Excavations at AZ BB:13:74 (ASM): An Examination of Three Middle Rincon Phase Loci

Summary

This report details archaeological investigations at AZ BB:13:74 (ASM), a Middle Rincon phase (A.D. 1000¬ 1100) hamlet. The excavations discussed in this report are part of a larger project related to the expansion of the Desert Vista Campus, Pima Community Colleges. The other portion of this project focused on the site of Valencia Vieja (AZ BB:13:15 [ASM]), a large Tortolita phase village located south and west of BB:13:74. The results of those excavations are reported in a separate volume (Wallace 2002). Investigations at BB:13:74 focused on three loci in the southeastern portion of the site. Huckell (1993) had previously conducted test excavations in the area and identified the three loci. In this report, those loci are designated A, B, and C. Previous work in other areas of BB:13:74 identified four other loci of Middle Rincon occupation (Bradley 1980; Hammack and Bradley 1979; Shott 1978).

Work for the present project began in the fall of 1997, with a series of backhoe trenches at loci A, B, and C. Additional features were identified during trenching and largely confirmed the site structure identified by Huckell (1993). Architectural features at loci B and C appeared to form discrete clusters, while two clusters of features were evident at Locus A. Due to the number of burned structures and the relatively short temporal span at Locus C, this area was the subject of intensive excavations in the winter of 1997-1998. Excavations at Locus C fully or partially excavated the six pithouses at the locus and 12 of 22 extramural pit features.

The excavations at BB:13:74 provide us with a unique opportunity to examine a number questions central to Middle Rincon society. Analysis of the information collected at BB:13:74 focused on three themes: Hohokam households, household productive strategies, and supra-household organization. These themes are woven into the analyses and discussions presented in the following chapters. In the following sections, arguments are presented suggesting four households were present at loci A, B, and C. The intensive excavations at Locus C provide the context for examining household productive strategies. Subsistence played a central part in the productive activities of the household. Productive activities were not limited to growing, storing, cooking, and serving food. Evidence for the manufacture of ceramic vessels and shell jewelry was recovered as well. The scale of ceramic production suggests some vessels were made for exchange with other households. Combined with previous work in the Valencia area, the excavations at BB:13:74 provided a unique opportunity to examine supra-household social organization. Using settlement pattern data, it is argued that the four households investigated during this project-combined with one excavated by Bradley-form a village segment. This village segment is one of five clusters of settlement in the Valencia area that together form the Valencia community.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Desert Archaeology DAHA Resources   •
• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)

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Contact(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.

Contributor(s): Jenny L Adams; Michael W. Diehl; Suzanne K. Fish; James M. Heidke; Elizabeth J. Miksa; R. Jane Sliva; Arthur W. Yokes

Submitted To(s): Pima County Community College District

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