Archaeological Testing at the Suns Legacy Hotel Project Parcel in Downtown Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

This document presents the results of archaeological testing of the site of the proposed Suns Legacy Hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The testing was undertaken in an effort to determine if significant prehistoric or historic period cultural resources could be adversely affected by the construction of the proposed Suns Legacy Hotel (SLH). The testing was completed under contract to the Tynan Group for the Suns Legacy Hotel Investors, LLC.

The SLH project area lies within the general boundary of and in proximity to a large prehistoric Hohokam village site known as Pueblo Patricio (AZ T:12:70 [ASM]), and it is immediately north of the Sun Mercantile building, a historic property listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Previously, a small portion of the SLH project area was tested for the presence of archaeological remains as part of archaeological investigations preceding the construction of the America West Arena (now U.S. Airways Center) (Rogge et al. 1992). Two small areas within the SLH area were examined and no cultural resources were uncovered. However, because of the limited nature of the previous investigations, the City of Phoenix requested that additional archaeological testing be undertaken to more adequately evaluate the project area’s potential for buried prehistoric and historic period cultural deposits (features or artifacts) that may be of significant scientific and historic importance. The excavations were carried out under Arizona State Museum Project Specific Permit Number 2005-136ps.

Four backhoe trenches (three 13-m long trenches and one 6-m long trench), totaling 45 m in length, were excavated to a depth of 1.5 m. Two features were identified. Feature 1 was a small lens of burned material. No artifacts were associated with it and its origin is unclear, although it is either historic period or modern. Feature 2, a remnant of a single, highly disturbed feature, consists of a slab of concrete and the remnants of a pit that may represent the remains of a foundation or basement. The pit was filled with aggregate and other fill and a few pieces of modern trash. No artifacts were collected and no other features, prehistoric or historic period, were identified. Because this and previous testing failed to identify any evidence of prehistoric remains and no significant historic period remains, as well as the highly disturbed nature of the project area, no further archaeological work is recommended.

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

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

Prepared By(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Submitted To(s): Suns Legacy Hotel Investors, LLC; Tynan Group

Record Identifiers

PGM No.(s): 2005-104

SWCA Project No.(s): 10530-041

Arizona State Museum Project Specific Permit No. (s): 2005-136ps

File Information