1998 Field Season, Annual Report, Shields Pueblo

Introduction

Shields Pueblo (5MT3807) is a large Puebloan site with a primary occupation between A.D. 1000–1300 and an extended occupation from at least A.D. 775 to 1300. Shields is located on property owned by Colorado Mountain College (CMC) and James and Veda Wilson, immediately north of the Goodman Point Monument, a unit of Hovenweep National Monument. Shields is thought to have been a community center for the Goodman Point community between A.D. 1050–1225. Our multi-year excavations at the site are the first part of Crow Canyon's five-year research plan, Communities Through Time: Migration, Cooperation, and Conflict.

Crow Canyon archaeologists mapped Shields Pueblo in 1996 and conducted fieldwork at the site in 1997 (Ward 1997). This preliminary report provides an overview of our research goals and summarizes the research conducted during the 1998 field season. Detailed information regarding the work conducted at Shields will be available in a site report to be published on the Internet after the final season of excavation in 2000.

Eighteen high-density concentrations of artifact and rubble scatters were visible on the surface at Shields Pueblo, probably the remains of prehistoric habitation areas (Figure 1). Fieldwork in 1997 focused on surface collections and random excavations within the portion of Shields not under cultivation. The first season of fieldwork revealed several structures and features and provided information on the extent of historic disturbance at the site. Despite extensive disturbance from agriculture and historic collection activities, fieldwork conducted in 1997 proved that Shields still retained a great deal of important archaeological data. At the end of the 1997 field season, the National Geographic Society sponsored a remote-sensing project that identified numerous subsurface anomalies, possible subterranean structures and features (Varien 1997).

In 1998, we continued surface collections and the random excavation strategies pursued in 1997 and we extended our sampling coverage to the northern portion of the site. We completed excavations left unfinished in 1997 and expanded excavations in, and adjacent to, structures and features encountered in 1997. Finally, we conducted test excavations of anomalies identified by the remote-sensing project. The remote-sensing data proved to be invaluable, providing highly accurate information regarding the location of buried architectural features, primarily masonry-lined pit structures or kivas. Artifacts collected in 1998 are currently being analyzed, and tree-ring samples have been shipped to the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona.

The following people contributed to Shields fieldwork in 1998: Andrew Duff, project director; Chris Ward, assistant project director in April and May; Susan Ryan, assistant project director, May through October; Melissa Churchill and Kristin Kuckelman, research archaeologists; Mark Varien, director of research; Maripat Metcalf, archaeologist; Fumiyasu Arakawa, Bonny Rockette, Chad Thomas, and Amy Jo Vonarx, research interns; and the Crow Canyon education staff. In addition, numerous program participants made the work accomplished in 1998 possible.

Research Questions

Communities Through Time: Migration, Cooperation, and Conflict examines the development and abandonment of ancient Puebloan communities in the Mesa Verde region between A.D. 900 and 1300 and incorporates data gathered at the residential, the community, and the regional level. There are dense concentrations of residential and public architecture at Shields Pueblo, and Shields is believed to have been a community center from A.D. 1050–1225. The focus of community level research is the Goodman Point community, of which Shields was a part. Regional level research will compare the Goodman Point community with 26 other, similarly long-lasting, communities in the Mesa Verde region (Varien 1999).

Several of our research questions focus on reconstructing the history of occupation and the changing population levels at Shields Pueblo—specifically in estimating population levels and reconstructing population fluctuations during occupation and at the time of abandonment. A high priority is determining the earliest and latest dates of occupation and whether the site occupation was continuous. Tree-ring dates obtained from structures are critical data for this assessment. Within the full history of occupation, we are particularly interested in the A.D. 1050–1225 period, a span which includes the Chacoan Period (approximately A.D. 1050–1150) and the post-Chacoan Period (A. D. 1150–1225). We hope to determine if site organization at Shields and the organization of the Goodman Point community changed from the Chacoan to the post-Chacoan period and if occupation at Shields was continuous during this transition.

