The Operation and Evolution of an Irrigation System: The East Papago Canal Study

Author(s): Jerry B. Howard; Gary Huckleberry

Year: 1991

Summary

Archaeological investigations sponsored by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) were conducted by Soil Systems, Inc. (SSI) at several sites within the East Papago Freeway corridor, including El Caserío (AZ T:12:49(ASM)), La Lomita (AZ U:9:67(ASM)), and La Lomita Pequeña (AZ U:9:66(ASM)). During the investigation of these sites, a significant number of canal alignments were encountered, prompting the sponsoring of the East Papago Canal Study by ADOT.

Canal System 2, traversed by the East Papago Freeway corridor, consisted of prehistoric main canals that headed on the Salt River, as well as a variety of other types of canals (distribution, cross-cut, branch, and field laterals). For this project, these canals were examined in terms of morphology (length, gradient, width-to depth ratio, discharge capacity) and chronology (continuity of use, reuse, abandonment sequences) in order to reconstruct how the system operated. Reconstruction of Canal System 2 also involved the examination of canal cross sections from other projects in the vicinity. This provided information on distant segments of the same canal, thus allowing for a more accurate correlation than had been previously possible. In addition, a series of maps of Canal System 2 has been generated from the data collected by this project. These maps are available at ADOT, Arizona State Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, and the State Historic Preservation Office.

Cite this Record

The Operation and Evolution of an Irrigation System: The East Papago Canal Study. Jerry B. Howard, Gary Huckleberry. ,18. Phoenix, Arizona: Soil Systems, Incorporated. 1991 ( tDAR id: 4384) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8TD9VPC

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Keywords

Culture
Hohokam

Material
Building Materials • Ceramic • Chipped Stone • Dating Sample • Fauna • Ground Stone • Human Remains • Macrobotanical • Mineral • Pollen • Shell

Site Name
Casa Buena • Dutch Canal Ruin • El Caserio • Grand Canal Ruins • La Ciudad • La Lomita • La Lomita Pequena • Las Colinas • Pueblo Grande

Site Type
Archaeological Feature • Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex • Funerary and Burial Structures or Features • Non-Domestic Structures • Resource Extraction / Production / Transportation Structure or Features

Investigation Types
Archaeological Overview • Methodology, Theory, or Synthesis

Geographic Keywords
Arizona • Phoenix • Salt River

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 200 to 1500

Spatial Coverage

min long: -112.259; min lat: 33.418 ; max long: -111.936; max lat: 33.536 ;

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evolution_of_irrigation.pdf 17.91mb Oct 16, 2010 10:43:14 AM Public

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