Archaeological Monitoring for Geotech Bores Drilled Along the Center Runway, Taxiways, and Turnouts, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Summary

Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd. (ACS) of Tempe, Arizona completed archaeological monitoring of geotech coring and boring on the existing center (7L-25R) runway and its taxiways and turnouts at Sky Harbor International Airport. ACS carried out the monitoring as a subcontractor to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., who, under contract to the City of Phoenix—Sky Harbor International Airport, are designing reconstruction of the west and east taxiways, replacing asphalt with concrete, and improving drainage on the center runway. Monitoring the drilling of the geotech bores for cultural remains is required by law (Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966) and comprises the initial phase of a multi-phase data recovery project (Powell et al. 2001).

Monitoring of 177 geotech drillings excavated to 10 ft below ground surface or to refusal was undertaken in the late night and early morning hours of December 15-23, 2000. Of these, 173 were geotech bores and four were geotech cores. The four geotech cores were monitored because they extended below existing pavement. Under the authority of Arizona State Museum Permit Number 2000-128ps, crews of two to three individuals conducted the monitoring each night. Individuals participating in the monitoring included Principal Investigator Shirley Powell, Project Director Richard Boston and crew members Alissa Bentz, Lisa Champagne, Holly DeMaagd, Gina Gage, Joseph Gregory, Andrea Miller, Melanie Ryan, and Robert Stokes.

Monitoring was undertaken to provide information about previous construction, geomorphology, and archaeological remains. Although no cultural remains were encountered during monitoring, geomorphological data, when combined with an archaeological literature review and site file search, provided insight into site integrity and will aid in the development of the archaeological testing strategy.

The following document reports on the archaeological monitoring and summarizes existing literature on archaeological remains near Sky Harbor International Airport. The report concludes with recommendations for testing and data recovery.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): City of Phoenix Archaeology Office

Prepared By(s): Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd.

Submitted To(s): City of Phoenix, Aviation Department

Record Identifiers

PGM Project Number(s): PGM 2001-10

ACS Project Number(s): ACS 00-119-01

Notes

General Note: maps missing pg. 4 and 13

File Information