Results of Testing Archaeological Site AZ T:14:161 (ASM) for the State Route Landfill Stormwater Control Project, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

The Solid Waste Disposal Management Division of the City of Phoenix Public Works Department (City) has constructed Phases 1 and 2 of the State Route (SR) landfill and will construct additional disposal cells in the future. Development of the landfill necessitates construction of channels and basins around the landfill perimeter to control stormwater flows, and a preliminary drainage report identified concepts for perimeter and interim stormwater controls.

A survey conducted for the project discovered one archaeological site [AZ T:14:161 (ASM)] that could be affected by improvements of the Layton Wash channel. The site is a dense scatter of Hohokam potsherds, flaked stone, ground stone, faunal bone, and other decorative artifacts, including marine-shell jewelry and turquoise beads. The site extended well beyond the defined survey area, and the northern and southern boundaries were not determined. The eastern boundary was defined by agricultural fields, which might have masked the eastern part of the site. The density and diversity of artifacts on the surface of the site suggested that the site might be the remnants of a Hohokam village. Numerous historical Euro-American artifacts that appear to date to the early twentieth century also were scattered across the surface of the site. The only two features recognized at the site appeared to be remnants of hearths that date to the historic period or more recent times.

Although parts of the site appeared to be deflated, which could have compromised the integrity of any archaeological features, the nature of the artifact assemblage and the location of the site on a low terrace adjacent to the Gila River suggested that prehistoric features such as houses, various types of pits, middens, and perhaps human remains could be buried at the site. Because it is not feasible for the proposed project to avoid the site, a treatment plan to mitigate the project impacts was included in the survey report (Albush and others 2008). The plan involved archaeological testing and, if warranted, subsequent data recovery studies. The survey report also includes additional information about the environmental and cultural setting of site AZ T:14:161 (ASM) and prior research in the project vicinity.

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

Contributor(s): Jean M. (Marty) Arambel; Todd W. Bostwick; Margaret Windsor

Prepared By(s): URS Corporation

Submitted To(s): City of Phoenix, Solid Waste Disposal Management Division, Public Works Department

Record Identifiers

URS Job Number(s): 23444155.40008

Pueblo Grande Museum Project Number(s): 2008-06

City of Phoenix Project Number(s): PW16810001

File Information