A community center is defined by an area of dense residential and public architecture in the center of a settlement cluster. Shields Pueblo is thought to have been the center for the Goodman Point community prior to the construction of Goodman Point Pueblo, a large, aggregated village located just south of Shields and primarily occupied between A.D. 1225 and 1300. The presence of residential architecture at Shields has been confirmed, but the extent of public architecture remains unknown. One of our goals at Shields is to identify and investigate public architecture. A prehistoric road terminates at Shields, and a large roomblock may have been a focus of the community. This evidence suggests the importance of Shields Pueblo and raises the following questions: Are there activities represented at community centers that are not represented at other residential sites or site clusters within a community? What was the relationship between the residents of the community center and those living in the surrounding settlements? Were the residents of community centers differentiated from the other residents of the community? Community centers may be expected to display evidence of "high status" individuals, or at least individuals with preferential access to limited resources. There was a substantial amount of disturbance at Shields from farming and collecting activities in the 1950s and 1960s. During this period, a rare copper bell was recovered from a burial at the site, and it is one of the northernmost bells recovered in the southwest (Hayes and Chappell 1962). The presence of this rare item suggests the possibility of high status individuals at the site and indicates direct or indirect long-distance interactions. The most likely source of the copper bell is western Mexico, and copper bells are significantly associated with community centers during the Chacoan era.

Finally, research at Shields will examine the relationship between residents of the Goodman Point community and residents of other communities in the region. This research will begin by examining interactions between Goodman Point Community residents and their neighbors in adjacent Sand Canyon community, where Crow Canyon has conducted 10 years of fieldwork.

Remote-Sensing Results

Concentrations of artifacts and sandstone rubble were mapped in 1996, at which time 18 high-density artifact and rubble scatters were identified (refer to Figure 1). These are tentatively interpreted as the locations of middens and household architecture, such as roomblocks or pit structures. At the end of the 1997 field season, remote-sensing surveys, using electrical resistivity and magnetic-field gradient, were conducted. Testing indicated that one area, Block 700, was related to historic settlement in the Goodman Point area, and it was excluded from the remote-sensing survey. Remote-sensing techniques identify locations where the soil differs from an undisturbed soil; disturbances, called anomalies, can be natural or cultural in origin.

The testing of remote-sensing anomalies was one of the primary objectives of the 1998 field season. The strategy for testing was multistage. Anomalies were plotted on a map to determine their locations with respect to the excavation grid at Shields. Once the locations were identified on the ground, a series of bucket auger holes were excavated by hand across an anomaly at 1m intervals along north-south and east-west grid lines. The purpose of auger holes was to determine if a buried cultural deposit was present and, if so, the depth and extent of the deposit. Using the information from the augering, an east-west backhoe trench was then excavated across the cultural deposit. Proceeding cautiously, and removing as little soil as possible, the backhoe trench was excavated until the buried feature could be defined. In practice, mechanical excavation to the depth of kiva pilasters was required to identify structures and determine their spatial extent. This allowed us to assess the depositional sequence within a structure with minimal damage to the remaining architecture. Stratigraphic profiles were drawn for one or both trench faces, and excavation began at the base of the trench, or adjacent to trenches in some cases.

The remote-sensing project conducted at Shields Pueblo identified 181 anomalies likely to represent subterranean structures or other cultural features (Varien 1997). All of the anomalies tested in 1998 thought likely to be buried structures were determined to be masonry kivas. Additionally, each of the structures identified during the 1997 field season were also associated with a remote-sensing anomaly. Figure 2 is a graphic representation of the electrical resistivity data. Many of the anomalies, identified by the darkest locations, occur in roughly east-west alignments and are thought to be pit structures located to the south of masonry roomblocks. A similar display of the magnetometer results is presented in Figure 3. The location of anomalies corresponds remarkably well to the high-density areas (Figure 4). Additionally, several anomalies create a southwest-to-northeast alignment, parallel to a prehistoric road that runs from Casa Negra, the center of the neighboring Sand Canyon community during the Chacoan period, to Shields Pueblo (Connolly 1992).

The remote-sensing data from Shields provide a picture of settlement structure and extent; however, the interpretation of remote-sensing anomalies as buried pit structures requires additional confirmation.

Field Methods

A focus of our research at Shields was to sample the surface and subsurface cultural materials from each of the high-density areas to obtain a site-wide sample of artifacts and cultural deposits for intrasite and intersite comparisons. Using the surface map as a guide, each concentration was sampled through systematic surface collections and excavations of randomly selected 1-x-1-m units. Each high-density area served as a sampling block, and 1-x-1-m units were randomly selected for excavation from each individual block, using a statistical computer program. Four or eight random units were selected from each block—the total number depending on the size of the area. In 1997, research was confined to CMC property in fallow, limiting application of this strategy to 10 of the 18 areas. In 1998, we extended our fieldwork north on CMC property and into the northern portion of the site which is located on the Wilsons' property. This resulted in the sampling of five additional high-density areas.

