An Archaeological Survey of the Reach 9 Realignment, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona

Author(s): Patricia E. Brown

Year: 1977

Summary

Under contract with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Office of Cultural Resource Management, Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, completed an archaeological survey of areas within Reach 9 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project. The survey area encompassed approximately 728 hectares (1800 acres) on the northwest margin of the Salt River Valley just west of the Agua Fria River. Reach 9 is located about 48 km (30 mi) northwest of Phoenix and runs east from U.S. Highway 60-89, 4.8 km (3 mi) southeast of Wittmann, Arizona, to the Hieroglyphic Mountains. The Reach 9 survey project area included a detention basin 9.5 km (6 mi) long and 600 m (1969 ft) wide, a construction alignment approximately 16 km (10 mi) long and 200 m (656 ft ) wide, a 16 hectare (40 acre) waste disposal area and 7.25 km (4.5 mi) of road right-of-way.

This report describes the results of the archaeological survey within Reach 9 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct. During the course of the survey, seven sites, five field loci, and numerous isolated artifacts were recorded. The sites include two historic foundations with associated trash probably dating to the 1920s or 1930s; three simple sherd and lithic scatters which have been tentatively assigned a Sedentary (A.D. 900-1100) or Classic (A.D. 1100-1450) period date; a single, more complex sherd and lithic activity area with an early Colonial period (A.D. 500-700) date; and a possible soil and water control system of undetermined date. The identified field loci have been tentatively associated with the exploitation of local floral and faunal resources.

The results of the survey indicate that this area was only minimally used by prehistoric groups. Resource potential in the area would have been relatively low when compared to the adjacent riverine environment along the Agua Fria. Prior to the Anglo intrusion into the region, the study area appears to have supported only temporary and probably seasonal forays by neighboring Hohokam groups in search of plant, animal and perhaps mineral resources to supplement their subsistence.

Cite this Record

An Archaeological Survey of the Reach 9 Realignment, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona. Patricia E. Brown. 1977 ( tDAR id: 393069) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8WD41KR

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Culture
Euroamerican • Historic Native American • Hohokam • Patayan • Yuman

Material
Ceramic • Chipped Stone • Glass • Ground Stone • Metal • Wood

Site Name
AZ T:3:11(ASU) • AZ T:3:12(ASU) • AZ T:3:13(ASU) • AZ T:3:14(ASU) • AZ T:3:15(ASU) • AZ T:3:16(ASU) • AZ T:3:18(ASU) • AZ T:4:53(ASU) • AZ T:7:32(ASU)

Site Type
Agricultural Field or Field Feature • Artifact Scatter • Concrete Slab • Domestic Structures • Homestead • Rock Alignment • Water Control Feature

Investigation Types
Data Recovery / Excavation • Site Evaluation / Testing • Systematic Survey

Geographic Keywords
Agua Fria River • Granite Reef Aqueduct Reach 9 • Hieroglyphic Mountains • Wittmann, Arizona

Temporal Keywords
Gila Butte Phase • Historic Period • Hohokam Classic period • Hohokam Colonial period • Hohokam Sedentary period • Sacaton Phase

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 900 to 1100

Calendar Date: 500 to 700

Calendar Date: 1920 to 1940

Calendar Date: 1100 to 1450

Spatial Coverage

min long: -112.484; min lat: 33.744 ; max long: -112.311; max lat: 33.82 ;

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): 6-01-20-10840

File Information

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