University of Virginia Library

General Features of Substructure (Pueblo I)

Walls. The walls of the substructure of Tseh So were of a most
interesting variety. Character was given to this masonry by a series
of large upright sandstone slabs which formed the core of the wall,
especially at the base. Many of these slabs are two and a half feet in
each dimension, with a thickness of two to four inches. Several
of them show extended use as metates. These larger slabs were set in
single thickness, edge to edge, upright, in a manner which is reminiscent
of the Basket Maker pit house structures which may be seen on all
sides of this ruin. These uprights were embedded in the ground a sufficient
number of inches to hold them solidly in place, as well as to
support a considerable quantity of crude masonry above. The wall at
its base was rendered thicker, usually to a depth of about eight inches,
by the addition of thick layers of puddled adobe on both sides of the
sandstone slabs. On top of this rather precarious masonry base, the
wall was heightened by more puddled adobe, small slabs of sandstone
laid horizontally, and numerous spalls stuck into the adobe at random.
This wall was a very much weaker structure, in its upper portion, than
even the rather shaky masonry of the superimposed Pueblo II. However,
it seems to have served very well insomuch as it is still standing
in some places to a height of five feet above its original floor level.

Examination beneath the floors of the superimposed structure
(Pueblo II) invariably revealed walls of this type running at angles
with no relation to the upper walls (Plates Ib, VIIb, c). In most cases,
due to the impossibility of completely removing the superstructure, it
was difficult to ascertain the exact dimensions of those substructure
rooms without endangering the students and the workmen. Enough
were followed, however, to gain a fair idea of their extent and general
plan. It was also determined that the kivas of Pueblo II had been sunk
down through and at the cost of the Pueblo I structure beneath. Several
old corners, especially beneath the floor of Room 15, gave
ample evidence of this. Needless to say, the walls which are here typical
of Pueblo I fall far below any registered wall sequence which has so
far been worked out for the Chaco Canyon. Even the masonry of the
Pueblo II structure is below the heretofore designated Type I for this

region. Also, these walls are remarkably like the Wingate Phase walls
which have been described by Mr. Harold Gladwin.[5]

Floors. The floors of the substructure are hard-packed adobe but
appear to be quite an accidental layer. They are in no wise the smooth
and evenly finished floors of the Pueblo II structure. In several places
in the substructure the floor appears to be composed of several layers
of adobe and refuse as though it were an accidental accumulation
packed down by hard use. Bones, and other material, embedded in the
floor, would indicate a surface of this origin. Also, at the edges of the
rooms there was no rounding of the floor into the wall plaster as had
been the case in the Pueblo II. Floors of this nature were revealed
over the entire area of the Pueblo I substructure.

Roofs. Little evidence of the roof structure of the Pueblo I was
secured. However, several lumps of adobe in the fill of the substructure
may serve as evidence for this part of the pueblo. These adobe lumps
seem to indicate a roof which was more nearly wattlework than any
other type of construction. Comparatively large branches or sticks,
some of them as much as an inch in diameter, were laid directly at
right angles upon larger ones which apparently did service as vigas.
The adobe was applied directly to these sticks just mentioned, and yet
bears the imprints of them to the extent that they may be identified as
piñon, cottonwood, and possibly some other species. It may not be determined
from the few adobe impressions recovered, whether these
branches were actually woven or merely laid across the vigas. No split
pieces were evidenced in this construction. It is impossible to state
how the coping of the roof was finished, nor, indeed, whether the Pueblo
I structure had a roof strong enough or enough debris represented to
indicate a second story.

Cists, Bins, Fireplaces. A small depression in Room 2 of
the substructure may have been used as a fireplace. This is a rudimentary,
shallow basin, adobe-lined and in no way separated from the
floor, in the northwest corner of this room. A few ashes and the slightly
blackened wall at the back of this pit indicate the presence of at least
one fire. The fact that no other fireplaces were discovered in the substructure
may be due either to: (1) the possibility that they may have
been missed as being those portions underlying the heavy walls of
Pueblo II and therefore not excavated, or (2) the possibility that they
may have been located outside of the pueblo proper.

Only one structure which may be termed a cist or a bin was discovered.
This is a polygonal bin outlined on the floor of Pueblo I in that
area beneath the floor of Room 4 of the superstructure. This
was composed of seven slabs of sandstone set on edge, embedded into

the floor so as to form a seven-sided receptacle. As stated in connection
with the fireplaces, other cists or bins may exist in those portions
which could not be excavated.

Special Structures. Under this heading may be mentioned a structure
of unknown use which occurred in that portion of the Pueblo I
pueblo which lies immediately under Room 10 of the superstructure.
In this place, within the enclosing walls of the substructure,
there occurred an enclosure composed of flat slabs on edge which may
or may not have been a cist. The slabs were so arranged as to enclose
an area approximately six feet long and a foot and a half wide, the
long axis extending in a north and south direction. The northerly end
of this peculiar enclosure lies beneath the south wall of Room
11. No indication of its use is evidenced nor does it recur in any other
part of the excavation.