Life in the Foothills: Archaeological Investigations in the Tortolita Mountains of Southern Arizona

Editor(s): Deborah L. Swartz

Year: 2008

Summary

The Dove Mountain sites are situated on the southern flanks of the Tortolita Mountains in the northern Tucson Basin. The parcel is bounded by Cochie Canyon on the west and contains Wild Burro Canyon and Ruelas Canyon within its boundaries. The project was conducted for Cottonwood Properties prior to residential development.

Thirty-three sites were investigated during one of three testing and data recovery phases. An additional 15 sites were recorded, although no additional archaeological work was conducted at these because they were either completely collected when they were first discovered, or they were recommended as ineligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Except three sites, the Dove Mountain sites were small and occupied for only a limited time. The time frame in which they were occupied ranged from the Middle Archaic period through the Historic era. The sites functioned in a variety of ways, including limited-activity sites such as temporary camps or single petroglyph panels, small seasonal sites, larger habitation sites, and a large concentration of Western Archaic rock art. The historic sites related to ranching activities during the 1920s through the 1940s.

This report focuses on data recovery at the final nine sites investigated. The eight prehistoric sites ranged in age from the Late Archaic/Early Agricultural period through the Classic period, with the heaviest use of the area during the Pioneer through the Sedentary period (A.D. 500-1150). The single historic site, AZ AA:12:786 (ASM), dates to the 1930s.

Cite this Record

Life in the Foothills: Archaeological Investigations in the Tortolita Mountains of Southern Arizona. Deborah L. Swartz. 2008 ( tDAR id: 448034) ; doi:10.48512/XCV8448034

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Keywords

Culture
Archaic • Clovis • Early Rincon phase • Historic • Historic Native American • Hohokam • Huhugam • Middle Archaic • Middle Rincon phase • PaleoIndian • Sedentary period • Tortolita phase

Material
Basketry • Ceramic • Chipped Stone • Fauna • Ground Stone • Human Remains • Macrobotanical • Pollen • Shell

Site Name
Atlatl Ridge site • AZ AA:12:157 • AZ AA:12:170 • AZ AA:12:783 • AZ AA:12:784 • AZ AA:12:785 • AZ AA:12:786 • AZ AA:12:787 • AZ AA:12:83 • AZ AA:12:84 (ASM) • Desert Tortoise site • Ruelas Canyon site • Wild Burro Canyon site

Site Type
Burial Pit • Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex • Domestic Structures • Funerary and Burial Structures or Features • Hamlet / Village • Petroglyph • Pit House / Earth Lodge • Rock Art

Investigation Types
Data Recovery / Excavation • Heritage Management • Reconnaissance / Survey • Site Stewardship Monitoring

General
Ceramic Attribute Analysis • Flaked Stone Analysis

Geographic Keywords
Arizona (State) • Dove Mountain • Marana, AZ • Pima (County) • Tucson Basin

Spatial Coverage

min long: -111.187; min lat: 32.408 ; max long: -110.912; max lat: 32.537 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.

Contributor(s): Jenny L. Adams; Lane A. Beck; Castro-Reino Sergio F.; Linda Scott Cummings; Davis Owen K.; Diehl Michael W.; Hall Susan D.; Heidke James M.; Kerry Kristopher W.; Lavayen Carlos P.; McClelland John A.; Miksa Elizabeth J.; Roth Barbara J.; Ryan Stacy L.; Sliva R. Jane; Stinson Susan L.; Swartz Deborah L.; Vokes Arthur W.; Wallace Henry D.; Waters Jennifer A.; Whitney Gregory J.

Repository(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.

Prepared By(s): Center for Desert Archaeology

File Information

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ap46_final_OCR_PDFA_Redacted.pdf 394.39mb Oct 9, 2020 4:03:29 PM Public
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ap46_final_OCR_PDFA.pdf 405.46mb Mar 1, 2008 Feb 5, 2019 1:58:22 PM Confidential
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Contact(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.

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