Late Preclassic and Late Classic Period Archaeology in the Upper Reaches of Queen Creek, Superior, Arizona

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

We summarize research findings from a data recovery project conducted along US Highway 60 near Superior, Arizona for the Arizona Department of Transportation. Prehistoric sites here range from small habitation sites (farmsteads and/or hamlets) of the late Preclassic – early Classic (AD 1000 - 1160) to both small and large habitation sites of the late Classic period (AD 1270-1400/1420). Data generated from several lines of analysis suggest that prehistoric people of both time periods utilized a deep familiarity with the local landscape to manage vital resources. Agricultural terraces and check dams were routinely constructed on the sloped terrain of late Preclassic – early Classic (and likely late Classic) sites to preserve and redirect the flow of life-sustaining water. Members of these sedentary communities also extended their resource management to raw materials, altering and controlling the flow and distribution of Superior obsidian in the surrounding area. Throughout its occupation, the Superior area was a vibrant culture area centrally located between the Phoenix Basin, the Tonto Basin, and the Globe Highlands.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36339.0