A Preliminary Field Report for Archaeological Mitigation within the Sierra Vista Project Area, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

Archaeological mitigation was conducted within the proposed Sierra Vista development located three miles southwest of the Town of Cave Creek, Arizona. The proposed development will impact six sites, AZ U:l:315 (ASM), AZ U:1:316 (ASM), AZ U:1:317 (ASM), AZ U:1:318 (ASM), AZ T:4:243 (ASM), and AZ U:1:244 (ASM). The six sites are Hohokam rock features and artifact scatters. The sites were originally recorded as Loci 1-6 within AZ U:1:308 (ASM) (AZ U:1:2 ASU). During the current mitigation project these six loci were assigned individual Arizona State Museum (ASM) site numbers to be consistent with other archaeological investigations in this area. The project area includes 120 acres of privately-owned land. An archaeological survey of the project area identified a continuous artifact scatter throughout, and six distinctive loci (Stubing and Mitchell 1996). The loci included masonry field houses, rock concentrations, and high density artifact concentrations. The survey report recommended additional archaeological work for as many of the six loci within the project area as was feasible (Stubing and Mitchell 1996:12). A mitigation plan outlining a research design and specific methodologies for each locus was developed to guide archaeological investigations within the Sierra Vista project area (Mitchell and Stubing 1998).

The mitigation was conducted by SWCA, Inc. between March 1-8, 1999. Surface indications suggested AZ U:1:316 (ASM), AZ T:4:243 (ASM), and AZ T:4:244 (ASM) held the highest potential for subsurface deposits, and mapping, recordation, surface collection of artifacts, and test excavations were undertaken at these sites. Mapping and recordation only were conducted at AZ U:1:315 (ASM), AZ U:1:317 (ASM), and AZ U:1:318 (ASM). No substantial subsurface deposits were found at AZ U:1:315 (ASM), AZ T:4:243 (ASM), or AZ T:4:244 (ASM). The feature and artifact types indicate the sites appear to have functioned as small habitation areas, possibly on a seasonal basis. The structures are similar, and likely featured wall bases made of stacked rock with upper walls and roofs of limbs, grasses, or other organic material. Recovered artifacts are consistent with those reported from sites in the region (Burton et al. 1979; Palus 1998; Stone n.d.; Stubing 1998), and include over 700 ceramics, 300+ pieces of flaked stone, and 19 pieces of ground stone.

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

Prepared By(s): SWCA Environmental Consultants

Submitted To(s): Smith Development Services

Record Identifiers

SWCA Project No.(s): 3032-3347

File Information