Archaeological Testing at the Massera Ruin: The Meridian Ranch Project, Queen Creek, Arizona
Creators: name: Wenker, Chris T.
name: Mitchell, Douglas R.
name: Motsinger, Thomas N.
Publisher: name: SWCA, Inc. Environmental Consultants
Year: 2000
Subjects: subject: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/335/arizona-state-territory
subject: Queen Creek, AZ
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/80176/queen-creek-az
subject: Sonoran Desert
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/2772/sonoran-desert
subject: Meridian Ranch
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/83848/meridian-ranch
subject: Massera Ruin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/83850/massera-ruin
subject: Phoenix Basin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/27/phoenix-basin
subject: Maricopa (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/3900/maricopa-county
subject: Classic Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/125/classic-period
subject: Gila Butte Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/212/gila-butte-phase
subject: Preclassic Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5604/preclassic-period
subject: Sacaton
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/60/sacaton
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: Massera Ruin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/90082/massera-ruin
subject: AZ U:10:22 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/90083/az-u1022-asm
subject: Funerary and Burial Structures or Features
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/301/funerary-and-burial-structures-or-features
subject: Burial Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/307/burial-pit
subject: Archaeological Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/339/archaeological-feature
subject: Hearth
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/343/hearth
subject: Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/251/domestic-structure-or-architectural-complex
subject: Borrow Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/893/borrow-pit
subject: Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/256/domestic-structures
subject: Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/355/pit
subject: Extramural pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/3172/extramural-pit
subject: Roasting Pit / Oven / Horno
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/357/roasting-pit-oven-horno
subject: Pit House / Earth Lodge
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/263/pit-house-earth-lodge
subject: Ash Stain
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/1415/ash-stain
subject: Trash Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/842/trash-pit
subject: Pit House Entryway
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/3308/pit-house-entryway
subject: Shell
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/14/shell
subject: Plainware
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/174/plainware
subject: Awl
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/95/awl
subject: Ceramic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/1/ceramic
subject: Buffware
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/465/buffware
subject: Chipped Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2/chipped-stone
subject: Fauna
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/4/fauna
subject: Fire Cracked Rock
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/5/fire-cracked-rock
subject: Red-on-Buff
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2629/red-on-buff
subject: Human Remains
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/9/human-remains
subject: Redware
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/444/redware
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: This report describes the results of an archaeological testing project at the Massera Ruin (Site AZ U:10:22 [ASM]) in Queen Creek, Arizona. The testing project was conducted at the request of Willis Property Company, L.C., of Mesa, Arizona, who proposes to construct a residential development on the 640-acre project parcel known as the Meridian Ranch. Previous survey data (Wenker 1999) indicated that the Massera Ruin overlapped a 399-acre portion of the Meridian Ranch, but this entire area had been plowed and used for agricultural fields since the 1940s and the subsurface integrity of the site remained undetermined. Archaeological testing was conducted at the site to determine the nature and extent of intact archaeological features underneath the plowed fields. These test investigations demonstrated that intact buried archaeological features and deposits do exist across a large portion of the site, and SWCA recommends that the Massera Ruin (AZ U:10:22 [ASM]) is eligible for nomination to the National Register under Criterion (d) for its information potential. SWCA’s testing project also demonstrated that intact human burials (which are protected by state law) are present at the site. However, the overall area of the Meridian Ranch project area that contains intact buried archaeological features has been reduced from 399 acres to roughly 225 acres. This report concludes by providing recommendations concerning the treatment of the archaeological site.