Tonto Creek Archaeological Project - Artifact and Environmental Analyses, Volume 1: A Tonto Basin Perspective on Ceramic Economy

Editor(s): James M. Vint; James M. Heidke

Year: 2000

Summary

This volume presents analyses of the ceramics collected from excavations conducted by Desert Archaeology, Inc. as part of the Tonto Creek Archaeological Project (TCAP) in the Tonto Basin, Gila County, of east-central Arizona. The project was funded by the Arizona Department of Transportation prior to the widening and realignment of State Route 188 from 1994 to 1996. Over the course of fieldwork from 1992 to 1996, 27 sites were investigated through mapping, surface collection, and excavation. Site components ranged in age from the Middle Archaic to the late Historic era. This volume reports on materials from ceramic period components at prehistoric sites, generally dating from about A.D. 700 to A.D. 1350. A synthetic period-level approach is taken, rather than site-by-site treatment; site-specific discussions are found in Anthropological Papers Number 22, Volumes 1 and 2. The primary goal in this volume is to examine basin-wide temporal trends of functional and stylistic change in ceramic assemblages, patterns of production and distribution, and general ceramic technology.

The Pioneer, Colonial, Sedentary, and early Classic periods are represented in the ceramic assemblage. Investigated sites include seasonal farmsteads and year-round habitation sites, as well as several limited-activity sites. Occupational, functional, and temporal variation are well established in the data set. In addition to extensive sherd collections from domestic contexts (architectural and general refuse), 1,259 whole and reconstructible vessels from all contexts were analyzed, including 1,044 from mortuary contexts. Analyses focused on temporal trends in ceramic assemblages, production and exchange, functional variation, and stylistic variation.

Chapter 1 provides an overview of the ceramic collection. General temporal trends are summarized, the project area is placed in regional context, and basic research questions are formulated. Chapter 2 addresses chronological issues, including site dating, temporal trends in settlement, and temporal variation in ceramic wares and vessel forms. Chapter 3 details the petrographic analysis used to model production and exchange of utilitarian pottery manufactured within the Tonto Basin. A synthetic treatment of ceramic production and exchange is presented in Anthropological Papers Number 25. Chapter 4 presents a detailed analysis of whole and reconstructible vessels, including variation in form and size. Chapter 5 explores functional variation in the whole vessel collection. A study of the worked sherds, particularly perforated disks (or "spindle whorls"), is presented in Chapter 6. A stylistic analysis of decorated whole vessels is the topic of Chapter 7, focusing on attributes that distinguish "local" or Tonto Basin design structures from nonlocal designs. Chapter 8 synthesizes the preceding chapters. Conclusions are drawn from the detailed analyses that bear on the general research questions posed in Chapter 1. Temporal and regional implications of these results are also discussed.

Cite this Record

Tonto Creek Archaeological Project - Artifact and Environmental Analyses, Volume 1: A Tonto Basin Perspective on Ceramic Economy. James M. Vint, James M. Heidke. 2000 ( tDAR id: 436471) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8436471

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Culture
Archaic • Hohokam • Mogollon

Material
Ceramic

Site Name
AR-03-12-06-126 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1347 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1350 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1352 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1353 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1354 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1362 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1365 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1366 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1373 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1374 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1375 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1376 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1377 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1378 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1381 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-1387 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-199 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-202 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-203 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-204 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-2062 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-2064 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-2283 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-2284 (TNF) • AR-03-12-06-332 (TNF) • AZ U:286 (ASM) • AZ U:3:222 (ASM) • AZ U:3:223 (ASM) • AZ U:3:224 (ASM) • AZ U:3:273 (ASM) • AZ U:3:274 (ASM) • AZ U:3:275 (ASM) • AZ U:3:276 (ASM) • AZ U:3:277 (ASM) • AZ U:3:278 (ASM) • AZ U:3:279 (ASM) • AZ U:3:285 (ASM) • AZ U:3:287 (ASM) • AZ U:3:288 (ASM) • AZ U:3:289 (ASM) • AZ U:3:290 (ASM) • AZ U:3:291 (ASM) • AZ U:3:294 (ASM) • AZ U:3:296 (ASM) • AZ U:3:297 (ASM) • AZ U:3:299 (ASM) • AZ U:3:300 (ASM) • AZ U:3:301 (ASM) • AZ U:3:302 (ASM) • AZ U:3:352 (ASM) • AZ U:3:5 (ASM) • Boatyard • Butcher Hook • Casa Escondida • Cerro Flojo • Granary Row • Heron Hatch • Hodgepodge Ridge • Las Tortugas • Los Hermanos • Middle of the Road • Sliver • Tres Huerfanos • Vista del Puerto Show More

Site Type
Funerary and Burial Structures or Features

Investigation Types
Archaeological Overview • Site Evaluation / Testing

General
Artifact Analysis • Ceramic Analysis • Ceramic Temper Analysis • Environmental Analysis • Sherd Disk • Stylistic Analysis • Tonto Creek Archaeological Project • Worked Sherd

Geographic Keywords
Arizona (State / Territory) • East-Central Arizona • Gila (County) • Tonto Basin

Temporal Keywords
Colonial Period • Early Classic Period • Gila Butte Phase • Miami Phase • Pioneer Period • Roosevelt Phase • Sacaton Phase • Santa Cruz Phase • Sedentary Period • Snaketown Phase

Spatial Coverage

min long: -111.651; min lat: 33.573 ; max long: -110.904; max lat: 34.225 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

Contributor(s): James M. Heidke; Sarah A. Herr; Elizabeth J. Miksa; James M. Vint

Prepared By(s): Center for Desert Archaeology

Submitted To(s): Arizona Department of Transportation, Environmental Planning Services

Record Identifiers

ADOT Contract No.(s): 93-05

Anthropological Papers No.(s): 23

SRP Library Barcode No.(s): 00090599

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Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

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