In addition to the random sample, a number of judgmental units were also excavated. Two strategies guided the placement of judgmental units. First, we expanded our excavations in locations that encountered structures or other features in 1997. Secondly, we used the results of the remote-sensing project to select areas likely to contain subterranean structures. Remote-sensing anomalies were initially investigated using a soil auger, but using a backhoe proved to be the most efficient means of confirming the presence, extent, form, and depositional sequence of a structure associated with a remote-sensing anomaly. Backhoe excavations were also used to investigate areas surrounding a roomblock which was excavated by CMC in the 1970s. Figure 5 shows the locations of all Crow Canyon excavations to date.

Surface Collection

One objective of our fieldwork in the 1998 season was to continue the collection of artifacts from the modern ground surface. This provids a relatively expedient means of gathering sizable and varied artifact assemblages from across the site. These data are useful for evaluating intrasite temporal variation, assessing the distribution of different artifact classes, and comparing the surface map with a more systematic and intensive surface evaluation through sample collection. The site was subdivided into 20-x-20-m grid cells in the 1997 field season. The method of surface collection involved placing a point in the center of a grid cell and marking a 3-m-radius collection area around that point. All ceramic, lithic, groundstone, and historic artifacts lying on the modern ground surface within each circle were collected.

In 1997, surface collections were confined to cells that fell within one of the high-density areas. Based on the success of last season's surface data, we expanded the strategy in 1998 to encompass areas falling between high-density blocks, as well as collections from within high-density blocks. Forty-two surface collections were completed in 1998, bringing the overall total to 93 surface-collection units (Table 1). The distribution of surface collections from both seasons is shown in Figure 6. Figure 7 presents an initial assessment of artifact density within each collected grid cell. For this figure, the artifact density within the surface collection is used to characterize density within each 20-x-20-m unit. These data indicate an overall agreement with the surface-defined high-density areas. Generally, artifact density is lower in the northern portion of a block, where structures would have been, and higher in the southwestern portion, where midden deposits are likely. However, these data also suggest that some areas of high surface-artifact density are evident between the sampling blocks. Surface collections from the remaining 20-x-20-m units continued in 1999. When full site coverage is complete, we will be able to generate more meaningful artifact density and distribution maps with coverage from all portions of the site.

Excavation

Five of the 18 high-density concentrations were tested in 1998. Blocks 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, and 1500 were each sampled with four randomly selected 1-x-1-m units. Additionally, all but one of the 1-x-1-m units from Blocks 200, 500, 600, 800, and 900 from 1997 were completed. In total, 15 of the 18 high-density areas have been examined with randomly located 1-x-1-m test excavations.

Judgmental excavations were concentrated in Blocks 100, 200, and 1400, and excavations in Block 1100 and Block 1500 were also supplemented with judgmental units. Generally, the sampling strategy involved opening 2-x-2-m units in areas likely to contain high artifact densities. In practice, these were placed southeast of structures or rubble scatters where midden deposits typically occur. Often these areas show high surface-artifact densities. Irregularly shaped units and 1-x-1-m units were employed as conditions warranted. Table 2 lists the 1998 excavation units by block and presents information about average unit depth, the presence of features and structures, and the status of each unit at the end of the field season. Figure 5 shows the locations of these excavation units. Excavations are grouped by block and discussed in greater detail below.

Block 100

Block 100 is located on the highest point at Shields Pueblo and contains the only preserved, above-ground architecture at the site (Figure 8). Several of the structures associated with this roomblock were excavated in the 1970s by students from Colorado Mountain College. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that this roomblock may have been a community facility or was, at least, a focus of community attention. This roomblock, located on the highest point of the site, would have been a prominent feature on the prehistoric landscape. The walls, constructed of finely coursed tabular sandstone, represent a greater investment of time and energy than is seen in household architecture in the immediate vicinity. Two rooms are much larger than average, and one room contains a very large hearth.

