Annual Report of Excavations at Wallace Great House 2022 Wallace Ruin (5MT6970) Annual Report 2022

Abstract

Results of excavations 2022

Full text

Annual Report of Excavations at
Wallace Great House 2022
Bruce Bradley and Cynthia Bradley
Primitive Tech. Enterprises, Inc.
Cortez, Colorado
17 January 2023

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Wallace Ruin (5MT6970) Annual Report 2022
Drs. Bruce and Cynthia Bradley
January 2023
Introduction
Excavations were undertaken at Wallace Ruin (5MT6970), Montezuma County, Colorado,
between April and September 2022, with Drs. Cynthia Bradley and Bruce Bradley as co-PIs. The
excavation crews consisted of volunteers, local and from as far away as New Hampshire and Texas
(Figure 1). Records included standardized excavation forms, numerous photographs and maps and a
field journal summarizing the work. Excavations and material processing were accomplished by the
co-PIs and volunteers for a total of 264 person days.
Excavations took place in Structures 53, 55, 56, 60, 65, 66, 69, Kiva 32 and Non-structure 76,
Segment 6, and those in Room 65 and NST 76 Segment 7 were completed. This work included areas
of all known phases of construction and use, from the mid-1000s through the mid to late 1200s.
Artifacts and records continue to be processed and analyzed in this on-going project.
Figure 1. Field crew Spring 2022.

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Site Description
Wallace Ruin (5MT6970) consists of a small unit pueblo (Green Stone), a Chaco Great House
outlier, during the 11th and 12th centuries, and a possible reservoir (Figure 2). This was part of a
larger community including three other Great Houses (Haynie Ruin East, Haynie Ruin West and Ida
Jean Ruin) collectively known as the Lakeview Group. Wallace Ruin was listed on the Colorado State
Register of Historic Properties on March 12, 2002, and in the National Register of Historic Places on
24 March 2005.
History of Research
Research excavations and
publications of results have been
carried out intermittently between
1969 and 2022. Excavations before
1998 completed a double row of 12th
Century two-story structures in the
west wing, Structures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
17,18, 19, 26 and 27 (Figure 3).
Rooms sharing walls erected to a
multiple-story height are termed a
structure as are single-story rooms,
kivas and pithouses; letters a, b, and c
designate 1st-3rd story rooms in multi-story structures, once determined. Also excavated were an
intrusive 13th century kiva (Kiva 1), five multi-story 11th century structures (2, 14,15, 24 and 25) and
two added 13th century intramural kivas (Kivas 3 and 4) on the north side of an unexcavated
enclosed, elevated kiva (Kiva 32). Additional excavations were conducted between 2008 and 2010 in
a southern projection of the west arm (Annex, Structures 28, 29 and 30) of the building (Bradley
2010). Excavations in 2015 were undertaken in Annex Room 33 (Bradley 2015). In 2019-2022
excavations were continued in Structures 33, 53, 55, 59, 60, 62, 65, Kivas 56 and 32, Structures 66,
67, 68, and in exterior units Non-structure 77, Segment 1, and Non-structure 76 Segments 5, 6,7 and
8.
During this research two major and two minor construction phases were identified: (Old
Wallace) Phase 1 circa A.D. 1040 and Phase 2 circa A.D. 1090, (New Wallace) Phase 3a circa A. D.
1120 and Phase 3b circa A.D.1130. There seems to have been an abandonment of the structure in
Figure 2. Wallace Ruin plan.

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the mid-1100s and then a reuse of the building in the late 12th and 13th centuries (Phase 4) primarily
reusing existing structures, but with the addition of Room 33 (Revitalized Wallace).
Research 2022
In 2022 we had two excavation sessions: one in April- May and one September- early October.
Work resumed in the Old Wallace Rooms 55 (Segment 2), 65a, and 69. Excavations were initiated in
Room 60b, a multistory structure adjacent to the north side of Room 65. New Wallace Room 53a is
nearing completion. Work continued in the western elevated kiva (Kiva 32). The placement of four
Phase 4 kivas adjacent to and surrounding it on the west, north and east, may indicate that Kiva 32
was a ritual focus of the reuse of the great house in the late 12th and 13th centuries. Although
constructed in the early 12th century, understanding its use and possible reuse is critical to our
Revitalization and House Society hypotheses.
To pursue our interest in the origins of the great house and its use/functions, we took the
opportunity of investigating what would have been exterior areas related to the Early Wallace great
house, and potentially activities
before it was constructed, by
subflooring Rooms 65a, western
portion, and a unit in the plaza
which hadn’t been built over (NST
76 Seg 6).
Figure 3. Wallace Great House plan as of
September 2022. Yellow shaded areas
were previously excavated. Gray shaded
areas indicate areas of excavation in 2022.

