Place: Ar/Ts.WSDA1.26

7/15/2013
This locus was opened on July 10th. It is a clustering of medium-sized stones, about 4 m into the trench from the E corner, and a set of small cobbles that extend from that cluster to the \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'alcove\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' (loci 25 and 40). Its greatest length is 3.25 m, and its typical width (where the stones lead between the cluster and the alcove) is 60 cm.

Top elevations:
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"column base\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" stone (at the center of the cluster of medium stones: 2137.365
small stones near \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'alcove\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\': 2137.295
small stones, close to the circle of medium stones: 2137.279. Sample taken from the encircling bedrock \\\\\\\"arm\\\\\\\" that points toward the W corner (Ar/Ts.WSDA1.26.MB.01).

Opening and closing elevs were taken by two different people and the difference between them (.489 m) may be a result of different measuring locations. Closing elevs: N extent: 2137.05; center: 2136.79; S extent (near alcove Locus 46) 2137.14. The closing elevs were also taken after the locus was drawn and then dismantled to try to understand its purpose.

In the end, the purpose remains opaque; the two carved bedrock \\\"arms\\\" (near the N extent, along the decomposing bedrock that lines the NE baulk, and near the S extent, Locus 46) may have been incorporated into the mass of stones to create a semi-natural step toward the E corner of the trench. There is also an abnormally large boulder in the SE wall of the room that may line up with the curvature and be carved bedrock. So the feature may have been part of an attempt to deal with the natural unevenness of the terrain.