WEBB] 



ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NORRIS BASIN 



21 



The form of the structure closely approximated a true square, 35 

 feet on the side, with rounded corners, as shown in figure 5. When 

 the structure was in process of construction trenches about 12 inches 

 wide and 14 inches deep were dug in the floor where the walls were 

 to be. These trenches were not carried to the corners but were car- 

 ried to within 2 feet of the corners. Into these trenches the basal 

 ends of saplings 4 or 5 inches in diameter were set. Along the trench 

 and outside of the structure a horizontal log was laid at the bottom of 

 the trench. On the inside of the building, on a level with the top 

 of the trench, a second horizontal log was laid and lashed to the 



SITE 2 

 MOUND I 

 FEATURE 9 



Figuke 4. — Clay seat. 



vertical posts. Figure 6 is a drawing indicating the essential ele- 

 ments of this type of construction. 



The trench was then filled with surface earth and a fresh layer of 

 clay, some 6 inches thick, was carefully spread over the interior of 

 the structure to form a smooth hard floor. The small end of each 

 vertical post was then bent over toward the center of the building to 

 meet a similarly situated post bent from the opposite side. The two 

 ends of these posts were lashed together to form a continuous bow, 

 extending from one side of the structure to the other. This process 

 was carried on from all four sides until the corners were reached, 

 which resulted in a double system of parallel logs over the center 

 of the building, forming a square mesh about 1 foot wide each way. 

 These crossed logs were tied together at certain places and over this 

 structure split cane was spread and attached by twisted ropes of 

 grass. Grass thatch was then applied and tied on with both twisted 



