An Archaeological Survey of the University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, Interim Report

Author(s): Ann Valdo Howard; Jeanne Swarthout

Year: 2017

Summary

This is a report on the first phase of an archaeological survey of the University Research Park. The work has been conducted by the Office of Cultural Resource Management at Arizona State University. The first phase has involved a systematic inspection of the surface of the ground, and has led to the identification of one prehistoric canal and a very sparse distribution of artifacts (64 objects distributed over half a section). In the second phase of the survey approximately 7 backhoe trenches will be excavated so that a) soil profiles can be studied for the project area and b) measurements can be made of the width and depth of the canal.

The findings of the first phase of the study suggest that this is an area of prehistoric agricultural fields. The artifacts are primarily stone tools (97%) and they are widely dispersed with no evidence of clustered patterns. Prehistoric village and camp sites would be associated with a much higher proportion of ceramics, and the artifacts would show a very clustered distribution. Based on our findings, there appear to be no prehistoric villages or camps within the boundaries of the University Research Park.

The trenching of the second phase of the survey will provide information on the amount of soil build-up (colluviation) which has occurred in this area. If there has been little erosional deposition, the surface data can be used as an appropriate inventory of the archaeological resources of the University Research Park.

Cite this Record

An Archaeological Survey of the University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, Interim Report. Ann Valdo Howard, Jeanne Swarthout. 2017 ( tDAR id: 433668) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8433668

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Spatial Coverage

min long: -111.923; min lat: 33.315 ; max long: -111.885; max lat: 33.365 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

Field Director(s): Ann Valdo Howard

Principal Investigator(s): Jeanne Swarthout

Prepared By(s): Office of Cultural Resource Management, Arizona State University

Record Identifiers

OCRM Report Number(s): 84-330

File Information

  Name Size Creation Date Date Uploaded Access
HowardSwarthout_ArchaeologicalSurveyUniversity_OCR_PDFA.pdf 2.93mb May 9, 2017 4:59:49 PM Confidential
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Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager