Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-084: Grass Mesa Village (Site 5MT23), Overview and Surface Collection Results: 1979 and 1980

Author(s): Timothy A. Kohler

Year: 1983

Summary

Grass Mesa Village (Site 5MT23) is a large Pueblo I habitation site in southwestern Colorado. During investigation by the Dolores Archaeological Program in 1979 and 1980, a systematic surface collection was completed, and a probability sampling program was initiated alongside more intensive excavations. A total of 42 surface structures and 20 pitstructures (including a possible great kiva) were wholly or partially excavated during these first two field seasons. A statistical comparison of the results of the surface collection with the results of the probability sample suggests that the surface collection is not representative of total site content. However, the distributions of stone building materials and other artifacts on the surface were used to predict the locations of structures, and the ceramic materials recovered from the surface were used to tentatively place the site within the Dolores Archaeological Program temporal sequence. Based on ceramic dating evidence, the occupations of the site are believed to have spanned the Dos Casas (A.D. 760-850), Periman (A. D. 850-900), and Grass Mesa (A.D. 880-925) Subphases, with the population peak occurring sometime during the Periman Subphase. Future investigations at Grass Mesa will be directed toward further clarification of the spatial, temporal, and functional relationships of the various surface structures and pitstructures and toward the refinement of the chronological placement of the various occupations of the site.

Cite this Record

Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-084: Grass Mesa Village (Site 5MT23), Overview and Surface Collection Results: 1979 and 1980. Timothy A. Kohler. Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports. Salt Lake City, Utah: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region. 1983 ( tDAR id: 398466) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8TF010T

URL: http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/co/field_offices/ahc/dap_documents.Par....


Keywords

Culture
Anasazi

Material
Ceramic • Chipped Stone

Site Name
5MT23 • Grass Mesa Village

Site Type
Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex • Domestic Structures • Kiva / Great Kiva • Pit House / Earth Lodge

Investigation Types
Data Recovery / Excavation • Site Evaluation / Testing

General
Abajo Red-on-orange • Bluff Black-on-red • Chapin Black-on-white • Cortez Black-on-white • Deadmans Black-on-red • Flaked Lithics • Lithic Tools • Mancos Gray • Moccasin Gray • Nonflaked lithcs • Piedra Black-on-white

Geographic Keywords
Colorado (State / Territory) • Dolores • Dolores (County) • Montezuma (County) • North America (Continent) • Southwest Colorado • United States of America (Country)

Temporal Keywords
Dos Casas Subphase • Grass Mesa Subphase • McPhee Pahse • Periman Subphase • Pueblo I

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 760 to 925 (Various occupations)

Spatial Coverage

min long: -108.602; min lat: 37.462 ; max long: -108.483; max lat: 37.594 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Principal Investigator(s): David A. Breternitz

Sponsor(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office

Prepared By(s): University of Colorado, Dolores Archaeological Program

Submitted To(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office

Record Identifiers

Bureau of Reclamation Contract No.(s): 8-07-40-S0562

Notes

General Note: As of April 2015, this and additional reports are hosted on the US Bureau of Land Management, Dolores Archaeological Program website; http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ahc/dolores_archaeological/dap_technical_reports.html

File Information

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