Non-Architectural Features

Non-architectural features consisting of two types were defined during the course of excavation. These were surfaces outside of structures which appeared to have been used, and outside hearths.

Two of the use surfaces had associated materials. The first, located on the south side of house 19 (see Fig. 5) was covered with broken plainware jars. The second, originally designated as house 15, had three pairs and seven single mountain sheep horns on it. At least seven animals were represented. No evidence of superstructures were found over these two areas.

Six outside hearths were found during the excavation (see Fig. 4). All contained burned rock and charcoal. Several contained profuse quantities of charred animal bone. They were formed by scooping out large basin-shaped pits 0.70 meters to 1.50 meters in diameter, and most were 0.10 meters to 0.25 meters in depth. Some were deeper, such as Hearth 3. The charred fill in the deeper pits was only in the bottom part of the pit. Located at the approximate edge of Hearth 3 and on the old surface level, was a burned mountain sheep horn.

Discussion

Most of the cooking was probably done in the outside hearths. The firepits inside the structures were too small to accommodate much culinary activity and most likely consisted of coals brought in from outside fires to heat the interiors.