Archaeological Testing at Five Sites in North Neighborhood 12, Rancho Vistoso, Town of Oro Valley, Pima County, Arizona

Summary

In July and August 2003, SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted a cultural resources survey of 208 acres in North Neighborhood 12 of the Rancho Vistoso development in Oro Valley, Arizona (Hesse 2003). Eight archaeological sites were identified. Following agency review of these findings, four prehistoric sites and one historic site were considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and required additional archaeological work prior to development. A Phase I testing and data recovery plan was developed (Hesse 2005a, 2005b) and implemented by SWCA.

SWCA contracted with Vistoso Partners, Inc., to conduct this Phase I archaeological testing during January and February 2006 at the four prehistoric sites, AZ BB:9:150 (ASM), AZ BB:9:380 (ASM), AZ BB:9:382 (ASM), and AZ BB:9:383 (ASM), and at the one historic site, AZ BB:9:149 (ASM).

Testing at the prehistoric sites consisted of sample and full surface artifact collection, shovel scraping of 171 m2, excavation of three previously identified features, and excavation of various controlled test units. All testing and excavation activities were documented, mapped, and photographed before and after completing the testing activities. These investigations generally followed the recommended levels of field effort stipulated in the Archaeological Testing Plan for this project (Hesse 2005a, 2005b). Only a few minor deviations from the plan were found to be necessary once fieldwork began. The configurations of the shovel-scraped units were changed in order to better sample and explore the artifact concentrations at the site, although the total square meters of shovel scraping remained the same. One control unit was not excavated at AZ BB:9:150 (ASM), while one additional control unit was added to AZ BB:9:380 (ASM).

The results from testing at the four NRHP-eligible prehistoric sites (AZ BB:9:150 [ASM], AZ BB:9:380 [ASM], AZ BB:9:382 [ASM], and AZ BB:9:383 [ASM]) identified no significant subsurface deposits. Therefore, extensive testing at these sites has exhausted the research potential of these sites and no further work is recommended. The in-field mapping and documentation, as well as the in-process historical research, will fully mitigate adverse effects to the historical rock wall, AZ BB:9:149 (ASM), and no additional archaeological work is recommended for this site.

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): David M.R. Barr; David B. Tucker; Joseph A. Ezzo; India S. Hesse; Alexa M. Smith

Project Director(s): R. Thomas Euler

Prepared By(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Submitted To(s): Vistoso Partners

Record Identifiers

Project No.(s): OV1205-26

SWCA Project No.(s): 10586-052

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