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Excavations Results
Old Wallace
Old Wallace refers to the initial great house building phase in the mid to late 1000s (Figure 4).
It comprises two construction episodes using slightly different masonry styles (see Bradley and
Bradley 2020:11-12). Much of this building was later incorporated within New Wallace in the early
1100s, drastically modifying some rooms and perhaps eliminating others. Our current knowledge
indicates it had 6 ground story rooms involving three 2-story structures (14,15 and 70) and three 3-
story structures (24, 25 and 60) laid out in an L-shape during Phase 1. Phase 2 added at least one
row of three 2-story structures (55 and 65). There is evidence that there was a 1-story room (59)
added to the east. It is also feasible that two or more 1-story rooms (69 and ?) were added to the
front but there is yet no direct evidence for this. Other potential rooms to the west will be under Phase
3 Kiva 32. There is evidence, under the stairway (Structure 67), that the ground story of Phase 3
Room 19a, to the west, was erected against fill, as were all the other walls of the stairway. This
probably indicates that there was a filled Old Wallace room in this space at the time of the Phase 3.
Figure 4. Plan of Old Wallace. Dark numerals indicate numbers of stories and light numerals are structure numbers.

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Currently, excavations in the main chamber of Kiva 32 have reached the top of the bench. The
average bench height of equivalent-sized enclosed kivas in Chaco great houses is 80-85 cm. If this
is the same in Kiva 32, we estimate that there may remain about 1 meter of fill in the rooms under the
floor of the kiva. If this is the case, it should be possible for us to delineate the Old Wallace rooms
and have intact floor contexts. We plan to completely subfloor the kiva.
Structure 55
Excavations in upper story Room 55b Segment 1 were halted at the base of the west wall in
2020 because of the danger of wall collapse from the superimposed Phase 4 east wall of Room 62
and the south end of the east wall of Phase 4 Kiva 56. Collapse wasn’t imminent and a 4X4 wood
brace was added to stabilize the walls. This year, we exposed more of the south wall of Room 55
under Room 62 and located the north end of the west wall below the floor of the south end of Kiva 56.
This defined a small section of the northwest area of
Room 55 (Figure 5), designated Segment 3 and
excavations were initiated. To do this safely, a section of
the south end of the east wall of Kiva 56 was removed
(further discussion below).
Stratigraphy in the south profile clearly shows
filling episodes of Room 55 (Figure 6). The east profile
shows how the west wall of Kiva 56 was built on top of
the second story floor, Room 55b (Figure 6). Field
observations indicate a Pueblo II filling of the room given
the absence of Mesa Verde Black-on-white sherds. This
corresponds to the fill contents of Room 55 Segment 1.
Figure 6. Room 55 Segment 3 fill profiles. Left- south wall showing multiple fill episodes. Right- showing fill below second story floor beam.
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Figure 5. Plan of Room 55 (green), superimposed Phase 4
structures (magenta), and adjacent Phase 3 elevated kiva (blue).

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Room 65a
The approximate western ¼ of Room 65a had not been excavated because the upper story
Phase 4 wall was leaning inward. This wall was supported by a column composed of Kiva 56 fill and
a modern wall built in 2021 (Bradley and Bradley
2020:13) (Figure 7). This new wall and the
leaning Phase 4 wall were dismantled to allow the
rest of Room 65a to be excavated safely. Most of
the stones from these two walls were used to build
a dry-laid north-south retaining wall in Room 65a.
Spoil from the fill of the excavations in the west
portion of Room 65a was put behind this retaining
wall (Figure 8). The same strata were recognized
in the west portion as in the east portion and the
same PD numbers were used. Nothing was
recovered from these strata that varied from what
was already known.
Stratum 4 had additional artifact
concentrations, including sherds, a number of
intact projectile points, bone awls, beads,
pendants and a cluster of azurite pellets. The
clustering, types and intact conditions of the non-
pottery artifacts may represent ritual deposition
rather than secondary refuse.
As in the east portion, two floor surfaces
were discerned, both of which yielded floor
contact artifacts. A portion of the north end of the upper surface had already been excavated yielding
Figure 7. Room 65 and Kiva 56 west wall showing support
wall and other remaining components. Red outlines the
original portion of the west wall of Kiva 56. Yellow outlines the
support wall built to hold up the leaning portion of the west
wall of Kiva 56. Blue indicates the unexcavated area. Green
outlines the fill of Kiva 56g
Figure 8. Room 65a with modern retaining wall and spoil.

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a set of tchamahias and a
few other artifacts
(Bradley and Bradley
2022:5). Newly exposed
floor artifacts were point
located with numbers
continuing those in the
eastern portion of the
room (Figure 9). Table 1
lists all the artifacts from
the final floor surface.
Distribution, type,
and condition of the
artifacts indicates an
activity area northwest of
the fire pit, possibly either hide working or basketmaking/weaving. The cluster of tchamahias (Figure
10) in the southwest corner looks to have been in storage. The range of forms and materials is
comprehensive. It almost seems like a type collection or in modern terms, a salesperson’s
demonstration set.
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Figure 9. Room 65a Surface 1 artifacts.
Figure 10. Tchamahias from the final floor surface of Room 65a.

