Results of Eligibility Testing and Data Recovery Plan for Two Archaeological Sites Along the Arizona Department of Transportation Red Mountain Freeway (State Route 202) Project Right-of-Way (SR 87 to Gilbert Road)

Summary

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) plans to extend the Red Mountain Freeway through Mesa, Arizona from State Route (SR) 87 to US Route (US) 60. This project will result in the construction of a new limited access six-lane freeway. Construction on the right-of-way is currently confined to the area between SR 87 and Gilbert Road. The proposed route runs through an area of dense historic and prehistoric cultural resources south of McDowell Road, and passes through the northern edge of the Lehi historic district between Mesa Drive and Stapley Road.

Eligibility testing of known cultural resources along this segment of the right-of-way was initiated by Archaeological Consulting Services (ACS) on December 1, 1999. Testing has proceeded following a strategy of combined systematic and judgmental trenching as outlined in the project treatment plan. This document presents the results of this testing and plan for further work at two sites within this right-of-way: AZ U:9:200 and AZ U:9:201 (ASM). ADOT has asked ACS to expedite clearance of the areas at McDowell Road and Mesa Drive and McDowell Road and Gilbert Road to allow bridge construction to proceed at these intersections.

Based on the results of this testing program, U:9:200 and U:9:201 have both been determined to be eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion D. U:9:200 contains numerous Hohokam canals, six pit structures, numerous possible pre-Hohokam features, numerous indeterminate prehistoric pits and charcoal stains, a possible truncated midden, an intact vessel in an isolated pit, and a variety of historic pit features. Multiple Hohokam canals, one pit structure and one possible pre-Hohokam feature have been documented at U:9:201. Results of this testing are presented in detail in this document, and are related to the research questions posed in the treatment plan. Data recovery is recommended for selected features and contexts at both sites, and research questions have been refined for the next phase of investigation.

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

Repository(s): Salt River Project, Tempe, AZ

Prepared By(s): Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd.

Submitted To(s): Arizona Department of Transportation, Environmental Planning Group

Record Identifiers

Salt River Project Library Call No.(s): HE206.2.R43Y67 2000

Salt River Project Library Barcode No.(s): 00091021

ACS Project No.(s): 99-66

ADOT Project RAM No.(s): 600-8-326

TRACS No.(s): 202L-MA20-H3872-01D

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