66 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 97 



in polychrome pottery types were observable in this deposit, and 30- 

 centimeter levels were not recorded. Abundant polychrome sherds 

 were scattered throughout a gray to brown clay stratum. The pottery 

 level contained concentrations of ash, charcoal, and sherds, one 

 lenticular hearth, numerous small boulders, and abundant sherds. 

 Below the pottery level an absolutely sterile, brown sandy clay was 

 encountered. The maximum depth of this excavation was 3 meters. 

 In absolute level the polychrome horizon at excavation 2 compared 

 closely with the upper or polychrome horizon (P i, fig. 16) at 

 excavation i. 



Excavation 3 was made on the northern side of the playa in the 

 same dense brown clay level where old Playa de los Muertos material 

 occurred in the main trench. At excavation 3, this level was on the 

 surface, owing to the removal of the top soil by the river. An excava- 

 tion 6 meters long (from northeast to southwest) and 1.5 meters 

 wide was carried down to a depth of about i meter. No sherds or 

 other artifacts were encountered below the surface and, as it was 

 apparent that we were outside the area of ancient occupation, work 

 was stopped. 



Before describing the artifact content of the various levels at exca- 

 vation I, it will be well to discuss briefly the material from excavation 

 2. All the ceramics (other artifacts were extremely rare) from excava- 

 tion 2 correspond with those from the A (P i), the upper or poly- 

 chrome level at excavation i. These two horizons are actually on the 

 same level, and since material was scarce in A (excavation i) and 

 abundant in excavation 2, the latter must be considered in order to de- 

 fine the polychrome wares characteristic of the upper horizon. Owing 

 to the apparent uniformity of all wares exposed in the cut bank at ex- 

 cavation 2, it was considered as one unit. To check this, however, 

 material from the very bottom portions was segregated for comparison 

 with the remainder. This will be discussed after the bulk of the 

 material has been analyzed. 



The domestic ware from excavation 2 is predominantly mono- 

 chrome, of a dull red color. A much smaller number of sherds have 

 traces of crude linear designs in brown, dark red, or black. The bulk 

 of the domestic sherds appear to be from medium large vessels which 

 were fairly well polished, with openings varying from heavy direct 

 lips to slightly flaring rims. Vertical, solid, loop, and strap handles 

 occur frequently. There are two dimpled bases and one partially hol- 

 lowed, conical foot (from a unique vessel form). Six monochrome 

 sherds are decorated with well-executed but simple incised geometric 

 designs. 