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Table 1. Room 65a Surface 1 artifacts.
PL
DESCRIPTION
ELEVATION(s)
COMMENTS
DATE
1
tchamahia
1895.40
Slate poor condition
3 Nov 2020
2
tchamahia
1895.39
Slate excellent condition
3 Nov 2020
3
core
1895.39
Brushy Basin unidirectional
3 Nov 2020
4
tchamahia
1895.39
Slate excellent condition
16 Nov 2020
5
bone weaving tool
1895.39
Split rib, perpendicular wear grooves
16 Nov 2020
6
core
1895.37
Sandstone?
17 Nov 2020
7
flake
1895.34
Coarse dark green
19 Nov 2020
8
Sherd
1895.33
Deadman’s B/r seed jar rim
19 Nov 2020
9
bone awl
1895.33
mammal
19 Nov 2020
10
peckingstone
1895.34
Green, moderate to heavy use
19 Nov 2020
11
antler ‘slab’
1895.35
Split, end truncated
19 Nov 2020
12
sherds (4)
1895.35
San Juan redware jar
19 Nov 2020
13
sherd
1895.35
Mancos b/w bowl rim
19 Nov 2020
14
bone awl
1895.31
Mammal, perforated
19 Nov 2020
15
flake
1895.37
Brushy Basin
19 Nov 2020
16
sherd (2 pieces)
1895.31
Mancos b/w jar body
19 Nov 2020
17
flake
1895.31
Green Morrison
19 Nov 2020
18
sherd cluster
1895.33
Corrugated, whiteware, redware
19 Nov 2020
19
tchamahia
1895.39
spatulate slate excellent condition
6 April 2021
20
tchamahia
1895.38
Brushy Basin excellent condition
6 April 2021
21
tchamahia
1898.40
Metamorphic or igneous excellent cond
6 April 2021
22
sherd cluster
1895.44
Deadmans B/r seed jar
17 May 2022
23
animal bones
1895.42
Two bones
17 May 2022
24
peckingstone
1895.41
large
17 May 2022
25
animal bone
1895.46
Long bone fragment
17 May 2022
26
sherd cluster
1895.42
Mostly corrugated
17 May 2022
27
bone weaving tool
1895.43
fragment
17 May 2022
28
bone awl
1895.40
Eyed end break ground, complete
17 May 2022
29
animal bone
1895.44
Rib fragment
17 May 2022
30
animal bone
1895.46
Rib fragment
17 May 2022
31
bone awl
1895.43
Long bone splinter, very sharp
17 May 2022

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Room 60
Room 60 is a Phase 1, probable 3-story structure adjacent to the north of excavated Room 65;
precise story designations have yet to be established. Excavations were initiated but only managed to
extend far enough down to expose the tops of all the walls. Two strata have been defined, both still
in wall-fall (Figure 11). Although there is a mix of Types 2 and 3 masonries, the Stratum 2 wall fall is
dominated by Type 3. This fell from the north wall of the unexcavated Phase 3 room (37) north of
Room 60, possibly indicating that it was originally 3 stories tall. Quite a few artifacts were recovered,
especially in the SW corner area of Room 60, from modern ground surface well into Stratum 2,
including whole manos, a metate, a handstone, a
bone awl, three projectile points and many large
sherds. Pottery includes Mesa Verde Black-on-white
(Figure 12 a), a complete whiteware ladle handle
(Figure 12b) and Mesa Verde corrugated. There were
also quite a few animal bones, including a beaver
skull. These artifacts may have fallen into the upper
portion of the room from a roof or may have originated
from use of the adjacent Phase 4 Kiva 56.
Figure 12. Room 60, Stratum 2, pottery. a) Mesa Verde Black-on-white bowl sherd; b) whiteware ladle handle.
Figure 11. Room 60 top of Stratum 2 wall fall.

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Structure 69
Excavation in Room 69, south of
the south wall of Room 55 (Figure 13),
continued to reveal the face of a Phase
1 or 2 wall with very fine masonry,
including plaster in some areas (Figure
14); story designations are pending.
There are also signs of burning within
this space, such as scattered pieces of
charcoal and soot on the north wall
face. The fill in the room could have
been intentionally deposited. Pottery in
this room fill is Pueblo II, primarily
Manco Black-on-white with some Cortez
Black-on-white and Mancos Corrugated.
The south wall is either Phase 3 or 4.
The east and west walls are unknown.
Figure 13. Room 69 and adjacent rooms and overlying Phase 4 walls.
Figure 14. Room 69 face of north wall showing plaster and soot.

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New Wallace
Kiva 32 (Figure 15)
We continued down in Segment 1 of the southwest corner space outside of the main chamber
(Figure 16) and finished exposing the SE corner space, which has turned out to be a Phase 4
Figure 15. Kiva 32, subdivisions and adjacent structures. Shaded areas are being excavated.

