Archaeological Testing of Soils Test Pits for Proposed Development of a Wetlands and Recharge Basin at AZ AA:12:90
Creators: name: Freeman, Andrea K. L.
Publisher: name: Center for Desert Archaeology
Year: 1995
Subjects: subject: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/335/arizona-state-territory
subject: Tucson Basin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/2758/tucson-basin
subject: Pima (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/7353/pima-county
subject: Tucson, AZ
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/76651/tucson-az
subject: Early Agricultural period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/158/early-agricultural-period
subject: Middle Rincon
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7652/middle-rincon
subject: Late Rincon
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7687/late-rincon
subject: Hohokam
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/21/hohokam
subject: Huhugam
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/8166/huhugam
subject: Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/8/archaic
subject: Historic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/25/historic
subject: Late Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/11/late-archaic
subject: AZ AA:12:90
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/105818/az-aa1290
subject: AZ AA:12:91
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/106122/az-aa1291
subject: AZ AA:12:104
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/105817/az-aa12104
subject: Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/256/domestic-structures
subject: Archaeological Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/339/archaeological-feature
subject: Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/355/pit
subject: Pit House / Earth Lodge
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/263/pit-house-earth-lodge
subject: Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/251/domestic-structure-or-architectural-complex
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: Fire Cracked Rock
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/5/fire-cracked-rock
subject: Ground Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/7/ground-stone
subject: Archaeological Overview
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/1/archaeological-overview
subject: Data Recovery / Excavation
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/5/data-recovery-excavation
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
subject: Site Evaluation / Testing
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/10/site-evaluation-testing

description: In an effort to provide the City of Tucson with water dining the next century, the City, in conjunction with Tucson Water, has developed several plans designed to recharge the aquifer and provide the City of Tucson with quality water. As part of this effort, the City plans to develop a wetlands area and a separate recharge basin in the area south of the City's reclaimed water treatment plant. Tucson Water has hired CH2MHill as the design consultant for this project. On October 3, 1994, Desert Archaeology was contacted by CH2MHill regarding planned soils testing in the project area. The consultant needed to excavate backhoe trenches designed to expose the subsurface sediments in an effort to determine the best locations for wetlands development and recharge basins on the property. Desert Archaeology was hired to conduct archaeological testing in advance of the soils testing conducted by CH2MHill. Our primary objective was to locate a total of 30 trenches which could be given archaeological clearance for deeper excavation by CH2MHU1. Our secondary objectives were to determine the extent to which the known surface distribution of artifacts reflects subsurface presence, and, as part of Desert Archaeology's long-term interest in the geomorphology and archaeology of the Santa Cruz floodplain, to determine what correlations could be made between archaeological discoveries elsewhere on the floodplain and those in the vicinity of the reclaimed water treatment plant. Although few archaeological materials were discovered during this testing operation, subsurface geologic and archaeological indications suggest a high potential for intact cultural remains in at least part of the project area. This report provides an archaeological background of the project area, a summary of previous work in the area, the geomorphic background, a description of the testing methods and results, a summary of archaeological research potential, and recommendations. The appendix provides a detailed description of the more representative trenches.