Archaeological Testing at the Massera Ruin: The Meridian Ranch Project, Queen Creek, Arizona

Summary

This report describes the results of an archaeological testing project at the Massera Ruin (Site AZ U:10:22 [ASM]) in Queen Creek, Arizona. The testing project was conducted at the request of Willis Property Company, L.C., of Mesa, Arizona, who proposes to construct a residential development on the 640-acre project parcel known as the Meridian Ranch. Previous survey data (Wenker 1999) indicated that the Massera Ruin overlapped a 399-acre portion of the Meridian Ranch, but this entire area had been plowed and used for agricultural fields since the 1940s and the subsurface integrity of the site remained undetermined.

Archaeological testing was conducted at the site to determine the nature and extent of intact archaeological features underneath the plowed fields. These test investigations demonstrated that intact buried archaeological features and deposits do exist across a large portion of the site, and SWCA recommends that the Massera Ruin (AZ U: 10:22 [ASM]) is eligible for nomination to the National Register under Criterion (d) for its information potential. SWCA’s testing project also demonstrated that intact human burials (which are protected by state law) are present at the site. However, the overall area of the Meridian Ranch project area that contains intact buried archaeological features has been reduced from 399 acres to roughly 225 acres. This report concludes by providing recommendations concerning the treatment of the archaeological site.

Cite this Record

Archaeological Testing at the Massera Ruin: The Meridian Ranch Project, Queen Creek, Arizona, 79. Chris T. Wenker, Douglas R. Mitchell, Thomas N. Motsinger. 2000 ( tDAR id: 433671) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8433671

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Spatial Coverage

min long: -111.6; min lat: 33.228 ; max long: -111.583; max lat: 33.283 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

Prepared By(s): SWCA, Inc., Environmental Consultants

Submitted To(s): Willis Property Company, L.C.

Record Identifiers

Arizona State Museum Library Barcode(s): 009435

Case No.(s): 99-40

Project #(s): 3577-0018

SWCA Cultural Resources Report No.(s): 00-79

ASM Accession No.(s): 2000-189

File Information

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2000_WenkerMitchellMotsinger_ArchaeologicalTesting_OCR_PDFA_Re... 18.55mb Oct 20, 2021 3:37:23 PM Public
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2000_WenkerMitchellMotsinger_ArchaeologicalTesting_OCR_PDFA.pdf 12.53mb Feb 1, 2000 May 9, 2017 5:01:21 PM Confidential
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Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

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