Archaeological Investigations at the Tanque Verde Wash Site, A Middle Rincon Settlement in the Eastern Tucson Basin
Creators: name: Elson, Mark D.
Publisher: name: Institute for American Research
Year: 1986
Subjects: subject: Eastern Tucson Basin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/84366/eastern-tucson-basin
subject: Tanque Verde Wash Site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/84367/tanque-verde-wash-site
subject: Arizona (State)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/84371/arizona-state
subject: Pima (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/7353/pima-county
subject: Classic Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/125/classic-period
subject: Middle Rincon Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7600/middle-rincon-phase
subject: Preclassic Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5604/preclassic-period
subject: Yuman
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/82/yuman
subject: Hohokam
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/21/hohokam
subject: Patayan
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/23/patayan
subject: Pueblo
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/184/pueblo
subject: Historic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/25/historic
subject: Historic Native American
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/30/historic-native-american
subject: Navajo
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/224/navajo
subject: Maya
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/65/maya
subject: Huichol
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9185/huichol
subject: Tarahumara
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/9186/tarahumara
subject: Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/8/archaic
subject: Zuni
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/40/zuni
subject: Late Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/11/late-archaic
subject: Emkay site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104175/emkay-site
subject: Bosque site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104177/bosque-site
subject: AZ BB:14:4 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104244/az-bb144-asm
subject: Converse site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104179/converse-site
subject: AZ BB:14:3 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104243/az-bb143-asm
subject: AZ BB:13:146 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104246/az-bb13146-asm
subject: Pithouse Village
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104181/pithouse-village
subject: AZ BB:13:123 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104245/az-bb13123-asm
subject: AZ BB:14:1 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104248/az-bb141-asm
subject: Freeman site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104183/freeman-site
subject: AZ BB:13:224 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104247/az-bb13224-asm
subject: AZ BB:14:22 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104250/az-bb1422-asm
subject: AZ BB:9:14 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/22074/az-bb914-asm
subject: Turner site (no Number)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104185/turner-site-no-number
subject: AZ BB:14:2 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104249/az-bb142-asm
subject: AZ BB:9:101 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/22075/az-bb9101-asm
subject: AZ BB:9:33 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104252/az-bb933-asm
subject: AZ BB:14:24 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104251/az-bb1424-asm
subject: AZ BB:9:143 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/22077/az-bb9143-asm
subject: AZ BB:9:54 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104254/az-bb954-asm
subject: AZ BB:9:44 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104253/az-bb944-asm
subject: Hardy SIte
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/81087/hardy-site
subject: AZ BB:13:225 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/22081/az-bb13225-asm
subject: AZ BB:10:3 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/101148/az-bb103-asm
subject: AZ BB:9:58 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/103132/az-bb958-asm
subject: Whiptail Ruin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/101147/whiptail-ruin
subject: Observatory Site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104160/observatory-site
subject: Vista del Rio
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104162/vista-del-rio
subject: Tanque Verde Ruin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104169/tanque-verde-ruin
subject: University Indian Ruin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104172/university-indian-ruin
subject: Resource Extraction / Production / Transportation Structure or Features
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/272/resource-extraction-production-transportation-structure-or-features
subject: Agricultural or Herding
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/273/agricultural-or-herding
subject: Agricultural Field or Field Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/274/agricultural-field-or-field-feature
subject: Non-Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/309/non-domestic-structures
subject: Ball Court
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/310/ball-court
subject: Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/251/domestic-structure-or-architectural-complex
subject: Settlements
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/252/settlements
subject: Great House / Big House
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/317/great-house-big-house
subject: Hamlet / Village
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/254/hamlet-village
subject: Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/256/domestic-structures
subject: House
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/259/house
subject: Mound / Earthwork
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/323/mound-earthwork
subject: Pit House / Earth Lodge
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/263/pit-house-earth-lodge
subject: Farmstead
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/747/farmstead
subject: Malachite
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/558/malachite
subject: Chalcedony
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/250/chalcedony
subject: Quartz
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/314/quartz
subject: Copper
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/890/copper
subject: Chrysocola
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2876/chrysocola
subject: Feather
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2877/feather
subject: Schist
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/446/schist
subject: Gravel
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2878/gravel
subject: Pyrite
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2879/pyrite
subject: Ceramic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/1/ceramic
subject: Chipped Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2/chipped-stone
subject: Dating Sample
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/3/dating-sample
subject: Fauna
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/4/fauna
subject: Ground Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/7/ground-stone
subject: Human Remains
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/9/human-remains
subject: Macrobotanical
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/10/macrobotanical
subject: Mica
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/972/mica
subject: Muscovite
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/1357/muscovite
subject: Shell
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/14/shell
subject: Wood
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/15/wood
subject: Turquoise
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/207/turquoise
subject: Hematite
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/212/hematite
subject: Chert
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/213/chert
subject: Obsidian
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/89/obsidian
subject: Ochre
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/31/ochre
subject: Clay
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/738/clay
subject: Lithic Analysis
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/14/lithic-analysis
subject: Pollen Analysis
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/3351/pollen-analysis
subject: Historic Background Research
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/18/historic-background-research
subject: Data Recovery / Excavation
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/5/data-recovery-excavation
subject: Reconnaissance / Survey
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/7/reconnaissance-survey
subject: Records Search / Inventory Checking
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/8/records-search-inventory-checking
subject: Research Design / Data Recovery Plan
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/9/research-design-data-recovery-plan

description: Excavations by the Institute for American Research at the Tanque Verde Wash site (AZ BB: 13:68 [ASM]) uncovered a nearly complete segment of a single component Middle Rincon subphase (A.D. 1000-1100) hamlet. The site was located along Tanque Verde Wash, the largest permanent drainage within the eastern Tucson Basin. Nineteen pithouses, three trash mounds, and 66 extramural features were recovered within a 2500 square meter area, The excavation methodology, which involved the complete excavation of all major features and the stripping of large areas of extramural space, allows for a detailed investigation into Hohokam settlement of this area. The site contained a wealth of cultural remains. Approximately 70 percent of the structures burned, many with complete floor assemblages. Numerous whole vessels, chipped and ground stone tools, shell and ceramic jewelry, and over 250,000 seeds and other ethnobotanical remains, were recovered. A single storage structure, feature 19, contained the majority of the ethnobotanical material, along with 18 reconstructible vessels, basket and matting fragments, several palettes, and other artifacts. The recovery of a large number of Middle Rincon sherds and whole vessels allowed for a refinement of the 100-year Middle Rincon subphase into three periods through the use of multidimensional scaling techniques. These data are used in conjunction with other chronological indicators to structure the site into contemporaneous sets of courtyard groups or pithouse clusters. A wide range of extramural activities are also documented. The nearly complete excavation and data recovery, along with detailed petrographic analysis of the ceramic assemblage, also allows for an in-depth examination of trade and exchange within the Tucson Basin. The data indicate that the majority of the Tanque Verde Wash ceramics were not manufactured locally but instead were imported from the Santa Cruz River area in the western Tucson Basin. A flow-rate analysis is conducted on the ceramic assemblage. As a related analysis, settlement patterns within the eastern Tucson Basin are examined through a detailed investigation of all eastern Basin sites recorded to date. This study represents the first in-depth synthesis of this material. Several models for settlement are presented and the data are compared with previous settlement models developed for the Santa Cruz River area in the western Tucson Basin.