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modification outside of the main kiva area. The remaining effort was in the main chamber.
Excavations continued in Segment 2 of this space, which lies between the east end of the staircase
(Structure 67) and the main chamber of Kiva
32. While not finely finished, the wall faces
indicate that when built the space was
intended to be open (there are protruding
stones in the kiva main chamber wall);
therefore, we have identified it as a kiva
corner room. The reasons for continuing to
excavate this space were to see if the opening
(Feature 1) in the southwest upper lining wall
of the main chamber of Kiva 32 extended into
this room and to determine if it was still open
during the Phase 4 reuse of the area. Both
goals were accomplished. Feature 1 does not open into the kiva main chamber. This was verified by
excavation of a small portion of the opening, which has a back wall (see discussion). Also, the
pottery recovered from the fill of the southwest corner room does not seem to include Mesa Verde
Black-on-white, which may indicate it was filled prior to the Phase 4 reuse of the area. This corner
room has been excavated to an elevation below the top of the staircase, and there is no indication
that this space was roofed. How it was accessed and whether it functioned with the staircase has yet
to be determined.
Southeast Corner Room (Figure 17)
Further excavations in this area
revealed that it falls outside of the
retaining space of the kiva main
chamber, but it is still inside the overall
enclosed kiva area. Therefore, it is
classified as a kiva corner room.
However, the final configuration was
formed by the addition of Phase 4
walls on the west, north and east
sides. Our excavations stopped at the base of these walls, which were set on fill. Mesa Verde Black-
on-white was recovered from the fill of this room. There wasn’t a prepared floor, but the wall fall
Figure 17. Kiva 32 SW corner room. Note Phase 1 or 2 wall segment under
Phase 4 north wall.
Figure 16. Kiva 32 SW corner room, Segment 2. Looking northeast showing
exterior of main chamber wall and west side of ventilator shaft. Note
protruding stones (indicated by a red dot).

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stopped at the level of the base of the walls; presumably the floor. No artifacts were found on the
floor. A very small section of what looks to be a Phase 1 or 2 wall was encountered below the north
Phase 4 wall below a collapsed area. This could be an extension of the north wall of Room 69.
Main Chamber
Excavation of the main chamber continued during both sessions. Three strata were defined as
representing structure collapse and filling. Stratum 1 was mainly post-structure collapse in the central
area, consisting of washed-in sediments
and wall collapse, and Stratum 2 was a
continuation of the wall collapse with the
demarcation between the strata being
somewhat arbitrary. Stratum 3 was
another continuation of wall collapse, but
with a greater concentration of stones and
at the base, a few small pieces of rotted
wood. All three of these strata could have
been excavated as a single unit but we felt
it important to subdivide them to identify
whether the structure
was in use, perhaps as
a midden, as the
structure collapsed
during the 13th century
reuse of the building.
Stratum 4 was a more
distinct change with
many more pieces of
rotted wood, especially
above the bench around
the perimeter (Figure
18). There were still
some building stones.
However, we also
encountered a
Figure 19. Kiva 32 Stratum 4 stone concentration.
Figure 18. Kiva 32 Stratum 4 rotted wood.

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concentration of stones that looked to have been placed on a fill unit or perhaps fell in with a roof.
This concentration formed an arc around the north and northwest side of the chamber (Figure 19).
Most of these stones were lying horizontally and had a distinctly different ‘feel’ than the above wall
fall. There were also several ground stone artifacts in this concentration and at the same general
level, including whole metates, manos, a peckingstone and a maul. There were also two whole
metates and approximately half of what may be a hatchway cover, together in the south-central area.
A large portion of a Mesa Verde Corrugated jar was also associated with the stone concentration
(Figure 20).
At the base of Stratum 4 we encountered charred beams, possibly representing a fallen
burned roof (Figure 21). Three tree-ring samples were collected (TR-#s in Figure 20). After
collection it was decided to identify this deposit as Stratum 5.
Removal of Stratum 4 around the periphery revealed an encircling bench (Feature 2), except
for a section on the south where a gap formed a ‘southern recess’. The bench was delineated,
Figure 20. Kiva 32 Stratum 4 stone cluster and other associated artifacts and burned beams. Yellow indicates ground stone, gray corrugated pottery
and black burned beams. Numbers are point locations, circled dots are mapping points and X indicates top elevation of Stratum 4. Orange
delineates burned sediment with ash.

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leaving about 5 cm of fill on top. The fill was the
same as Stratum 4 with pieces of rotted wood
(Figure 22). Directly on the bench surface,
especially on the east side, was a layer of mud
plaster that had fallen from the wall above the
bench (Figure 23). The bench surface was fairly
level and not highly weathered, but also not
plastered. It was mainly compacted sediment with
an occasional small sandstone tabular piece. Only
two artifacts were found on the bench surface.
These were a pair of bird leg bones which had had one end broken off (Figure 24).
The other feature (F-1) of note is a large opening in the upper lining wall just west of the
‘southern recess’ (Figure 25a). The top of the was exposed last year at which time it wasn’t known if
it was a doorway or a very large niche. Excavation in the area outside this opening, in the SW corner
Figure 24. Kiva 32 Feature 2 bench bird bones. a) stacked as found; b) separated.
Figure 21. Kiva 32 Stratum 4 burned beams.
Figure 22. Kiva 32 Feature 2 bench.
Figure 23. Kiva 32 bench surface with fallen plaster.

