Archaeological Survey for Expansion of a Material Source Facility, Florence, Pinal County, Arizona

Summary

This report presents the results of a Class III archaeological survey of approximately 112 acres of land located near Florence, Pinal County, Arizona. The survey was conducted at the request of AGRA Earth and Environmental of Phoenix, Arizona. This report will be used to fulfill an Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) requirement that necessitates appropriate environmental work be conducted before ADOT can purchase material from a supplier. The project area consists of a proposed expansion to an existing rock quarry. The project area is located on privately owned land. The survey was conducted under an Arizona Antiquities Act permit (2000-23bl).

Within this area, approximately 39 acres were previously disturbed and were not surveyed. The remaining 73 acres are in the Gila River bed or its flood plain and were surveyed. The disturbance within the project area consisted of rock quarrying activities that have completely removed all portions of the original ground surface. The activities include large pits, gravel and rock stock piles, and sediment pits. A rock berm for water control was constructed on the flood plain. It runs roughly east-west for approximately 1200 m (3937 feet) and is approximately 8 m (25 feet) wide and 2.5 m (8 feet) high. Other disturbances include grading the first terrace on to the flood plain, probably when the fields were leveled for farming, and grading of the flood plain and a portion of the river bed. The only relatively undisturbed areas within the parcel were two triangular shaped parcels on the flood plain at the southwest end, totaling less than two acres.

Only one isolated occurrence was located and no prehistoric or historic sites were found within the project area. The isolated occurrence consisted of 10 sherds and 3 flakes located in a disturbed, backdirt pile just inside the west end of the project boundary. The artifacts appear to come from an artifact scatter that is northwest of the project parcel boundary and were probably pushed on to the property. The area is very disturbed and has been used as an informal trash dump for an extended period of time. No further work is recommended for either the project parcel or the isolated occurrence.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SWCA DAHA Resources   •
• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Contributor(s): Matthew Peters

Prepared By(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Submitted To(s): Agra Earth & Environmental, Inc.

Record Identifiers

Arizona Antiquities Act Permit(s): 2000-23bl

SWCA Project No. (s): 3881-M-33

File Information