Investigations at Sunset Mesa Ruin: Archaeology at the Confluence of the Santa Cruz and Rillito Rivers, Tucson, Arizona

Summary

Data recovery at Sunset Mesa Ruin, AZ AA:12:10 (ASM), uncovered a segment of a single-component Rincon phase settlement dating between A.D. 1000 and 1100, as well as the remains of a turn-of-the-century adobe homestead. Excavations were confined to a 7,500-m2 area in the northwestern corner of the site, primarily within the proposed Corps of Engineers overbank protection area along the Rillito River. The prehistoric component consisted of a discrete residential cluster of five pit houses that formed a sequential series of small courtyard groups, a midden area, 13 other pit features, and six other extramural features. A cemetery area was not identified, although two cremations discovered during the testing phase were located east of the house cluster. A second courtyard group may have been present in the heavily eroded and disturbed area immediately west of the house cluster, as suggested by the presence of two large storage vessels buried in pits. If a second courtyard group was present, the two would have constituted one of several residential precincts of this Rincon phase hamlet.

Other significant features related to the prehistoric occupation of the site included a ramada and food-storage and -preparation areas, and a segment of an irrigation canal. The ramada and food-storage and -preparation area was characterized by the presence of several reconstructible storage vessels, grinding and processing tools, masses of processed seeds, and clusters of fire-cracked rocks. This work area may have been related to the investigated courtyard group, or it might have functioned as a communal food-processing area for two or more residential groups in this and adjacent residential precincts.

A north-south-oriented, prehistoric canal segment was identified along the edge of the second terrace, on which the site was situated. The presence of this canal has implications for both the economic base of the settlement and the organization of the community. First, it suggests that the occupants irrigated their fields rather than relying on floodwater farming. Further, an evaluation of canal sediments indicated that the canal originated along the Rillito River, undoubtedly for irrigating fields on the first terrace below the site, to the west.

The historical-period components at the site consisted of a three-room adobe house constructed by Basillio Cuevas around 1893, a general surface scatter of trash related to this occupation and the subsequent Sunset Dairy dating after 1915, and more recent trash deposits related to subsequent ranch operations. Twelve historical- or modern-era extramural features also were recorded.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SRI Press

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1000 to 1100 (Rincon Phase Settlement)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): SRI Press

Contributor(s): Robert B. Neily; Richard Ciolek-Torello; Jeffrey A. Homburg; Matthew A. Sterner; Edgar K. Huber; Robert A. Heckman; Stephanie M. Whittlesey; Anthony Della Croce; Arthur W. Vokes; Karen R. Adams; Susan Smith; Jim Hasbargen; Kellie M. Cairns; Joseph A. Ezzo; Jeffrey Altschul; Manuel Palacios-Fest; William L. Deaver; Barbara A. Murphy; M. Steven Shackley; James M. Heidke; Carla R. Van West

Landowner(s): U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District

Prepared By(s): Statistical Research, Inc.

Submitted To(s): U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District

Record Identifiers

Delivery Order(s): No. 10

Contract No.(s): DACW09-93-D-0004

Notes

General Note: Historic component consists of an adobe house constructed by Basillio Cuevas around 1893 and the subsequent Sunset Dairy dating after 1915.

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