Life on the Floodplain: Further Investigations at Pueblo Salado for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Volume 1, Preliminary Investigations and Research Design

Summary

SWCA, Inc., Environmental Consultants conducted archaeological investigations for the City of Phoenix Aviation Department for work relating to future expansion of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration served as the lead agency, with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department administering the project.

The project initially consisted of a Class I (archival and literature review) and later a Class II (testing) survey within portions of planned expansion/acquisition areas for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as part of the Master Plan Improvements Project. This report focuses on investigations in Parcels A and D.

Contained within the two parcels are Pueblo Salado, AZ T: 12:47 (ASM), Areas 6, 15, and 16, and segments of Canal Salado (northern branch). The site of Pueblo Salado is considered eligible for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places because of its potential to contribute to the understanding of Hohokam archaeology in the Salt River Valley. In particular, investigations at the site have shown it to be associated with the Classic and post-Classic period Hohokam occupation as a permanently occupied site on the floodplain of the Salt River. Areas 6, 15, and 16 offer additional opportunities to examine prehistoric lifeways on the floodplain and expand current knowledge of Classic period collapse and post-Classic period occupation. The project also examined the historic use of the area, providing detailed discussion and study of an early twentieth century cotton farm and the development of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

This volume presents an introduction to the project and defines Pueblo Salado and its many areas. The research design and work plan for testing in Areas 6 and 15/16 is provided, followed by the results of the testing by area. A geomorphic discussion of Area 15 and Parcel A examines the physical setting, the alluvial stratigraphy, and evidence of flooding and describes the irrigation features associated with Canal Salado and those of historic/modem age. The historic resources are the focus of Chapter 5, which includes a historic context for these resources. The research design and work plan for the data recovery phase for investigations in Areas 6 and 15/16 are presented in the final chapter. The research design and work plan follow the approach originally proposed for Pueblo Salado during the earlier Sky Harbor Center investigations. Volume 2 will focus on the excavation phase of this project, reporting on the findings in Areas 6 and 15/16.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): City of Phoenix Archaeology Office

Contributor(s): Jean H. Ballagh; Mark L. Chenault; David H. Greenwald; Dawn M. Greenwald; Gary Huckleberry; Douglas R. Mitchell; Douglas R. Seymour; Pat H. Stein; Mary-Ellen Walsh-Anduze; M. Zyniecki; Greiner, Inc.

Principal Investigator(s): Douglas R. Mitchell

Sponsor(s): City of Phoenix, Aviation Department; Federal Aviation Administration

Repository(s): Pueblo Grande Museum

Prepared By(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Notes

General Note: The curation of this report was supported by a Seed Grant from the Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University as part of the Digital Archive of Hohokam Archaeology (DAHA) Project.

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