Archaeological Testing and Data Recovery at Portions of AZ U:10:2(ASM) in South Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

This report presents the results of an archaeological testing and data recovery program for approximately two acres of land located in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona (Figure 1.1). The research was conducted at the request of William Olsen and Gerald Ricke of Mesa, Arizona, prior to the purchase of the land for proposed private development. The irregular parcels are located east of Sossaman Road and Rittenhouse Road and the Southern Pacific railroad form the southern boundary (Figure 1.2).The artifact concentrations within the parcel are located completely within the boundaries of the S.W. Germann Site (AZ U:10:2 [ASM]), a previously recorded Hohokam village, dating from the Pioneer to Classic periods. The survey of the surrounding 30 acre project area (Lindly 2001) documented two potential areas of significant cultural resources consisting of a low mound and a trash deposit feature with cremated human bone. At the request of William Olsen and Gerald Ricke, SWCA implemented a program of archaeological testing and data recovery within these areas to determine the nature and extent of all intact subsurface archaeological features including human burials before construction begins. A testing plan was submitted to the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office prior to the testing (Lindly and Mitchell 2001). Eight features, including four burials were documented. The four burials consisted of three inhumations and one cremation, and these were excavated under a burial agreement with the Gila River Indian Community and the Arizona State Museum. The pottery recovered from the site was dominated by red ware and polychrome types, which are characteristic of the time period around A.D. 1200-1400. The location of the residential area associated with these burials may be further to the east outside the project area.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Salt River Project Digital Library

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

Contributor(s): Deil Lundin; Ron Ryden; Cara Schmidt

Repository(s): Salt River Project

Prepared By(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Submitted To(s): William Olsen and Gerald Ricke LLC

Record Identifiers

Salt River Project Library Call No.(s): E78.M47L56 2002

SWCA Cultural Resources Report No.(s): 01-370

Salt River Project Barcode No.(s): 00091068

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