The Antelope Hill Project, Part 1: A Class Ill Archaeological Survey and Treatment Plan of the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District Quarry at Antelope Hill, Yuma County, Arizona

Summary

Antelope Hill (AZ X:8:7 ASM) is a well-known archaeological site in the lower Gila River valley. The hill is located approximately 50 km east of Yuma, Arizona, on the southern terraces of the Gila River. As early as the late 1920s, the various prehistoric and historic cultural elements of the prominent landform had already been recorded by archaeologists. But even prior to this time, explorers had visited or heard tales of the hill beginning with Father Garces in 1775.

Both the archaeological evidence and the historical record are consistent. They document use of the hill by various Native Americans, of which the primary groups were the Quechan, Cocopa, Kamia, Pima, and Maricopa. Economic use centered on quarrying and production of milling implements. But the hill also carried a wider cultural significance. The large number of petroglyphs found on the hill have been variously interpreted as territorial markers or as symbols used in ceremonies associated with quarrying activities.

Later use of the area by Euro-Americans is also abundant. Military encampments, a Butterfield Stage Station, irrigation works, and transportation corridors were all located on or near Antelope Hill. Clearly, this prominent point was a vital location in the history of the lower Gila River.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SRI Press

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): SRI Press

Collaborator(s): Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District

Landowner(s): Bureau of Reclamation

Sponsor(s): Bureau of Reclamation

Prepared By(s): Statistical Research, Inc.

File Information