Archaeological Testing of the Haught Parcel Within the Upper Tonto Basin, Gila County, Arizona

Summary

This report describes the results of the archaeological testing of site, which is situated along a minor tributary of Rye Creek within the Upper Tonto Basin of central Arizona. The project area is located approximately 7.5 miles south of the town of Payson, Arizona. The site was tested to determine its cultural significance prior to the purchase of a 1.1275 acre parcel containing the Haught family cemetery from the Tonto National Forest by Mr. Ken Haught. Mr. Haught sponsored the testing program.

This project was undertaken for the Arizona Department of Transportation in anticipation of the widening and realignment of State Route 87 between the junction of State Route 188 and the town of Rye. Data from the State Route 87/Rye Creek Project provides a comparative base to evaluate the significance of the current site.

The site consists of a somewhat irregularly shaped surface artifact scatter covering an area of approximately 85 m north-south by 97 m east-west (8245 square meters). Surface artifact density was generally low to moderate; the lowest density areas (0.01 to 0.1 artifacts per square meter) were in the southern portion of the site, while the northern portion of the site had a more moderate density (0.25 to 0.50 artifacts per square meter). South of grid line N180, the artifact assemblage consisted almost exclusively of lithics. Lithics, sherds, and ground stone were present north of this area.

Two small concentrations of higher artifact density were also present; the western concentration measured 18 m north-south by 26 m east-west (468 square meters), while the northern concentration measured 9 m north-south by 15 m east-west (135 square meters). These areas contained an average artifact density of 1.25 artifacts per square meter with a range of 1.0 to 10.0 artifacts per square meter. The areas of highest density (ie. 10 artifacts per square meter) were artificially clustered within the numerous small drainage and rills that cross the site.

The parcel boundaries lie roughly between the N140 and N200 grid line in the north and south, and the E140 to E200 grid line in the east and west. The eastern one-third of the site and the northern artifact concentration are not within the parcel. The site did not contain any apparent prehistoric surface features. Historic surface features include the remains of two cemeteries (Haught and Shackleford families) containing eight grave sites; the Shackleford cemetery which contains two of the grave sites is outside of the project area. No subsurface features were uncovered through the archaeological testing.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1120 to 1200 (Dates of Little Colorado Whitewares)

Calendar Date: 1100 to 1200 (Dates of site use)

Calendar Date: 1000 to 1300 (Dates of Cibola Whitewares)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.

Prepared By(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.; Institute for American Research

Record Identifiers

Tonto National Forest site number(s): AR-03-12-04-672

ADOT Project Number(s): F-053-1-315PE

Technical Report No. (s): 89-4

File Information