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room, indicated that it did not extend through the wall. To evaluate this a small section of the east
side was excavated (Figure 25b), exposing a back wall to the feature, verifying that it is not a
doorway. Because it had partly collapsed, wood supports were added to avoid further collapse. Fill
within the feature was the same as in the main chamber, indicating that it was open during its final
use.
Structure 53
Room 53a is the ground-story room of a Phase 3 two-story structure located in the southwest
corner of the east arm of the Wallace Great House room block. Its west wall borders the great house
plaza. As in previous years (2019-2021) research in 2022 focused upon the removal of room fill,
finding evidence of construction materials and techniques, the location of architectural features, and
obtaining artifact evidence of chronology and room use. Efforts in 2022 involved the excavation of
about 40 cm of fill throughout the room, from roughly real excavation (RE) 1895.75 to 1895.35 (Figure
26). Work commenced with the removal of the rest of Stratum 7 fill and then fill Strata 8 and 9.
Excavation ceased with the exposure the original Pueblo II floor, which extends across the room.
Stratigraphy
Stratum 7
As reported in the 2021 Annual Report (Bradley and Bradley 2022:22-23), Stratum 7 is a
natural fill unit that was subsequently modified by the room’s use as a turkey pen. The fill
Figure 25. Kiva 32 Feature 1 wall opening. a) collapse; b) test on southeast side.

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characteristics observed in 2022 are consistent with the information presented previously. These and
the strata excavated in previous years are documented in Figure 26.
Stratum 8
Stratum 8 is a natural brown silty fill unit with characteristics similar to those of Stratum 6,
lacking the orangish inclusions and small bits of charcoal present in the intervening Stratum 7. It is
generally level, with an upper elevation of 1895.66 near its north wall versus 1895.60 near the south
wall. The color and texture are quite like the dirt that surrounds the great house, so these sediments
likely wafted in over time through the west T-shaped doorway.
Although the fill is generally homogenous, its upper contact is thin, irregular, and bumpy. There
are no associated artifacts. Its crumbly texture is consistent with those of numerous small, moist loci
that surround still-active roots of greasewood bushes that extend into the depths of this room. Rather
than a use surface, it seems that this formation represents a natural modification of the upper contact
of Stratum 8 by a weather event which introduced moisture into the upper centimeter or so of this
natural fill stratum. The absence of laminated areas within the room suggests snowfall. Moreover, a
diffuse deposit of wall mortar and chinking stones is situated within a roughly one-half by one meter
Figure 26. Room 53 N-s profile

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zone in the northwest corner of the room, just above this Stratum 8 upper contact. Apparently, this
deposit represents wall-wash originating from the north wall.
Artifacts are more plentiful than in the higher strata. However, their distribution is diffuse, with
no activity areas. Mancos B/w and McElmo B/w sherds are more common than corrugated sherds,
and two or so small Chaco B/w sherds were recovered. There are no Mesa Verde Black-on-white
sherds. Flaked stone is also more common than in other strata, but faunal remains continue to be
rare. Only a very few gastroliths were discovered during the fine screening of several areas across
the room.
Stratum 9
There is no distinction in fill characteristics between Stratum 8 and Stratum 9. The latter is
arbitrarily identified simply to segregate any artifacts within about four cm above a section of Surface
3 (RE 1895.37) that was in a small test unit adjacent to the north wall. Artifact types and distribution
are as reported for Stratum 8.
Surface 3
Surface 3 is the original Pueblo II floor. Relative to
the exposed boundary between coursed masonry and
footers in the northeast corner of the room, it is about 3-4
cm above this junction. Elevations taken in the north end of
the room cluster around 1895.39, while those in the south
end of the room are slightly higher (~RE 1985.41). As is
evident in the Figure 27 photograph, this surface is very
nebulous and only readily discernible in a few patches
across the room. Heavy rainfall at the end of field season
soaked the south end of the room, making it difficult to
discriminate between Stratum 9 and Surface 3.
Accordingly, a 30-to-50-centimeter band along the south wall and the south third of the east wall will
not be excavated until 2023.
The creation of this prepared surface involved a simple technique entailing the compaction of
existing sediments rather than a formal installation using clay or adobe. Future research will
determine whether this deposit consisted of sterile or cultural materials. There are no ashy or
charcoal inclusions above, on, or within this surface. Only a dozen or so Pueblo II sherds and flakes
rest upon this surface, but even these are widely dispersed. The only faunal remains consists of a
bone awl recovered from Room 53. It is in the incompletely excavated southeast corner, but it is not
Figure 27. Room 53. A small patch of Surface 3 in the
northwest corner, just north of the scale.

