Archaeological Monitoring within the Southwest Germann Site, Former Williams Air Force Base, Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

The U.S. Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment retained URS Corporation (URS) to conduct a preliminary assessment and site inspection (PA/SI) of the Debris Area, subsequently designated Munitions Response Area (MRA) XU403, located at the former Williams Air Force Base (AFB) in Mesa, Arizona. The PA/SI was undertaken to determine whether there are munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) or any releases (contaminants), as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, within the MRA XU403 and if so, to formulate recommendations for follow-up actions. The MRA XU403 is within the Southwest Germann archaeological site. The four aspects of the investigations that involved ground disturbance and could adversely affect the potential of the Southwest Germann site to yield important information were: (1) the geophysical instrument validation strip (prove-out area), (2) vegetation removal in conjunction with detector-aided visual surface survey, (3) intrusive investigation of geophysical anomalies to remove MEC, munitions debris, and other metal items, and (4) trenching to sample for possible contaminants.

Archaeological monitoring resulted in the collection of 1,125 artifacts, all from the ground surface except for 13 artifacts that were found on piles of backdirt that the unexploded ordinance team had excavated during removal of MEC, munitions debris, and other metal items. Almost 90 percent (%) of the artifacts are Hohokam potsherds; most are not temporally diagnostic. In summary, implementation of the PA/SI and removal of MEC and munitions debris involved relatively little ground disturbance and did not adversely affect the potential of the Southwest Germann site to yield important information. The 1994 testing and the monitoring in 2009, 2010, and 2011 did not identify any buried Hohokam archaeological features within MRA XU403. Any buried features might have been destroyed by prior activities, particularly if they were shallowly buried, such as floors of adobe building remnants. Nevertheless, the quantity of artifacts and presence of human remains suggests that intact or partially intact buried archaeological features could be present within MRA XU403.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 750 to 1450 (Southwest Germann site estimated occupation date)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): City of Phoenix Archaeology Office

Contributor(s): Pamela Cox; Ronald Savage; Chad Kirvan

Principal Investigator(s): A. E. (Gene) Rogge

Prepared By(s): URS Corporation

Submitted To(s): U.S. Air Force Real Property Agency; U.S. Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment

Record Identifiers

Task Order(s): 0166

URS Cultural Resource Report(s): 2011-37(AZ)

Project Number(s): YZJU20097101

Contract Number:(s): FA8903-08-D-8783

File Information