Data Recovery at Six Sites in the Proposed 66 Acre Desert Rose Development in South Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

Soil Systems, Inc (SSI) contracted with Beazer Homes Arizona Division to conduct archaeological data recovery at six prehistoric sites in the 66 acres Desert Rose project area at the base of South Mountain in south Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. The sites at which data recovery was conducted were exclusively prehistoric sites (AZ T:12:100 [ASM], AZ T:12:102-105 [ASM], and AZ T:12:108 [ASM]). Sites where data recovery was not undertaken (AZ T:12:101 [ASM] AZ T:12:106 [ASM], and AZ T:12:107 [ASM]) were small prehistoric sites with few features and no artifacts, representing limited activity loci.

In 1997 SSI conducted an archaeological survey of the 66 ac project area and identified nine prehistoric archaeological sites (Ellis 1998). In consultation with the City of Phoenix SSI prepared a testing plan (Ellis and Breternitz 1999) for five of the nine sites in the project area to obtain additional data with which to make recommendations on the site’s eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and an interim testing report was prepared (Baar et al. 1999).

The initial cultural resource consultation process for the Desert Rose project area in 1997 was on behalf of a previous client. Because the initial development plans did not require a Section 404 permit, all archaeological work was conducted in consultation with the Phoenix City Archaeologist (Pueblo. Grande Museum [PGM] Project No. 1999-2). In 2005, the current client, Beazer Homes, Arizona Division, submitted revised development plans that required a Section 404 permit to be issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in order to comply with the Federal Clean Water Act and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The Corps (Permit File No. 2005-01944-DE) recognized the archaeological fieldwork that had been done was conducted in consultation with the City of Phoenix Archaeologist, as appropriate for compliance.

An archaeological treatment plan and data recovery program was prepared by SSI for those sites that would be impacted by the development of the property by Beazer Homes, Arizona Division (Leonard 2005). Data recovery was recommended at six of the nine sites in the project area; AZ T:12:100 (ASM), AZ T:12:102 (ASM), AZ T:12:103 (ASM), - AZ T:12:104 (ASM), AZ T:12:105 (ASM), and AZ T:12:108 (ASM). This program required excavation of those parts of the sites that would be impacted by development and where preservation was not an option. All the petroglyphs in the project area were on large boulders or cliff faces, which were immovable. Because all of the petroglyphs were outside of areas that would be impacted by development preservation of all the petroglyphs in the Desert Rose project area was possible.

Any impacts to the sites and features have been mitigated through the data recovery excavation program the results of which are documented in this report. The petroglyphs in the project area have been documented and recorded and will not be impacted. The documentation of these petroglyphs is presented in Appendix A.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): City of Phoenix Archaeology Office

Contributor(s): Cory Dale Breternitz; Andrew Lack; Banks L. Leonard; Bruce G. Phillips; Christine K. Robinson; Brandie M. Stork; Joshua Watts; Brian E. Yunker

Prepared By(s): Soil Systems, Inc

Submitted To(s): Beazer Homes

Record Identifiers

Arizona State Antiquities Act Permit No.(s): 2006-051bl

Pueblo Grande Museum Project No.(s): 1999-2

US Army Corps of Engineers Sections 404 Permit File No.(s): 2005-01044-DE

Soil Systems, Inc No.(s): 98-06

File Information