Results of Phase II Archaeological Testing for Chicanos Por La Causa, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

Chicanos por la Causa, Inc. (CPLC), with a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG grant provided by the City of Phoenix, requested that the Cultural Resource Division of the Louis Berger Group, Inc. (Berger) undertake limited Phase II archaeological testing at their proposed DeColores Domestic Violence Shelter Expansion site to ensure proper treatment and protection, if warranted, of any existing cultural resources. Due to the potential for future violence to and in order to protect the individuals served by this program (those who will use this shelter), Berger has been ordered by Causa to retain confidentiality of the specific address of the project location (although it is known to City, State, and Federal reviewers). The project area encompasses slightly less than a half of an acre and is located in downtown Phoenix. The project lot measures 300.75 feet by 68 feet (20,400 square feet; or 91 meters by 21 meters, 1,911 square meters) and once contained a domestic residence built in the early 1950's (not considered a historic resource) and torn-down this past year for reasons not related to this project, and before the start of this project. Thus, the project area contains a highly disturbed ground surface with numerous modem subsurface disturbances having been undertaken during the building and subsequent dismantling of the modern house.

Traditionally, Phase II archaeological investigations are designed to determine the extent and identify the conditions of known, extant cultural resources which may be impacted by a proposed undertaking. Phase 13 archaeological investigations also provide data needed to determine if such sites meet the criteria of eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and if these sites warrant further scientific investigation. These Phase II investigations were actually structured to test the newly vacant lot to determine if any form of buried cultural resources were present and could be identified. The City of Phoenix Archaeologist strongly recommended that such Phase II testing be undertaken for this project. In essence, such testing was the only means to determine if significant buried cultural deposits still remain within this small parcel of disturbed land. Thus, these limited Phase II investigations were actually designed (see Hohmann 1999) to undertake the level of investigation and discovery that are normally equated to a Phase I (Class HI) level of cultural resource inventory.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• City of Phoenix DAHA Resources   •
• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 700 to 850 (4 Gila Butte Red-on-buff jar sherds)

Calendar Date: 700 to 1300 (12 Gila Plain, Wingfield variety sherds)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): City of Phoenix Archaeology Office

Prepared By(s): The Cultural Resource Division

Submitted To(s): Chícanos por la Causa, Inc.

File Information