Structures 102, 103, and 104, originally excavated by Colorado Mountain College, were examined again in 1998. Excavation stopped when sterile sediments beneath each room were reached. No floors or intact deposits associated with occupation were detected, though several subfloor features may be associated with earlier use of these rooms. Additionally, a pit feature beneath Structure 103 was partially excavated. The feature extended underneath the rooms, and tree-ring samples collected from this feature may help determine the construction date of these rooms.

Excavations in 1997 indicated that the mounding of deposits around this roomblock (consisting of Structures 102, 103, and 104) probably resulted from backdirt associated with the CMC excavations in this area. Several backhoe trenches were excavated around the perimeter of this roomblock in an attempt to locate additional architecture and intact deposits. The trenches were excavated in all directions from the roomblock. Backhoe trench 112, to the west of the roomblock, was excavated to a depth of 0.68 m. The trench revealed no additional rooms but did indicate the presence of intact trash deposits and a possible structure. Two 2-x-2-m units (Segments 6 and 7), opened immediately south of the trench and excavated to depths of 1.0 m and 0.70 m, respectively, encountered several pit features. Excavation is incomplete in these two units. Backhoe trench 113, excavated to the north of the roomblock, extended approximately 6.0 m and cut through CMC backdirt. A unit (Segment 3), excavated at the base of this trench, revealed sterile sediments. Backhoe trench 114, east of the roomblock, revealed portions of a wall, suggesting an additional room is located east of Structure 104. No deposits associated with the possible fourth room were preserved. Two 1-x-1-m test units (Segments 1 and 2) were excavated on either side of the wall to sterile sediments. Both units, one of which contained a hearth, were completed in 1998.

Excavation in front of this roomblock in 1977 uncovered a masonry kiva constructed inside an earlier, earth-walled pit structure. A large surface depression at the site suggested the location of these structures immediately southeast of the roomblock. Backhoe trench 115 was excavated in this depression locating the masonry kiva (Structure 123). This structure was re-excavated, exposing the remaining portions of the structure floor. Excavation was completed, but documentation of the architecture in the structure will continue in 1999. Portions of the earlier earth-walled structure (Structure 122) were not previously excavated according to CMC documentation, and a judgmental unit was used to recover materials associated with the structure's abandonment and subsequent filling. This unit was excavated to a depth of 1.25 m, but it did not reach the bench or floor and remains incomplete. Backhoe trench 116 was excavated to the south of this kiva and pit structure to determine if any intact midden remained beneath backdirt mounds from the CMC excavations. No midden was detected, but a pit structure and several additional features were exposed. These were investigated by a 2-x-4-m excavation unit (Segment 5); excavation is incomplete. Additionally, a 2-x-2-m unit was excavated east of Backhoe trench 116 in an area in which midden deposits would be expected. This unit encountered sterile sediments in most of the unit, but root disturbance, or a possible feature, requires further exploration. Backhoe trench 128 was excavated west of Structures 122 and 123 to determine if additional pit structures or kivas were present in that location as might be expected for a public building of this size. Several earlier structures were encountered in this trench, but none appear to be associated with the occupation of the roomblock. This area will be explored further in 1999.

In 1997, eight 1-x-1-m units were excavated, all but one of which was completed. The unit not completely excavated encountered intact midden deposits and a pit structure (Structure 110). Tree-ring dates from this structure are in the A.D. 770s . Several excavation units were placed adjacent to the incomplete unit to collect additional materials. Initially, Backhoe trench 117 was excavated to define the northern perimeter of the structure. In addition, two 2-x-2-m units were excavated adjacent to the trench and the earlier unit. Several pieces of turquoise were recovered from intact midden deposits in this area, and these may have been associated with the use or occupation of the rooms in Block 100. A second backhoe trench (127) was excavated to define the southern edge of the structure and to determine if any midden was preserved in this area. Two 2-x-2-m units (N474/E488 and N476/E488) and Segment 4 were not excavated to floor and require additional excavation.

Block 200

Block 200 is located immediately east of Block 100 in the central part of the site (Figure 9). It was explored with eight randomly located 1-x-1-m test units in 1997. Two randomly located 1-x-1-m units remained incomplete at the end of the 1997 season—each unit had encountered structures. Several 1998 excavations represent additional investigation of these structures and completed units. In 1998, a number of units of various sizes were excavated: seven backhoe trenches, four 2-x-2-m units, one 1-x-1-m unit, one 1-x-2.5-m unit, one 1-x-2-m unit, one 1-x-3-m unit, several irregularly shaped units (segments), and three 1.5-x-0.65-m units.

