Results of Identification Testing for a Proposed Cellular Tower within AZ V:9:52 (ASM), Gila Pueblo, Globe, Gila County, Arizona

Summary

Benchmark Environmental Consultants (Benchmark) is engaged in consultation with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding the proposed installation of telecommunications facilities within the boundary of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-listed Gila Pueblo site. Gila Pueblo incorporates a prehistoric Salado habitation and a reconstructed pueblo-styled educational facility that is historically significant. Gila Pueblo has been assigned the Arizona State Museum (ASM) site number AZ V:9:52 (ASM). The Gila Pueblo buildings are currently occupied by the Gila Pueblo Campus of the Gila Community College District of Gila County. The Gila Pueblo archaeological site is known to include abundant buried features, some of which are known to have been covered over by the historically reconstructed Gila Pueblo buildings. Large portions of the site have been excavated during previous projects; but very little accurate spatial data exists regarding the location of known features or previous investigations within the overall site area.

The proposed construction entails removal of an existing light pole in the parking area adjacent to the Gila Pueblo buildings, and its replacement with a new 35-foot-tall light pole designed to support a telecommunications antenna array. Additional facilities to be installed adjacent to the new light-pole cell tower include a prefabricated equipment cabinet and a transformer.

The Arizona SHPO concluded that if the APE for direct effects included significant buried cultural resources, the project would result in an adverse effect to the archaeological component of the Gila Pueblo site (AZ V:9:52 [ASM]); however, survey of the modern ground surface, and the supplemental research conducted, could not satisfactorily establish the presence or absence of buried deposits in the project area. Therefore, identification testing was required to determine if significant subsurface artifacts, features, or human remains were present within the project APE for direct effects. Benchmark retained SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to prepare and implement a plan for identification testing at the cellular tower site. This report describes the results of the identification testing effort.

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): Federal Communications Commission; Arizona State Historic Preservation Office; Gila County

Project Director(s): Daniel Garcia

Landowner(s): Gila Community College District

Repository(s): Arizona State Museum

Submitted To(s): Benchmark Environmental Consultants

Record Identifiers

Arizona Antiquities Act Project Specific Permit No.(s): 2016-122ps

Arizona State Museum Accession No.(s): 2016-313

Benchmark Project No.(s): 6861-15F AZ5 Gila College SC

Standard Burial Agreement no.(s): 2016-034

SWCA Project No. (s): 37990

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