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 19
There are only a few artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 19. Two partial plain ware potbusts, a mano, and a single turquoise mosaic piece comprised the only floor remains that were recovered. The potbusts consisted of two partial jars of Gila Plain, Gila variety (63 sherds)
and Gila Plain, Salt variety (27 sherds). These jars were located in the southeastern corner of the structure and were situated adjacent to one another next to an internal pit; both potbusts were impacted by the backhoe trench. The mano was a whole two-hand formal mano of quartzite. The specimen was situated adjacent to one of the large postholes located to the north of the hearth within Feature 19. The turquoise mosaic piece was whole, square, and measured 4.0 cm x 4.0 cm and 1.5 cm thick. The specimen was light blue in color with brown veins. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 21
The floor of Feature 21 yielded three partial red ware potbusts and one partial plain ware potbust. One of the red ware potbusts was a poorly fired bowl of indeterminate type that was in fragments on the floor and represented by roughly 75% of the vessel. This bowl appeared to have been lightly fired but readily dissolved in water when tested in the laboratory. It is possible that the vessel was unfired, but became slightly oxidized when the house burned. The ceramic was thin and very micaceous and may represent either Vahki Red or Sacaton Red. Another of the red ware vessels was represented by only eight sherds, but appeared to be a fragmentary bowl of Salt Red. The third, represented by 52 sherds, was a fragmentary jar of an indeterminate red ware type. A single partial bowl of Gila Plain, Salt variety also was present on the floor and was represented by 32 sherds. The only decorated sherd collected from the floor of Feature 21 was identified as a Gila Butte Red-on-buff bowl sherd. The three red ware potbusts were concentrated within the central and eastern portions of the structure. A single primary flake tool of basalt also was recovered from the floor. The artifact was whole and was located immediately west of the hearth. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 22
There were 98 artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 22. These remains were mostly plain ware sherds of two types: Salt Plain and Gila Plain, Salt variety. Plain ware jar sherds outnumbered bowl sherds 4:1; only two olla sherds (Salt Plain) were found on floor contact. No whole or partial plain ware potbusts were identifiable from the floor of Feature 22.

The only three decorated sherds recovered as part of the floor assemblage were identified as Gila Butte Red-on-buff bowl sherds. Numerous lumps of hematite ocher were found on the floor of Feature 22. This structure stood out as having yielded the largest quantity of hematite ocher(27+ pieces all together), most of which was retrieved from floor contact. A very large cake of pure hematite ocher, 8.4 x 8.6 cm in size, was recovered from the southwestern corner of the pithouse. This hematite was bright brick red in color, porous, slightly grainy and powdery, and measured 3.1 cm in thickness. An additional 19+ lumps of hematite ocher were located in two concentrations, to the east of the large cake. One concentration contained at least five small lumps of hematite ocher, one of which was pure and dull brick red in color and the other four were mixed with dirt and were very crumbly and grainy. The second concentration consisted of approximately 1 small (pea-sized) and medium-sized lumps. These pieces contained yellow-orange inclusions as part of the hematite matrix and thus were variable in color, including rusty red, peach, and brick red colors.

A single spindle whorl fashioned from a Gila Plain, Gila variety sherd also was found on the floor of Feature 22. The edges of this large (5.8 cm in diameter) sherd whorl were fairly well©ground and flat. The perforation displayed possible shaft use-wear and was 0.8 cm in diameter. A worked sherd of Gila Plain, Salt variety also was recovered from the floor. This jar sherd was shaped through grinding into a subrectangular form; one edge was ground flat, one edge was ground round, one edge was moderately ground and was slightly irregular, and the fourth edge was barely ground and was very irregular. This specimen of unknown function measured 5.5 x 2.4 cm.

Four formal chipped stone tools and 15 debitage flakes were obtained from the floor of Feature 22. The formal tools consisted of two primary flake tools of basalt and an indeterminate igneous material, a hammerstone of quartzite, and a tabular knife of schist. A basalt primary flake tool showed utilization; the other primary flake tool showed no use-wear. This is not uncommon for primary flake tools. Much of the debitage consisted of basalt (40%; n=6); quartzite was the next most common raw material type encountered (27%; n=4).

Thirteen pieces of shell also were part of the floor assemblage of Feature 22. Most (77%; n=10) of the shell consisted of unmodified Anodonta fragments, with only three finished artifacts of marine shell recovered. A single bracelet fragment of Glycymeris, a fragmentary cut shell bead/pendant of Anodonta, and a whole shell bead/pendant fashioned from a juvenile Glycymeris valve comprised the finished ornaments. The cut shell bead/pendant of Anodonta displayed a single serrated edge and a small punched perforation. The whole shell bead/pendant of Glycymeris was whole.