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in direct contact with Surface 3. Its elevation (RE 1895.43) is within two centimeters of the floor
surface as measured in the nearest excavated patch of floor, so by convention it is interpreted as in
floor fill, with placement indicative of human intent.
Architecture
No wall or floor features were found in 2022. Potentially, a floor feature may yet be overlain by
incompletely excavated sediments near the south end of Room 53a. However, this is unlikely
considering that excavations ceased just two to four centimeters above the expected floor level. The
absence of a thermal feature explains the lack of ashy or charcoal inclusions within or above Surface
3, as normally occurs in Wallace rooms that have a firepit or hearth.
Interpretations
Prior to excavation, the expectation was that Structure 53 was a component of a Pueblo II
residential unit akin to the west arm’s South Suite, owing to its “mirror” configuration and its location
on the east side of the plaza. Room 53’s high ceiling, some 262 cm (8.5 feet) above the coursed
masonry-footer junction in the northeast corner of the room, and its T-shape doorway in its west wall
are in keeping with that interpretation. However, the lack of a thermal feature suggests otherwise, as
does the lack of any evidence of associated activity areas. The absence of even fragmentary pecking
stones, manos or metates from lower fill Strata 8 and 9 is also inconsistent with a noticeable
residential use. Granted, the absence of these artifacts could be explained by an intense effort to
clean off the floor when the great house inhabitants ceased use of the room, however, this has not
been the case in other Wallace rooms to date. In addition, compared to the more typical 30-40 cm
door sill heights of west arm rooms, the base of the raised-sill doorway in Room 53’s east wall is
unusually high, being at least 90 cm above Surface 3. This means that access between Room 53 and
Room 54 would have been inconvenient if not difficult. Altogether, it seems that Room 53 was used
sparingly and not for everyday living. Although Strata 8/9 contains the greatest concentration of
artifacts in a Room 53 fill unit, the number recovered, their dispersal pattern, and absence of faunal
remains and ashy deposits do not suggest intentional cultural fill, i.e., use as an intramural midden.
The dearth of gastroliths in Stratum 8 indicates that this fill unit, with its moderate amount of
sherds and flakes, developed over the course of time during use by humans. Yet, the natural
modification of Stratum 8’s upper contact throughout the room, coupled with the accumulation of wall
wash on Stratum 8’s upper contact in the northwest corner, indicate that Room 53 was completely or
largely open to the elements. The limited evidence of roofing materials or burning hints that the roof
was in significant disrepair, possibly even removed. These circumstances suggest that Room 53, and

20
probably the room above, were no longer in active use by humans prior to the initial abandonment of
the great house in the middle 1100s, and it was thus deemed suitable to use as a turkey pen even if
on a limited basis.
Revitalized Wallace
Kiva 56
All but a small area along the
west wall of the rectangular Kiva 56
had been removed in the 2019-2020
excavations. What remained was a
column of fill some 75 cm long that
extended about 50 cm into the kiva.
North of this balk, the west wall was
supported by a stone wall I built to
allow the safe excavation of the rest
of the structure (Bradley and Bradley
2020). This meant that the
approximate western ¼ of the fill in
the underlying Room 65a was
unexcavated. The column and the
inward leaning west wall were thus
removed to allow the completion of
the excavation of Room 65a, with
only a few flakes and sherds
recovered. Dismantling this support
and Phase 4 walls was a chore.
Fortunately, the west ¾ of Room 65a
was empty, so it became the location
of most of stones and mortar in the form of a dry-laid wall (see Figure 28). Moreover, to safely
excavate underlying Room 55
Segment 3, the southern portion of the
east wall of Kiva 56 also had to be
removed because it was collapsing into the kiva (Figure 28a). From the kiva floor surface up, this
Phase 4 wall was compound masonry using stones from all previous phases (Figure 28b). The east
Figure 28. Architecture of Room 55 and artifacts from east wall, south portion,
of Kiva 56; a) southern portion of east wall; b) cross-section of west wall; c)
East face of Phase 4 east wall; d) base of east wall on ceiling beam of Room
55; e) artifact cache in wall; f) artifacts from wall cache.

