Archaeological Investigations at the Las Canopas Site, AZ T:12:137(ASM), City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

Esteban Group LLC is proposing to develop an apartment complex on privately owned land just south of Esteban Park. In accordance with the archaeological stipulations within the City of Phoenix’s zoning ordinance, Chapter 8, Section 802(B), it is the City’s policy to assist with the preservation of archaeological and historic resources within developments where appropriate. Arizona Revised Statute § 41-865 states that it is unlawful for persons to disturb human burials and associated grave goods on private land. Human burials are often identified within Hohokam villages. Esteban Park Apartments is situated within the Las Canopas site, AZ T:12:137 (ASM), a known Hohokam village where human remains have been identified during previous investigations. Environmental Planning Group (EPG) was retained by Esteban Group LLC to conduct archaeological testing to assess the potential for the proposed development to affect buried human remains or funerary objects.

Based on the potential to disturb human remains and associated grave goods, EPG prepared an archaeological treatment plan (Dobschuetz 2004), which was reviewed and approved by the City of Phoenix. The archaeological testing at a small portion of Las Canopas resulted in the collection of 2,452 artifacts, identification of 46 features, excavation of 23 backhoe trenches, and the excavation of 8 hand excavation units (EU 7, 11, 13, 14, 31, 39, 40, and 42). The majority of the features identified during the trenching portion of the project are trash pits (20), in addition to a water retention area (1), canals (8), ash lens (2), hornos (3), occupational surface/possible floor (2), inhumations (5), and cremations (5).

The information gathered from the testing portion of site Las Canopas suggest that there are at least three areas that contain human remains. Approximately 1.7 percent of the site has been evaluated for archaeological features. Based on discussions with the City of Phoenix, it is our recommendation that additional work is needed to remove any additional burials that may be present within the parcel to be developed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): City of Phoenix Archaeology Office

Contributor(s): E. Melanie Ryan; Glennda Gene Luhnow; Lisa Champagne; Elizabeth Alter

Prepared By(s): Environmental Planning Group

Submitted To(s): City of Phoenix Archaeology Office; Esteban Group LLC

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