In 1997, an incomplete 1-x-1-m unit located Structure 205, thought to be a kiva. This season, Backhoe trench 211, was excavated through Structure 205 to approximately 0.80 m below the modern ground surface. It defined the eastern edge of Structure 205, a subterranean, rectangular room. Several additional units (1-x-2.5-m unit, N519/E554, and Block 200, Segments 1, 2, and 3) were used to define the perimeter of the structure and to excavate deposits within it. The interior of the room contained secondary trash deposits, and sterile sediment was reached approximately 1.65 m below the modern ground surface in a portion of the room. Cultural deposits were present at this depth in another part of the room and may be associated with a floor feature or an earlier structure. Segment 3 excavations are incomplete.

A masonry kiva, Structure 208, was located in a 1-x-1-m unit in 1997, but excavations had not reached the structure floor. Excavation was expanded in 1998, and a 3-x-1-m unit, which included the 1-x-1-m unit, was excavated approximately 2.00 m below the modern ground surface, where the structure floor was exposed. Several units were excavated immediately south of this structure to secure an artifact assemblage associated with Structure 208. Backhoe trench 212 was excavated to the south of this structure to a depth of 0.80 m and revealed a pit feature and a minute amount of undisturbed midden deposits. Two judgmental 2-x-2-m units were excavated immediately east of backhoe trench 212 to a depth of approximately 0.33 m from the plow zone to sterile sediments. The disturbed midden in both units contained abundant artifacts. A burned surface was encountered above sterile sediments in the southernmost 2-x-2-m unit. A 1-x-1-m unit was excavated to explore the feature located in backhoe trench 212. This unit located a portion of a wall which may be associated with the excavation and construction of the southern recess of the kiva (Structure 208). All excavations in the immediate area of Structure 208 were completed in 1998.

A single 1-x-1-m unit was arbitrarily placed adjacent to a 1997 unit that revealed an intact trash deposit. The unit was excavated to a depth of 0.45 m, at which point, a wall feature was encountered; excavation in this unit is incomplete.

A series of five remote-sensing anomalies were tested with backhoe trenches (216–220). Five masonry kivas (Structures 221–225) were located. Two trenches (217 and 220) were profiled but not explored further. Excavations were conducted within exposed structures in three of the backhoe trenches. Backhoe trench 216 located Structure 221 approximately 1.20 m below the modern ground surface. A segment of this structure was excavated from the trench floor, but excavation ceased before reaching the kiva floor, and the unit remains incomplete. Backhoe trench 218 located Structure 223, a shallow kiva. The portion of this kiva within the backhoe trench was excavated by hand to the structure floor. Backhoe trench 219 revealed Structure 224, a masonry kiva. A test unit was excavated from the bottom of this trench to a depth of about 0.30 m, but remains incomplete. Additionally, two 2-x-2-m units were placed south of Structures 221 and 224 to collect associated midden deposits. Excavation in both units reached a depth of about 0.15 m; the units are incomplete.

Block 500

Block 500 is located in the southeastern portion of the site (Figure 1). The modern ground surface here is characterized by a slightly elevated area of rubble with a pit structure depression near the center of the block. This structure appears to have been excavated prior to CMC work in the 1970s. Excavation in two 1-x-1-m units which were started in 1997 was completed this year. The units were excavated to a depth of approximately 0.29 m from the modern ground surface through the plow zone and into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered.

Block 600

Block 600 is located in the southeastern portion of the site (Figure 1) and is characterized by two pit structure depressions, both of which appear to have been excavated prior to CMC work in the 1970s. Three 1-x-1-m units, incomplete from the 1997 season, were completed in 1998. The units were excavated to a depth of approximately 0.64 m below modern ground surface through the plow zone and into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered.

Block 800

Block 800 is located in the southeastern portion of the site (Figure 1). Three 1-x-1-m units remained incomplete from the 1997 field season, and two of these were completed this year. The units were excavated to a depth of approximately 0.62 m below the modern ground surface through the plow zone and into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered. The third unit was excavated to a depth of 0.94 m below the modern ground surface through the plow zone. It has not yet been determined if this unit lies within a feature or structure. Excavation is incomplete.