21
face of the wall was irregular, indicating it was probably built up against fill. Below the kiva floor level,
the wall was three stones wide, with an offset on the east side (in Room 55 Segment 1) that probably
functioned as a footer (Figure 28c). This wall was built on the fill of Room 55, directly upon a
secondary ceiling beam (Figure 28d).
During dismantling, several artifacts were found that had been built into the wall (Figure 28e).
These included a complete greenstone metate, an intact notched axe, a handstone and a
peckingstone (Figure 28f). This occurrence was not unique to this wall. Many ground stone artifacts,
including intact manos, metates and hammerstones were incorporated into the Phase 4 west wall of
Kiva 56 (mostly found in wall fall). In addition,
the two base stones for the kiva deflector wall
were also intact, useable metates (Figure 29).
It seems obvious that these were not simply
convenient stones with which to build a wall
since there were literally thousands of earlier
phase stones available during Phase 4
construction. It is worth recalling that there
was an intact arrowpoint incorporated in the
plaster of the north wall of the kiva (Bradley
and Bradley 2019:8, Figures 11 and 12).
Another line of evidence is also of
relevance. The northern 2/3 of the west wall of Kiva 56 was Phase 4. For this to happen, the original
Phase 3 Kiva 32 enclosing wall had to be removed. It is difficult to understand why this would be
done, especially in light of the retention of an unstable, inward-leaning Phase 2 east wall that was
retained. A massive effort went into replacing the west wall, which was probably sound. Yet, the east
wall was unstable and even needed to be propped up to keep it from collapsing. If any wall needed
replacement, this should have been it. It was only after the completion of the excavation of the west
portion of Room 65a that it became clear that the orientation of the Phase 4 north portion of the west
wall of Kiva 56 was different than the underlying Phase 2 wall. The south to north orientation was
approximately 10o more westerly, ie. closer to south than the rest of the great house. It sems unlikely
that this change in orientation was unintentional, especially considering how much effort went into the
adjustment. Also, the sipapu complex in the kiva was reminiscent of much earlier ritual behaviors.
Excavations in 2022 also revealed a previously unknown subfloor ventilator system in Kiva 56
(Figure 30). During the original excavation between the deflector and floor-level ventilator tunnel
Figure 29. Kiva 56 F-3 deflector metate base stones.

22
opening, an underlying change in sediment density was suspected because of a hollow sound when
scraping the floor. Because of its location, and the presence of subfloor ventilators in Kivas 1 and 3,
a similar feature was suspected. This turned out to be the case. The subfloor feature (F-16)
consisted of a roofed tunnel, with an opening through the floor at the north end, and an adjacent
hearth (F-17) (Figures 30 and 31).
So, what to make of the artifacts (many useable) being built into walls, a structurally
unnecessary wall replacement and reorientation, the retention of an unstable earlier wall that could
have been relatively easily replaced, the change from a subfloor to floor-level ventilator system, and
an ancient form of sipapu complex? We suggest that these may have represented ancestor
veneration, possibly as part of a house society reformulation. Unfortunately, we were unable to date
the construction and use of Kiva 56. Other evidence of ancestor veneration and house society
reformulation dates to the early 13th Century (C. Bradley 2017). While this could also be the time of
construction and use of this kiva, its rectangular form, and possibly its reorientation, is more like other
Figure 30. Kiva 56 subfloor ventilator (F-16) and hearth (F-17).

23
kivas in the region that date in the AD 1270s,
e.g., Kiva 107 at Sand Canyon Pueblo (see
Adams 1985:5 and Bradley 1992:92).
The sequence of building, use,
remodeling, and addition of structures
adjacent to Kiva 56 are extremely complex
and have been difficult to decipher.
Structure 66 (Figure 31)
In 2021 what could be the south end of
a pithouse under the east portion of Room
65a was delineated and excavated. Structure
66 Segment 1 extends beneath the north wall
and, to the east, under the corner bin. The
edge is parallel to the north wall and only a small
portion of this structure was exposed and excavated,
without reaching a floor or sterile sediments. What this
depression represented was uncertain. Exploration
under the west portion of Room 65a in 2022 helped to
confirm this preliminary identification. The structure
edge curved to the north and inside the curve is the
top of a wall, possibly to a wingwall, that angles to the
northeast (Figure 32). It is now clear that the structure
is a pithouse that preceded the Old Wallace great
house construction. The morphology is like a typical
late Pueblo I pithouse, however, artifacts from the fill of
the structure include Cortez and Mancos B/w sherds
but nothing clearly earlier. The scant record of Pueblo I
pottery in the Wallace great house indicates that this
structure is probably of 10th or 11th Century origin.
Most of this structure will be located under the floor of Room 60 and will be excavated once the
room has been cleared. It is curious that the south wall exactly parallels and underlies the south wall
Figure 32. Southwest corner of pithouse and two external
postholes
Figure 31. Kiva 56 subfloor ventilator system.

