Archeological Survey of Newly Acquired Lands in Saguaro National Park: 1996, 1997 and 1998

Summary

Archeologists from the Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC), National Park Service (NPS), conducted archeological surveys of newly acquired lands iu the Rincon Mountain District and Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park during 1996, 1997, and 1998. The fieldwork encompassed four separate field data collection projects, building on previous WACC surveys from 1994 to 1996 and adding to the inventory of cultural resources iu the Park. Cumulative survey results now represent more than 30 percent coverage of Park lands, providing a comprehensive cultural resources database for both districts. The projects shared the primary goal of developiug cultural resources inventories for the park expansion lands. But each project also served secondary goals such as surveying areas proposed as possible

routes for newly desiguated trails, relocatiug and re-recordiug several well-known prehistoric and historic sites, and relocating other previously recorded sites for site condition and siguificance assessments. In

addition to the firndamental imperative of preservation, all fieldwork goals served the overarching purpose of providing detailed cultural resources information to assist park management and aid in planning decisions. The authors also hope this report proves to be a useful tool for future research.

The first project presented is SAGU 1996 C, an inventory survey covering over 400 acres of foothills and uplands in the Riucon Mountain District (RMO) Park expansion lands. Four sites and fourteen isolated finds were recorded. The recorded sites are prehistoric, while the isolated finds represent a mix of prehistoric and historical cultural materials. The second reported project is SAGU 1997 A, which contiuued the survey in a

contiguous block south of the SAGU 1996 C survey area. Duriug this project more than 830 acres were covered, and II sites, including prehistoric sites and historic-period ranchiug and mining sites, were newly

recorded. The survey also recorded 43 prehistoric and historic-period isolated tinds and re-recorded two previously identified sites. One of the re-recorded sites is the well-known Loma Alta site, a large Hohokam village on Rincon Creek. The project, SAGU 1997 B, focused on a block of newly acquired park lands in the Tucson Mountaiu District (TMD), covering an area of more than 820 acres. Prehistoric and historic-period cultural resources were recorded at three sites in this survey area along with 55 prehistoric, historical, and modern isolated finds. The series of new lands surveys iu the park was concluded during project SAGU 1998 A, which included both reconnaissance and inventory surveys in both park districts. Extensive reconnaissance survey was combined with block survey of approximately 120 acres in the Rincon Mountain District. Eighteen previously recorded sites were relocated, and site condition and significance assessments were made. In addition, two previously known sites were completely re-recorded, includiug the large Hohokam village known as the Camino Loma Alta site. Finally, six prehistoric and historic-period sites were recorded in the Riucon Mountain District. Work duriug 1998 in the TMD iucluded reconnaissance surveys in the Mile Wide Mine locality, where several historic-period mining sites were recorded, including the well-known Mile Wide Mine. Block surveys also were conducted, totaliug about 720 acres in several areas of newly acquired lands, and around proposed routes of newly desiguated trails. Thirteen prehistoric and historic-period sites were recorded in the TMD and the site records were completed at two other sites, including the Old Yuma Mine. Finally, 17 isolated finds of prehistoric and historical cultural materials were

recorded in both park districts.

This report includes summary descriptions of the four projects, including goals and data collection methods for each one. Survey results are organized by survey project and a comparative summary of the cultural

resources recorded in both park districts is offered. Site condition and significance assessments are presented for all recorded cultural resources as well as previously recorded sites. Since a summary approach generally is used in the body of the report, it is followed by detailed descriptions of sites, isolated finds, and analyzed artifacts in appendices. The appendices also include a concordance of site numbers and a review of the record of previous excavations at the Loma Alta site.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Arizona   •
• Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1 to 1800

Spatial Coverage

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