Archaeological Excavations at Pueblo Blanco: The MCDOT Alma School Road Project, Volume 1
Creators: name: Fernandez, Rachel
Publisher: name: Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd.
Year: 1995
Subjects: subject: Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/78370/salt-river-pima-maricopa-indian-community
subject: Maricopa (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/3900/maricopa-county
subject: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/79515/arizona-state-territory
subject: Classic Hohokam period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5856/classic-hohokam-period
subject: Polvóron Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5505/polvoron-phase
subject: Hohokam
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/21/hohokam
subject: Pueblo Blanco
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/69/pueblo-blanco
subject: AZ U:9:92 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/83206/az-u992-asm
subject: AZ U:9:98 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/83208/az-u998-asm
subject: AZ U:9:128 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/83207/az-u9128-asm
subject: AZ U:9:97 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/83209/az-u997-asm
subject: Funerary and Burial Structures or Features
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/301/funerary-and-burial-structures-or-features
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: Cremation
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/880/cremation
subject: Agricultural or Herding
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/273/agricultural-or-herding
subject: Canal or Canal Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/275/canal-or-canal-feature
subject: Field House
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/595/field-house
subject: Inhumation
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/947/inhumation
subject: Thermal Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/1492/thermal-pit
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: 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: Refuse Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/356/refuse-pit
subject: Fire Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/1156/fire-pit
subject: Roasting Pit / Oven / Horno
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/357/roasting-pit-oven-horno
subject: Storage Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/358/storage-pit
subject: Pit House / Earth Lodge
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/263/pit-house-earth-lodge
subject: Post Hole / Post Mold
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/359/post-hole-post-mold
subject: Ash Stain
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/1415/ash-stain
subject: Shell
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/14/shell
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: Ground Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/7/ground-stone
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: Site Evaluation / Testing
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/10/site-evaluation-testing

description: At the request of the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), archaeological investigations were undertaken prior to a road widening project that involved segments of Alma School, McDowell, and McKellips Roads on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) in Maricopa County, Arizona. Archaeological survey was initiated in 1989. Extensive ground disturbance was present due to agricultural and other activities conducted over the past 100 years. A large Classic period Hohokam village, known as Pueblo Blanco, was located near the project area. Subsurface testing consisting of extensive backhoe trenching and surface collections was undertaken in 1991. Based on the testing program, a data recovery phase was undertaken at five sites between July 26 and October 15, 1993. The fieldwork was concentrated at South Pueblo Blanco (AZ U:9:95(ASM)), but excavations were also conducted at AZ U:9:92, U:9:97, U:9:98, and U:9:128(ASM). In total, 204 features were excavated. Little evidence of Historic period activities was observed. The project provided new information about the prehistoric Hohokam occupation of the area. Research revealed that villages associated with extensive irrigation agriculture, referred to as the Sawik Community, were established along the north side of the Salt River by the Gila Butte phase (ca. A.D. 850). A second occupation dated to the Late Classic period, generally known as the Polvoron phase (ca. A.D. 1375-1500). Houses, pits, burials, and canals were excavated. What remains of the platform mound at Pueblo Blanco was recorded through survey. Subsistence studies included pollen, macrobotanical, and faunal analyses. Environmental studies consisted of geomorphology and analysis of ostracode specimens recovered from canal sediments. Artifact investigations included ceramic and ceramic sourcing studies; ground, chipped stone, and lithic sourcing studies; and marine and freshwater shell studies. Architectural, land use, and community pattern studies are also reported. To ensure that all human remains in the project area were recovered, MCDOT requested ACS to monitor the construction excavations, primarily located below the paved roads where archaeological investigations had not taken place. The monitoring covered the excavation of trenches for the mainline storm drain, irrigation pipes, and 20 percent of the storm drain connector pipes and catchment basins. No burials were uncovered by the construction; four canal profiles were found in AZ U:9:92(ASM), and a possible thermal feature was identified in AZ U:9:95(ASM).