24
of Phase 1 Room 60 (also the north wall of Room 65). Could it be that the unusual south-southwest
orientation of the great house had already been established prior to its construction? (here or in
interpretations?)
Non-Structures
Two areas outside of the roomblock were investigated. The test unit south of the central area
in the plaza (NST 76 Segment 6) was excavated further, revealing the continuation of a series of use
surfaces and natural deposits. Artifacts from these deposits are of Pueblo II origin, indicating that this
unit is below the 13th Century plaza surface. One possible posthole was encountered, but no other
obvious features or work areas were identified. Sterile has not been reached.
The other non-structure area was under the narrow strip of the floor of Room 65 (NST
76 Segment 7. Undisturbed sediments were encountered at the same elevation as in the eastern
area below the room floor. Only a few sherds, flakes and two possible postholes just outside the
southwest corner of Structure 66 were encountered. Excavations were concluded in this unit.
Backfilling and support walls
The practice of placing spoil dirt and building up retaining walls above in-place structure walls
was continued. Fill from Room 69, NST 76 Segment 6 and the southwest corner room of Kiva 32
were put in Room 33. No retaining walls have yet been constructed above the Room 33 walls.
During the fall session, excavations in and under the west end of Room 65a and structure 66
Segment 1 were finished. To make space for backfill, a north-south dry laid retaining wall was built
across the room and excavated fill from this area placed behind it. Most of the stones used to build
this wall were derived from the south portion of the Phase 4 west wall of Kiva 56 (also the east wall of
Kiva 32 northeast corner room) and its previously constructed support wall. Some stones also came
from the upper two strata of Room 60. Additionally, fill from Room 55 Segment 3 was placed behind
this retaining wall. Once excavation was completed in the west area of Room 65a, Structure 66 and
NST 76 Segment 7, this area was used to dump fill from the main chamber of Kiva 32. Before this, fill
from Kiva 32 was placed on top of the west wing Phase 3 rooms (5,6,7,8,17,18 and 26) and the
retaining walls were heightened as needed. Screened sediment from Room 53 continued to be
placed in Kiva 50.
Research Plans 2023
We plan to continue excavations in all of the areas that have been started but not finished.
Room 53a is nearing completion and it is expected that it will be concluded, including subflooring.
Focus will continue to be on the Kiva 32 main chamber with the expectation that it will be slow-going
to recover tree-ring samples from what looks to be a burned roof. It is unlikely that it will be finished

25
in 2023. Rooms 60 and 69 will continue and there is a long way to go in both. It is unclear how much
of Room 55 will be investigated. Much will depend on if we can stabilize the overlying walls to make
further excavation safe. Nonstructure 76 Segment 6 will continue to document plaza formation and
use(s) through time.
Acknowledgements
Once again, our efforts were supported by the labor and intellectual input of a crew of amateur
and professional volunteers. This included a group from New Hampshire comprising Deb Boisvert,
Dick Boisvert, Linda Fuerderer, George Leduc, Karen Malburne, Mike Malburne, John Porter, Judy
Sadowski and Tom Sherman. We also had a group from Texas including Sergio Ayala, Grace
Benton, Victoria Deyeaux, Katherine Febres, Steve Howard, John Kiernan, Scott Lapointe, Dean
Lalitch, and Wolf Patrick. These volunteers contributed 145 person days. To do this they covered
their travel, food and housing. Our loyal local volunteers are the foundation of our crew including
Louis Chavez, Mary Gallagher, Terri Hoff, Karen Kinnear and Jill Patton. We were also joined for a
few days by Len Gallagher and Irene Komadina. These ‘locals’ commuted to the site from as far
away as La Plata, New Mexico, and Durango and Mancos, Colorado. Along with their excavation
efforts, occasional supply lunch ‘goodies’ and fresh home-grown garden produce honey and wine,
financial support and intellectual input they provided several person days of site set-up, site
winterizing and artifact processing. In total they contributed 97.5 person days. Cindy and I put in an
additional 63 person days at the site. Thank you one and all; this is truly a communal effort. We
continue to benefit from the support of Steve and Jay Wallace for their interest and who allow us
access to the site across their property. To all of these supporters we are most grateful. We also had
the support of the Sacramento Archaeological Society in the form of a grant to support the analysis of
a sample of animal bones that were recovered from a context that has been tentatively interpreted as
a ritual deposit. The grant covered the travel expenses of a graduate student, Lucy Maun, University
of Exeter, who spent two weeks excavating with us before initiating her analysis. A report on her
findings is forthcoming.
This year we conducted several organized site tours for the Crow canyon Archaeological
Center and the Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society, as well as numerous
impromptu tours. We thank all of our visitors for their interest, questions, observations and
suggestions.

26
References
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Pueblo, an Anasazi Ceremonial Center in Southwestern Colorado, Crow Canyon Center
for Southwestern Archaeology.
Bradley, Bruce A.
1992 Excavations at Sand Canyon Pueblo. In The Sand Canyon Archaeological Project, A
Progress Report, Occasional Papers No. 2. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center,
Cortez, Colorado.
2010 Excavations at Wallace Ruin (5MT6970) Montezuma County, Colorado, 1998-2010.
2015 Annual Report of Excavations at Wallace Ruin (5MT6970). Primitive Tech Enterprises,
Inc., Cortez, Colorado
Bradley, Bruce A. and Cynthia S. Bradley
2019 Annual Report on Excavations at the Wallace Great House (5MT6970) 2019. Primitive
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Bradley, Cynthia S.
2017 Remaking the Mazeway: Skeletal and archaeological evidence for a variant
Ancestral Pueblo mortuary rite at Wallace Ruin (USA), Volume 1. PhD Dissertation,
University of Exeter, UK. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30555.18720