Archaeological Investigations at the Yuma Wash Site and Outlying Settlements Part 1
Creators: name: Swartz, Deborah L.
Publisher: name: Desert Archaeology, Inc.
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/335/arizona-state-territory
subject: Marana, AZ
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/80031/marana-az
subject: Tucson Basin
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/2758/tucson-basin
subject: Classic Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/125/classic-period
subject: Sedentary Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5504/sedentary-period
subject: Rincon Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5632/rincon-phase
subject: Ceramic Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5688/ceramic-period
subject: Historic Native American
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/30/historic-native-american
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: Middle Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/10/middle-archaic
subject: Late Archaic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/11/late-archaic
subject: AZ AA:12:305 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104304/az-aa12305-asm
subject: AZ AA:12:313 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104303/az-aa12313-asm
subject: AZ AA:12:968 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104305/az-aa12968-asm
subject: Yuma Wash Site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/21268/yuma-wash-site
subject: AZ AA:12:122 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/83523/az-aa12122-asm
subject: AZ AA:12:311 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/101702/az-aa12311-asm
subject: AZ AA:12:314 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104294/az-aa12314-asm
subject: AZ AA:12:312 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104293/az-aa12312-asm
subject: AZ AA:12:1047 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104295/az-aa121047-asm
subject: Funerary and Burial Structures or Features
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/301/funerary-and-burial-structures-or-features
subject: Cemetery
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/302/cemetery
subject: Burial Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/307/burial-pit
subject: Non-Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/309/non-domestic-structures
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: 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: Brush Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/257/brush-structure
subject: House
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/259/house
subject: Pit House / Earth Lodge
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/263/pit-house-earth-lodge
subject: Room Block / Compound / Pueblo
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/264/room-block-compound-pueblo
subject: Plaza
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/331/plaza
subject: Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/334/structure
subject: Ancient Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/335/ancient-structure
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: Historic Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/336/historic-structure
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: Canal or Canal Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/275/canal-or-canal-feature
subject: Archaeological Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/339/archaeological-feature
subject: Artifact Scatter
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/340/artifact-scatter
subject: Terrace
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/278/terrace
subject: Water Control Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/279/water-control-feature
subject: Hearth
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/343/hearth
subject: Commercial or Industrial Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/280/commercial-or-industrial-structures
subject: Isolated Artifact
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/344/isolated-artifact
subject: Isolated Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/345/isolated-feature
subject: Mill
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/282/mill
subject: Midden
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/347/midden
subject: Fish Trap / Weir
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/285/fish-trap-weir
subject: Trash Midden
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/351/trash-midden
subject: Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/355/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: Post Hole / Post Mold
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/359/post-hole-post-mold
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: Lithic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/698/lithic
subject: Copper
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/890/copper
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: 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: Fire Cracked Rock
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/5/fire-cracked-rock
subject: Glass
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/6/glass
subject: Argillite Pendant
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2886/argillite-pendant
subject: Ground Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/7/ground-stone
subject: Building Materials
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/8/building-materials
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: Metal
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/11/metal
subject: Mineral
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/12/mineral
subject: Mica
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/972/mica
subject: Pollen
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/13/pollen
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: Textile
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/16/textile
subject: Basketry
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/17/basketry
subject: Charcoal
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/20/charcoal
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: Caliche
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/1190/caliche
subject: Archaeological Overview
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/1/archaeological-overview
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: The Yuma Wash site was a permanently occupied large Classic period village situated in the northern Tucson Basin at the juncture of the eastern bajada of the Tucson Mountains with the Santa Cruz River floodplain. The site area was also intermittently used on a much smaller scale during the rest of the Hohokam sequence and during the Early Agricultural and Early Ceramic periods, as well as during the Historic era. The project was conducted by Desert Archaeology, Inc., for the Town of Marana. The initial data recovery was conducted by Old Pueblo Archaeology Center (OPAC). OPAC personnel investigated five sites and completed data recovery at AZ AA:12:313 (ASM). Three of the remaining four sites were separated solely by modern channels of Yuma Wash, and for the Desert Archaeology project, were considered loci of the Yuma Wash site, although they retained their original ASM site numbers: AZ AA:12:122 (ASM), AZ AA:12:311 (ASM), and AZ AA:12:312 (ASM). The last site, AZ AA:12:314 (ASM), was situated at the southern end of the project area with only a small portion of it within the right-of-way. A canal site, AZ AA:12:1047 (ASM), likely dating to the Classic period, was discovered during the Desert Archaeology investigations. The historic occupation of the Yuma Wash site includes the Bojorquez-Aguirre Ranch structures that dated to the late 1800s. Data recovery of the historic occupation was covered during the OPAC investigations. Desert Archaeology recorded 1,168 cultural features at the Yuma Wash site and AA:12:314, including 303 human mortuary features. The vast majority of the features dated to the Classic period, and the site was intensively occupied during both the Tanque Verde (A.D. 1150-1300) and Tucson (A.D. 1300-1450) phases. Occupation prior to the Classic period is difficult to characterize due to the paucity of features; in all, 235 structures have now been identified at the Yuma Wash site and AA:12:314, but fewer than a dozen of these have been found, through testing or excavation, to date prior to A.D. 1150. The early occupation was likely intermittent and of varying function, with the site sometimes permanently inhabited for a few years, sometimes seasonally inhabited, and sometimes likely vacant. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the Yuma Wash project was irregular and consisted largely of a small, primarily linear slice of the site. Consequently, site structure could not be clearly determined. However, several observations could be made for the Classic period occupation. Locus AA:12:122 was occupied only during the Tanque Verde phase (A.D. 1150-1300), and showed clear pithouse courtyard groups with cemeteries to the east or southeast. This pattern was much less visible in the other loci due to the shape of the right-of- way and the dynamic nature of the natural sediments, allowing for Classic period features to originate at numerous levels. The following report contains results from the Desert Archaeology excavations conducted in 2007 and 2008. Whenever possible, previous work by OPAC is also included to provide a more complete understanding of the site.