Two additional ornaments, one of turquoise and one of schist, were found on this floor. The turquoise bead was small, measuring 0.95 x 1.1 cm, and was essentially a disc bead, although it was irregular in shape. The surfaces of the turquoise bead were ground flat and all of the edges also were ground and worn very smooth. The perforation was bi-conical. The schist pendant was shaped into a large rectangle that measured 4.2 x 5.4 cm. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 78
There were 18 artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 78. These items were characterized by almost equal percentages (39% and 33%, respectively) of plain ware sherds and lithics. In addition, four pieces of ground stone and a sherd disk were obtained from the floor contact zone.

The plain ware ceramics were identified as Gila Plain, Salt variety along with single occurrences of Gila Plain, Gila variety, Salt Plain, and Sacaton buff sherds. Undecorated jar sherds outnumbered bowl sherds 2:1.The lithics found on the floor consisted of a basalt lap anvil and five pieces of debitage. The lap anvil was located on the floor directly north (1.0 m) of the hearth. This tool displayed pecking marks on its dorsal side and was whole; the anvil measured 11.3 x 10.0 cm and was 2.2 cm thick.

The four ground stone tools included two whole manos, one fragmentary metate, and one fragment of unknown function. The two manos were informal, consisting of river cobbles of porphyritic basalt and granite. One was a large two-hand specimen and the other was a one-hand specimen. The metate fragment was of quartz basalt and was of indeterminate form. The indeterminate piece of ground stone was manufactured from porphyritic basalt.

The single sherd disk recovered from the floor of Feature 78 was fashioned from a buff ware jar sherd (exterior slipped) that was shaped with a fairly regular outline. The edges of the circular disk were relatively well ground and were flat, but the interior side of the sherd was worn, resulting in interior edges that were rounded from wear. Although the function of sherd disks remains unclear (Doelle 1985; Greenleaf 1975; Haury 1965a; 1976; Huntington 1986; Kidder 1932), use-wear on this particular disk suggested that it might have functioned as the lid to a vessel. The sherd disk was burned, was very large, and measured 8.5 x 8.2 cm. It had been cut and snapped out of a larger piece of schist; cutting striations could be identified on one edge. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 79
There were 63 artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 79. The assemblage was characterized primarily by plain ware sherds along with smaller quantities of decorated ceramics. ground stone tools, and

The plain ware ceramics consisted of roughly equal percentages of Salt Plain and Gila Plain, Salt variety sherds. A single reconstructible jar (50% whole) was represented by seven of the Gila Plain, Gila variety sherds. Plain ware jar sherds outnumbered bowl sherds 3.3:1. The ceramics were distributed within the eastern half of the structure, as the western half of the floor was missing.Five decorated sherds were found on the floor and included two Gila Butte Red-on- buff bowl sherds, one Gila Butte/Santa Cruz Red-on-buff bowl sherd, and two indeterminate red- on-buff sherds (one bowl and one jar sherd). Red-on-buff bowl sherds dominated jar sherds 4:1.

One whole informal mano of basalt also was recovered from the floor. The basalt mano was small enough that it could have been used with one hand. In addition, two miscellaneous ground stone tools were obtained as part of the floor assemblage. One of the artifacts was whole and may represent a scraper or plane of quartzite. The major areas of use occurred on the edges of this tool and were characterized by striations indicating abrasion and polishing.

The second tool was fragmentary and was fashioned from tabular schist; this specimen displayed polish and striations along two faces. The edges and ends of the artifact also exhibited abrasion that resulted in prominent beveling. The function of this tool is unknown. The two chipped stone artifacts encountered on the floor of Feature 79 included a single basalt core and a basalt tertiary debitage flake. These specimens were widely separated (over 2.0 m apart) on the house floor. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 112
There were 14 artifacts and three decorated potbusts recovered from the floor of Feature 112. Small but equal quantities of chipped stone and ground stone were recorded on the floor. A single piece of copper ore was recovered from the rear edge of the pithouse.The most complete Sacaton Red-on-buff jar potbust was represented by 241 sherds or 75-100% of the vessel. It was located immediately adjacent to, and partially overlapping, the hearth. Two additional fragmentary Sacaton Red-on-buff jars also were collected, but were represented by barely 25% of the original vessels; one jar was represented by 27 sherds and the second by 11 sherds.

Two of the five chipped stone artifacts were formal tools. A single scraper of basalt and a schist tabular knife were located in close proximity to one another on the floor. The lateral edge of the tabular knife displayed bifacial use. The scraper was a secondary flake that had been utilized and exhibited bifacial use on the distal end. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 113
There were 54 artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 113. One partially recons- tructible jar of Gila Plain, Gila variety was on floor contact and approximately 25% of the vessel was present. A reconstructible jar of Gila Plain, Salt variety also was collected and was roughly 50% complete. Plain ware sherds found on the floor of this feature were primarily Gila Plain, Gila variety. Plain ware jar sherds outnumbered bowl sherds 8.5:1; in addition 27 olla sherds were identified.

