These were typed according to tradition ceramic types for the Hohokam culture. Ceramics from three broad time periods were recognized. These periods were the Pioneer, Colonial, and Sedentary. These would roughly place the features in a range from A.D. 500 to 1150. Using wood poles, arrow-weed, and mud, walls were constructed around the periphery of a shallow pit in which the actual floor of the pithouse was lined with caliche.
Caliche is a naturally occurring limestone deposit in southern Arizona deserts.
When wet, this deposit can be manipulated, but when it hardens, it is like concrete. Many of the floors at Los Hornos had caliche about 3 to 5 cm. in thickness. Pithouses are of different sizes and shapes. You will be given information on 14 of these pithouses. The information will vary because of the nature of the archaeological record for each.