Archaeological Data Recovery at the Sunset Mesa Ruin (AZ AA:12:10 ASM)
Creators: name: Swartz, Deborah L.
Publisher: name: Desert Archaeology, Inc.
Year: 1998
Subjects: subject: Santa Cruz River
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/76790/santa-cruz-river
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: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/79515/arizona-state-territory
subject: Rillito
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7758/rillito
subject: Middle Rincon
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7652/middle-rincon
subject: Early Rincon
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7653/early-rincon
subject: Late Rincon
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7687/late-rincon
subject: Tanque Verde
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7691/tanque-verde
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: Historic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/25/historic
subject: Sunset Mesa Ruin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/16704/sunset-mesa-ruin
subject: AZ AA:12:10 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/85297/az-aa1210-asm
subject: Funerary and Burial Structures or Features
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/301/funerary-and-burial-structures-or-features
subject: Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/256/domestic-structures
subject: Mine
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/290/mine
subject: Mine Tunnels
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/291/mine-tunnels
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: Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/355/pit
subject: Refuse Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/356/refuse-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: 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: Human Remains
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/9/human-remains
subject: Metal
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/11/metal
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: Reconnaissance / Survey
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/7/reconnaissance-survey
subject: Heritage Management
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/24/heritage-management
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: Phase 1 Data Recovery was conducted at the Sunset Mesa Ruin, AZ AA:12:10 (ASM), to evaluate the archaeological resources that will be impacted by the gravel mining operations of Tucson Ready Mix, Inc. The information gathered from the excavated backhoe trenches, added to previous archaeological investigations at the site, has identified several loci where prehistoric and historic or modern features cluster. Two areas were also identified that may be cremation cemeteries. The historic features are from two occupations: one the turn-of-the-century homestead of Basillio Cuevas; the second the Sunset Dairy in operation from the 1920s to the 1960s. A total of 69 features was identified in 59 strategically-placed backhoe trenches, creating 2,018 m of trench cuts. Stratigraphic and ceramic data suggest that the prehistoric portion of the site is a single component occupied primarily during the Middle Rincon subphase (A.D. 1000-1100). There is some ceramic evidence to suggest that portions of the site were used later, into the Tanque Verde phase (A.D. 1150-1450). The five human secondary cremation burials located so far are in two areas, north and south in what remains of the site. A Phase 2 Data Recovery Plan discusses the research questions and presents a plan of work for the next level of effort needed to retrieve the information from Sunset Mesa Ruin before it is removed by the gravel mining. Emphasis is placed on the locus with the largest concentration of features and on the discovery of any remaining human burials. The work plan outlines what analyses will be conducted on the recovered artifacts in order to address the specified research questions.