Investigation of Archaeological Sites Along Reach 10, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

Under contract with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Office of Cultural Resource Management (OCRM), Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, completed archaeological investigations of six sites with Reach 10, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project. The project area is located just west of Skunk Creek and north of the Deem Hills, on the west side of Interstate 17.

The initial phase of investigations was an archaeological survey that OCRM archaeologists conducted in February and March, 1976 (see tDAR ID: 393072). The survey evaluated three discontinuous segments of the Granite Reef Aqueduct route within Reach 10. This work identified eight archaeological sites. On the basis of the initial survey, six sites were selected for further study.

OCRM's studies along the Granite Reef aqueduct realignment reaches identified a pattern of secondary resource zone exploitation in the upland margins surrounding the Salt and Gila River valleys. A secondary resource zone is an area which apparently did not support a permanent population, but was utilized intermittently, probably on a seasonal basis, in the exploitation of wild plant and animal food resources by people whose primary subsistence is derived from a different zone. For this study, the primary zone was considered to be the major valley flood plains of the Salt and Gila drainages and their principal tributaries such as the Agua Fria and New Rivers. These environments would allow permanent and perennial settlement with an agricultural subsistence base centered around canal irrigation and substantially augmented by the utilization of natural foods (Gladwin et al. 1938; Bohrer 1970; Haury 1976).

This report describes the results of archaeological investigations and data recovery along Reach 10 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct. Results suggest that the archaeological remains associated with the six sites in the study area appear to fall generally within the known range of secondary resource zone exploitation. However, there are some noteworthy differences. The report evaluates those differences and attempts to expand the concept by presenting alternative suggestions concerning the material remains.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix DAHA Resources   •
• Granite Reef (Hayden-Rhodes) Aqueduct and Transmission System Resurvey and Mitigation

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office

Principal Investigator(s): Donald E. Weaver, Jr.

Project Director(s): Patricia E. Brown

Sponsor(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office

Repository(s): Huhugam Heritage Center

Prepared By(s): Office of Cultural Resource Management, Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University

Submitted To(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office

Record Identifiers

Bureau of Reclamation Purchase Order No.(s): 6-01-20-02520

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