Preliminary Results of Archaeological Testing For Phase 1 of the Civic Plaza Expansion Project, Phoenix, Arizona

Summary

The City of Phoenix is renovating and expanding the Civic Plaza in downtown Phoenix. The project involves demolition of the North Hall and construction of a larger, replacement facility in the same area, as well as construction of a new Terrace Building on Symphony Terrace. Symphony Hall also will be refurbished.

The project is not a federal undertaking subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The State of Arizona will provide up to $300 million to match City of Phoenix expenditures for the project, but State payments will not begin until the facility is built and opened in 2009. Currently no state agency is involved in the project. The City of Phoenix retained URS Corporation to conduct archaeological investigations to assist in complying with the Arizona Antiquities Act and policy established by the Phoenix General Plan.

No archaeological or historical studies were conducted prior to the original 1960s construction of the Civic Plaza, but investigations for subsequent projects in adjacent areas have discovered prehistoric and historic archaeological resources. The expansion project area encompasses six blocks of the original Phoenix townsite, and archaeological remnants of early settlement might be present. Prior studies also have shown that part of the project area is within the boundaries of a prehistoric Hohokam archaeological site known as Pueblo Patricio. Although the original construction would have destroyed archaeological resources that might have been present within much of the expansion project area, disturbance may have been relatively shallow in some areas and archaeological resources may remain partially intact.

Archaeological testing within the Phase 1 component of the project was conducted in accordance with an archaeological treatment plan prepared for the project (Morton and others 2003). Eric Cox and Ethan Morton completed the testing between 19 February and 11 March 2004. Sixteen person-days were devoted to the fieldwork. Bruce G. Phillips of Archaeological Consulting Services served as a geomorphological consultant. Dr. A.E. (Gene) Rogge served as principal investigator.

This document supplements the treatment plan by providing a brief preliminary report of the Phase 1 testing. Specific data recovery recommendations are provided to assist the City Archaeologist in continuing consultations with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

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

Principal Investigator(s): Dr. A.E. (Gene) Rogge

Prepared By(s): URS Corporation

Submitted To(s): City of Phoenix

Record Identifiers

URS Cultural Resource Report (s): 2004-5(AZ)

URS Job No.(s): 23443346

Phoenix Cost Center Nos.(s): CP10100006-1

File Information