Block 900

Block 900, in the south-central portion of the site, is located immediately north of, and is bisected by, the county road (Figure 1). Three 1-x-1-m units started in 1997 were completed this year. The units were excavated to a depth of approximately 0.51 m from the modern ground surface through the plow zone and into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered.

Block 1000

Block 1000, in the north-central part of the site, is located immediately north of Blocks 100 and 200 (Figure 1). A large depression, thought to be a great kiva, was present in this area. Backhoe trench 1003 was excavated through this depression and it revealed a large pit filled with sandstone rubble. The pit was probably dug within the last century by farmers to hold rubble cleared off the land during farming operations (Connolly 1992).

Block 1100

This area is located in a recently plowed field in the northwest portion of the site, directly north of Block 1200 (Figure 1). Four randomly selected 1-x-1-m units were excavated. Three of these units were excavated to a depth of approximately 0.33 m from the modern ground surface through the plow zone into sterile sediments. No features or structures were uncovered in these units. The fourth 1-x-1-m unit encountered intact midden deposits approximately 0.33 m below the modern ground surface, and it was excavated another 0.15 m to sterile sediments. Five judgmental 2-x-2-m units were excavated in an area of high surface-artifact density in the southwest portion of Block 1100, where disturbed midden associated with the block was likely to be located. The average depth of these units was approximately 0.30 m. A burned, slab-walled pit excavated into an extramural surface was encountered in one of these units, and a second 2-x-2-m unit was excavated to define the boundaries of this feature. The pit was 1.33 m in length, 0.68 m in width, and it was 0.10 m deep. The fill was composed of charcoal and charred organic residue, suggesting use of this area for food preparation. The remaining three 2-x-2-m units did not contain features; all five units lacked structures. Excavation in Block 1100 was completed in 1998.

Block 1200

Block 1200 is located in the northwestern portion of the site (Figure 1). Four randomly selected 1-x-1-m units were excavated in Block 1200. Three of the units were excavated to a depth of approximately 0.32 m from the modern ground surface through the plow zone and into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered in these units, and all were completely excavated. The fourth unit was excavated approximately 0.35 m below the modern ground surface before encountering intact midden deposits. Excavations in this unit were not completed in 1998.

Block 1300

Block 1300 is located in the east-central portion of the site (Figure 1). Four randomly selected 1-x-1-m units were excavated in 1998. Three units were excavated to a depth of approximately 0.32 m from the modern ground surface through the plow zone and into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered, and all were completely excavated. The fourth unit was excavated approximately 0.35 m below the modern ground surface before encountering an intact midden deposit directly below the plow zone. Excavation in this unit was not completed this season.

Block 1400

Block 1400 is located in the northeastern portion of the site (Figure 1). Four 1-x-1-m units, five 2-x-2-m units, portions of two structures, an intact midden, and four backhoe trenches were excavated in 1998 (Figure 10). Initially, four 1-x-1-m units were randomly selected and excavated from the modern ground surface to a depth of approximately 0.29 m. These revealed no features or structures and were completely excavated.

Backhoe trench 1403 was the first backhoe trench excavated at Shields Pueblo to test a remote-sensing anomaly. Approximately 1.32 m of sediment was removed from the modern ground surface before encountering the tops of the masonry pilasters in Structure 1402. The trench exposed the northern one-fourth of the structure. About 0.87 m of natural postabandonment fill and burned roof fall were excavated by hand from the base of the trench before encountering the structure floor. In order to define the boundaries of Structure 1402, a second backhoe trench (1404) was excavated perpendicular to backhoe trench 1403. The south part of this trench was excavated approximately 0.40 m below the modern ground surface before uncovering a masonry wall associated with the southern recess. Sterile sediments were present directly south of this wall. The southern recess was excavated by hand from the base of the trench to the floor. The northern extension of this trench revealed only sterile sediments. Additional portions of Structure 1402 were also excavated but remain incomplete.

Three 2-x-2-m units were excavated south of Structure 1402 to obtain midden material likely associated with Structure 1402. These units were excavated to an average depth of 0.28 m to sterile sediments, and all were completed.

Backhoe trench 1406 was excavated to test a remote-sensing anomaly and it revealed a masonry kiva, Structure 1408. A portion of Structure 1408 was excavated from the bottom of the trench through burned roof fall approximately 0.56 m to the floor. Two 2-x-2-m units were placed south of Structure 1408, but were only excavated approximately 0.13 m before the season ended. These units will be completed in 1999.