Two partially reconstructible decorated vessels also were obtained from the floor of Feature 113. A Sacaton Red-on-buff jar was 25-50% present and a Santa Cruz/Sacaton Red-on-buff bowl also was approximately 25-50% reconstructible. In addition, a single Gila Butte Red-on-buff sherd and three Sacaton Red-on-buff sherds were on floor contact.

A tabular knife of schist with bifacial use wear on its lateral edge also was situated on the floor of Feature 113. In addition, an informal mano of porphyritic basalt was collected; this tool was whole and represented a one-hand mano. The floor assemblage also yielded a whole schist palette. This artifact exhibited pecking in addition to grinding/polishing striations on the use surface, which suggested that the palette was resharpened during use. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 132
There were 13 artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 132. Two Sacaton Red-on-buff potbusts were present on floor contact; one vessel consisted of a bowl that was 25-50% whole while the second vessel was a jar that was only 25% present. No other decorated ceramics were found on the floor of this structure. A partially reconstructible jar of Gila Plain, Salt variety also was found on the floor and was approximately 50% complete. In addition, two Sacaton Buff bowl sherds, one indeterminate buff ware jar sherd, and one Wingfield plain sherd of an unknown vessel form were part of the floor assemblage.

A single granite core and two primary flakes, one of andesite and one of basalt, were obtained from the floor near the entry of Feature 132. The floor assemblage also contained two whole ground stone tools, an informal mano of quartzite one-hand) and a semiformal (partially shaped), slab metate of sandstone.

A fragment of a large bracelet of Glycymeris also formed part of the floor assemblage. This bracelet was massive and displayed an umbonal area that was left raised (rather than having been ground flat as was most common) and was accentuated. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 133
There were only a few artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 133. Thirty artifacts were found on floor contact and consisted primarily of plain ware ceramics, including a partial bowl of Salt Plain. The vessel was a miniature pinch pot and was approximately 25% whole. In general, plain ware jar sherds outnumbered bowl sherds 2.4:1.

Among the chipped stone artifacts on the floor, two formal tools and six flakes were identified. The tools were comprised of a basalt core and a schist tabular knife. The tabular knife displayed unifacial use wear along its lateral edge. Basalt was the primary raw material type (67%; n=4).

Three manos, two informal and one formal, also were recovered from the floor of Feature 133. The informal manos were fragmentary quartzite cobbles, one of which had been re-used after breaking. The formal mano was manufactured from quartz basalt and was a two-hand specimen.

A single burned rock of indeterminate material type also was found on the floor. It couldnot be ascertained if the rock had originally been modified due to its badly burned nature. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 136
There were only two artifacts found in floor contact on this house. There house had been cut in half during excavation of a later trash pit. Fill from this feature contains a number of artifacts that may have been carried by rodents from that pit to near the floor. RETURN

Floor Contact Artifacts from Feature 138
There were 40 artifacts recovered from the floor of Feature 138. The assemblage was dominated by decorated and plain ware ceramics. This pithouse was unusual in that three whole red-on-buff censers and one carved stone bowl were found on floor contact. The ceramic censers were clustered together and were situated immediately south of the hearth. The censers are classified only as indeterminate red©on©buff; the details of their decoration cannot be discerned because they had burned with the structure. One of the censers represented an animal effigy, but the body parts (head, arms, and legs) of the effigy had been broken off prehistorically and the type of animal represented could not be determined. The stone bowl was incised with a crisscross pattern on the outer edge.

Two reconstructible plain ware vessels also were collected from floor contact. A bowl of Gila Plain, Salt variety was found in an upright position immediately south of the cluster of censers. Most (75-100%) of the bowl was present. A plate of Gila Plain, Gila variety was found inverted on the floor in the center of the western portion of the pithouse. This plate was 100% reconstructible. In addition to these potbusts, eight plain ware sherds were recovered from the floor of Feature 138.

Four formal chipped stone tools and five pieces of debitage were recovered from floor contact. Three of the four tools were located within the western half of the structure, with the fourth having been situated within the eastern section of the house. Two cores (one basalt and one quartzite), one quartzite scraper, and one quartzite primary flake tool were identified. The scraper was formed from a secondary flake and displayed unifacial use along its lateral edge The primary flake tool exhibited bifacial use wear along its lateral edge. A single tertiary debitage flake of obsidian was collected from the floor.

The seven pieces of ground stone recovered from the floor of Feature 138 were concentrated in the center of the structure, to the east of the hearth. Seven whole, informal one- hand river cobble manos of porphyritic basalt (n=3), basalt (n=2), granite (n=1), and fine-grained basalt (n=1) were found in close proximity to the ceramic censers, the carved stone bowl, and the reconstructible bowl.

A single fragment of a Glycymeris bracelet fragment also was found on the floor in the eastern portion of the structure.

RETURN