Further Archaeological Investigations of the Rio Nuevo South Property, City of Tucson, Arizona

Summary

The City of Tucson is considering plans to develop the Rio Nuevo South property, a roughly 36-acre parcel of land located along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River near the downtown area. Although the parcel is presently vacant, archaeological testing and historic document research indicate that it was first used around 1000 B.C., and that its use continued intermittently through the present day. Based on the results of preliminary testing (Ahlstrom et al. 1994; Elson and Doelle 1987; Thiel 1995a, 1995b), Desert Archaeology, Inc., recommended that further testing be conducted on the property in order to accomplish several goals:

1. Determination of the location, extent, and archaeological and historic significance of prehistoric and historic canals located on the property.

2. Determination of the significance of a possible historic burial (Feature 205).

3. Determination of the likelihood that development will impact other human burials.

4. Determination of the spatial extent and range of occupation of a cluster of prehistoric pithouses in the southeast comer of the parcel (Thiel 1995a).

The City of Tucson contracted with Desert Archaeology to continue the archaeological testing of the property. Fieldwork began on October 9, 1995, and was concluded on December 1,1995. There were 65 field person-days. When combined with information from previous investigations, the features exposed in the most recent phase of testing and subsequent analyses of artifacts and other data support a number of observations:

1. The Rio Nuevo South parcel has been used intermittently for the last 3,000 years.

2. With two exceptions (hereafter referred to as "Area 1" and "Area 2"), prehistoric and historic features do not appear to be concentrated or clustered within any particular part of the parcel. These areas are described fully in Chapter 5. The cultural resources in Areas 1 and 2 are relatively undisturbed.

3. Portions of an extensive system of prehistoric and historic irrigation canals, AZ BB:13:481 (ASM), are preserved on the Rio Nuevo South parcel.

4. Outside of Area 1 and Area 2, archaeological deposits on the Rio Nuevo South parcel have been subjected to moderate to severe, spatially intermittent disturbance from a variety of sources.

5. Although human burials probably exist in the undisturbed portions of the parcel, they are not concentrated or clustered in any manner that renders their locations predictable.

Desert Archaeology recommends that Area 1, Area 2, and the canal system designated as AZ BB:13:481 (ASM) not be granted clearance for development at this time. Area 1 and Area 2 of AZ BB:13:6 (ASM) should be protected from development or other use until the completion of a data recovery plan for that portion of the parcel. The historic and prehistoric canals should be preserved or explored further through a data recovery program. A data recovery plan for the Rio Nuevo parcel is presented in Chapter 6 of this report. The substantive basis for these observations and recommendations is discussed in the remainder of this report.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.

Contributor(s): Jenny L. Adams; William H. Doelle; Andrea K. L. Freeman; James M. Heidke; Penny D. Minturn; R. Jane Sliva; J. Homer Thiel; Jenny A. Waters

Prepared By(s): Desert Archaeology, Inc.

Submitted To(s): City of Tucson

File Information