Backhoe trench 1407 joins trench 1406 and was excavated to test a remote-sensing anomaly which was thought to be something other than a buried pit structure or kiva. The trench was excavated approximately 0.75 m below modern ground surface, where an ash-rich, intact midden deposit (Nonstructure 1409) was encountered directly under the plow zone. Excavations in this area were not completed in 1998.

Block 1500

Block 1500 is located in the northeastern portion of the site (Figure 1). Eight units were excavated and all were completed in 1998. Four 1-x-1-m units were randomly selected and excavated approximately 0.28 m from the modern ground surface through the plow zone and into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered. Four judgmental 2-x-2-m units were placed in areas of high surface-artifact density in the southwestern portion of this block. Disturbed midden deposits were located and numerous artifacts were collected from these units. These four units were excavated approximately 0.33 m below the modern ground surface through the plow zone into sterile sediments. No features or structures were encountered.

Summary of the 1998 Field Season

Surface collections, test excavations, and targeted excavations of remote-sensing anomalies were accomplished as Crow Canyon archaeologists and participants completed their second season of field work at Shields Pueblo. Five areas were sampled with randomly selected test excavations. Three of these areas were also supplemented with judgmental excavations designed to explore specific features or to collect artifacts associated with specific structures. The testing and systematic investigation of remote-sensing anomalies and previously encountered structures and features was extremely productive. The excavations in 1998 revealed several undisturbed contexts from which abundant artifacts and tree-ring samples were collected.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the excavation strategy used at Shields Pueblo—that of excavating random test pits and judgmentally selected midden units in combination—requires the completion of artifact analyses. However, a preliminary assessment suggests that the strategy provides the type and quantity of data needed to address the research questions we are pursuing at Shields Pueblo. Robust artifact assemblages are needed to accurately assess the occupation span of different portions of the site, and a strategy of random excavation will permit their statistical comparison. Excavations within structures and other features provided the tree-ring samples that are necessary to document the overall duration and continuity of the Puebloan occupation at Shields. Tree-ring dates from 1997 confirmed our assessment that the primary occupation at the site was between A.D. 1050 and 1225. Tree-ring data from 1997 also provided Pueblo I dates (A.D. 770s) for a pit structure.

Analysis of all ceramic materials excavated in 1997 is complete, revealing that the late Pueblo II (ca. A.D. 1050–1150) occupation was more intensive than originally thought. A significant amount of Basketmaker III and Pueblo I (A.D. 500–900) use of the vicinity is also indicated. Combined with the number of features and structures encountered in our excavations around the roomblock in the heart of the site (Block 100), Shields has proven to be an excellent location to pursue questions related to the development of community centers. Collection of samples that permit environmental reconstruction—pollen, faunal remains, macrobotanical material, and wood from structures and contexts dating to different periods of occupation—will allow us to evaluate human impacts to the environment in the immediate area of Shields over the five or six centuries of occupation. Analysis of materials collected in 1998 is presently underway; a few specialized analyses (notably, pollen and faunal analysis) await the completion of Crow Canyon's fieldwork at Shields in 1999. Our first two seasons' work have confirmed the importance of Shields Pueblo within the prehistoric Goodman Point community and to the archaeology of the Mesa Verde region.

References Cited

Connolly, M. R.: 1992 The Goodman Point Historic Land-Use Study. In The Sand Canyon Archaeological Project: A Progress Report, edited by W. D. Lipe, pp. 33–44. Occasional Papers no.2, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez, Colorado.

Hayes A. C. and C. C. Chappell: 1962 A Copper Bell from Southwest Colorado. Plateau 35:53–56.

Varien, M.D.: 1997 Communities Through Time: Migration, Cooperation, and Conflict. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez, Colorado. Final report submitted to The National Geographic Society in fulfillment of Grant #6016-97.; 1999 Sedentism and Mobility in a Social Landscape: Mesa Verde and Beyond. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson.

Ward, C.: 1997 The 1997 Field Season at Shields Complex (5MT3807), Montezuma County, Colorado. Ms. on file, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez, Colorado. Report prepared for Colorado Mountain College, Colorado Springs.

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The Shields Pueblo Research Project

Annual Report, 1998 Fieldwork

Andrew I. Duff and Susan C. Ryan