Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
Yesterday and today, I’ve been repairing our pilot pithouse at Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley, Arizona. In these pictures, volunteer Katie Bubnekovich is soaking the roof and I am floating it with a hand stone.
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Hi Allen, Great article on pithouse construction at SteamPump. Also, may I pose a question for you: Most pit house documentation omits the rock foundation as part of the structure. Typically it is a pit in the ground with wooden posts as structural supports, a roof of latillas, reed mats, and a mud/caliche coating.
But the pithouses we find in the Tonto and AFNM are recognized by a base ring of rocks (which makes it easier to see). Any ideas about this? Thx, D