Archaeological Testing And Burial Removal Of Unit 11 At Pueblo Grande, AZ U:9:1(ASM), DMB Property, 44th And Van Buren Streets, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona -- DRAFT REPORT

Summary

Between April 4 and July 3, 1997, Soil Systems, Inc. (SSI) archaeologists conducted a program of archaeological test excavations and burial removal for DMB Property on a parcel of land to facilitate compliance with A.R.S. 41-865 for the protection of human remains (Arizona State Museum [ASM] Case No. 97-15). The DMB Property land was a 10.48-ac (42.41 ha) parcel located on the north side of Van Buren Street, between 44th Street and the Hohokam Expressway Right-of-way in Phoenix. The archaeological project was adjacent to known archaeological remains to that are part of the large Hohokam site of Pueblo Grande (AZ U:9:1(ASM)). Rather extensive documentary work and previous excavations suggested that substantial numbers of cultural features were likely present to the east, west, and south of the project area.

Testing revealed prehistoric cultural deposits in the south part of the property; the deposits contained structures, extramural features, and human burials. The landowner (DMB) desired only to sell the parcel and had no development plans for it. However, given the rapid pace of commercial development in the area, it was assumed that buyer(s) would undertake construction and earthmoving after purchase. Therefore, consultation was held on May 6, 1997. The consultation involved personnel from Soil Systems, Inc., representatives of DMB, Ron Chiago, Cultural Resource Specialist for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), and Todd Bostwick, City of Phoenix Archaeologist. It was decided to excavate all archaeological remains in those areas of the parcel where testing indicated that human remains might be located. The human remains and associated funerary items would then be removed for reburial elsewhere by SRPMIC. This program would ensure that the actions of all parties, including any future landowners, would be in compliance with A.R.S. 41-865. From May 7 to July 3, 1997, SSI completed the agreed excavations within the parcel.

Approximately nine months after fieldwork was completed, SSI archaeologists learned that DMB was installing utility lines to service buildings planned for construction on the former DMB parcel. The lines extended along the south part of the east margin of the parcel and then extended westward, from near the southwest corner of the parcel. Thus, the utility lines crossed an area with intact archaeological remains. Because the installations were related to development of the original DMB parcel, SSI undertook archaeological monitoring of the activity as part of the same ASM case as the previous excavations. During March and April, 1998, additional prehistoric features, including two inhumations, were encountered in these installations. The features were documented and the burials were excavated for repatriation and reburial. However, the features encountered in these installations were part of another burial and habitation complex than those recorded in the 1997 DMB fieldwork. Therefore, the features excavated as part of the DMB utility line monitoring and testing are discussed separately in this report.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Pueblo Grande (AZ U:9:1(ASM)): Unit 11, Van Buren and 44h Streets: Soil Systems, Inc. DMB Property Testing and Data Recovery

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Principal Investigator(s): Cory D. Breternitz

Project Director(s): Banks L. Leonard

Prepared By(s): Soil Systems, Inc.

Submitted To(s): DMB Associates

Record Identifiers

Soil Systems Project No.(s): 97-02; 98-02

Arizona State Antiquities Act Permit No.(s): 1997-18BL

Arizona State Museum Case No.(s): 97-15

Notes

General Note: This document is a draft report. The report text was not finalized. With the exception of some omissions and editorial corrections, the text is near final. However, the tables and figures were not inserted. There is no final version of this manuscript in any form (hard copy or electronic copy).

General Note: Please note that SSI recorded the Pueblo Grande number as AZ U:9:7(ASM), which is the designation for a portion of Pueblo Grande. The correct number for the site as a whole is AZ U:9:1(ASM).

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