Archaeological Data Recovery in a Portion of AZ U:9:67 (ASM)-La Lomita: The Escala Central City Project

Summary

The Escala Central City LP (Escala) is proposing the construction of a multi-structure apartment complex (apartments, clubhouse, swimming pool, associated recreational facilities, and parking) in the heart of urban Phoenix. A review of the project by the City of Phoenix Archaeologist, as part of the City’s permitting process, determined that a portion of the project area included prehistoric Hohokam site AZ U:9:67 (ASM)—La Lomita, which is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). At the time of the investigation, the parcel was a vacant lot generally devoid of vegetation except for a variety of weeds. The site was formerly the location of the Phoenix Drive-In Theater—AZ T:12:212 (ASM) (Northland Research, Inc. [Northland] 2004). The only remnants of this facility are some concrete slabs, an underground concrete sound system, and low earthen berms on which cars parked. AZ T:12:212 (ASM) is not considered eligible for the NRHP. Prior to the drive-in theater, the area was used for agricultural purposes. Both the agricultural and commercial use of the parcel had significantly impacted subsurface archaeological deposits in the project area.

In 2004, Northland prepared a Phase I archaeological data recovery plan for the project area, and this work was carried out in March 2005 by Carter Burgess (Stubing and Grupp 2005). The excavation of 970 linear meters of backhoe trenches (BHTs) resulted in the identification of seven prehistoric features. Based on the exposed cultural materials, Carter Burgess interpreted Feature 1 as an ash lens, Feature 2 as a possible pit house or midden, Feature 3 as a thermal deposit, Feature 4 as a canal, and Features 5-7 as possible pit houses.

In July 2005, Escala contracted with SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to conduct Phase II data recovery in the project area. This work allowed a more precise assessment and reinterpretation of the exposed features: Feature 1 was determined to be an ash-filled pit; Feature 2 was a poorly preserved hearth and segments of a floor surface in the upper fill of a trash midden or backfilled borrow pit; Feature 3 was a small ash lens in the fill of a canal channel; Feature 4 was a large canal channel; Feature 5 was a trash midden or trash-filled borrow pit; Feature 6 was a partially preserved pit structure or field house; and Feature 7, previously identified as a possible pit house, was determined to be a smaller canal channel. Artifacts were not abundant, and few were recovered.

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): Cara Bellavia; Karen Adams; Josh Edwards; Linda Scott Cummings

Repository(s): City of Phoenix; Pueblo Grande Museum

Prepared By(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Submitted To(s): Escala Central City LP

Record Identifiers

PGM Project No.(s): 2004-28

SWCA Project No.(s): 9961-041

File Information