An Unexplored Realm in the Heartland of the Southern Gulf ... - Famsi

Level III is a reddish semi-compacted sand (Munsell 5YR4/6). A few ceramic
pieces are present but only at the interface with Level II. Level IV is a culturally sterile,
hard, rock-like natural substrate that overlies the sedimentary river gravel of Level VI.
These types of depositional layers are found primarily in Fields 1, 2, and 3.
River Cut Profile 6B
Other than the equivalence of Level I to the rest of the site, Profile 6B
demonstrates a different stratigraphic pattern than those previously presented (Figure
5.11). Although ceramic artifacts are sparse, this location appears to be part of a low
earthen platform and is approximately 10 m south of an area containing significant
quantities of Early and Middle Formative pottery. This spatial distribution along with the
stratigraphic evidence may suggest that a building occupied the top of the platform and
that waste was deposited off to the side. Soil specimens were taken for future analysis
from locations noted in the drawing.
Level II is a relatively consistent layer of yellowish soft sandy loam (Munsell
10YR5/4) that contains little cultural material, At the bottom of this level is a line of
highly compacted red sand that ranges from only a trace to 4 cm in thickness. Level III
appears to be a mixture of sand and ash that is divided into four layers by three hard
compacted, red sand lines. These lines diminish in thickness left to right and disappear
over the right half of the profile where the soil becomes highly mixed. There is even less
cultural material in this layer than in Level II.
Mixed sandy ash with some clay comprises Level IIIa. It is fairly well compacted
and divided from Level IV by a well-compacted red sand line. A slightly greater quantity
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