Prehistoric Agricultural Activities on the Lehi-Mesa Terrace: Excavations at La Cuenca del Sedimento

Summary

This study is the first of two volumes that describe the results of archaeological investigations undertaken within the Tempe Section of the Outer Loop Freeway system. This work was funded by the Arizona Department of Transportation and conducted under Contract 86-102. Three sites were investigated as part of this project, including La Cuenca del Sedimento, a farmstead/fieldhouse site, and AZ U:9:69(ASM) and AZ U:9:71(ASM). All three sites were crossed by portions of the Las Acequias-Los Muertos irrigation system, and canals were the primary cultural constituents of AZ U:9:69 and AZ U:9:71. The sites were located on the south side of the Salt River; La Cuenca del Sedimento lay at the interface between the river floodplain and the first (Lehi) terrace, whereas AZ U:9:69 and AZ U:9:71 were situated farther south on the second (Mesa) terrace.

This volume concentrates on the findings at La Cuenca del Sedimento. Research is focused on determining the nature of the site, particularly of the occupational contexts, discerning the range of activities conducted there, and defining the spatial configuration and temporal duration of those contexts. A second objective, which builds upon the first, involves consideration of Hohokam land use patterns as revealed across the Tempe Outer Loop corridor.

It is determined that La Cuenca del Sedimento was an agricultural settlement that was first occupied during the Red Mountain phase of the Hohokam chronology. Occupation or utilization of the site continued through the early Classic period. During this temporal interval, a transition in the form of agricultural activity is evident. During the Pioneer period, a seasonal farmstead occupation appears to be represented. By post-Pioneer times, utilization of the site is even more temporary, with intermittent use of fieldhouses and processing features. These contrasts indicate changes in settlement and land use patterns from the Pioneer to post-Pioneer periods.

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): Jeffrey L. Eighmy; Jannifer W. Gish; Carl D. Halbirt; Ann Valdo Howard; Steven R. James; JoAnn E. Kisselburg; Charles Miksicek; Shari Prince; Monique Sawyer-Lang; Nina B. Swidler

Field Director(s): Vera Morgan

Prepared By(s): Northland Research, Inc.

Submitted To(s): Arizona Department of Transportation

Record Identifiers

Contract(s): 86-102

SRP Library Barcode No.(s): 00030549

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