Archaeological Investigations at the Redtail Site, AA:12:149 (ASM), in the Northern Tucson Basin
Creators: name: Bernard-Shaw, Mary
Publisher: name: Center for Desert Archaeology
Year: 1989
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: Pinal (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/3961/pinal-county
subject: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/79515/arizona-state-territory
subject: Pioneer Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/111/pioneer-period
subject: Colonial Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5377/colonial-period
subject: Late Archaic Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/7330/late-archaic-period
subject: Early Colonial Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/19/early-colonial-period
subject: Canada del Oro Phase
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/6022/canada-del-oro-phase
subject: Hohokam
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/21/hohokam
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:12:149 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/22066/az-aa12149-asm
subject: Redtail Site
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/98506/redtail-site
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: Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/256/domestic-structures
subject: House
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/259/house
subject: Non-Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/309/non-domestic-structures
subject: Pit House / Earth Lodge
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/263/pit-house-earth-lodge
subject: Hearth
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/343/hearth
subject: Trash Pit
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/842/trash-pit
subject: Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/251/domestic-structure-or-architectural-complex
subject: Plaza
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/331/plaza
subject: Pollen
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/13/pollen
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: Fauna
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/4/fauna
subject: Ground Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/7/ground-stone
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: Mineral
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/12/mineral
subject: Archaeomagnetic Analysis
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/151026/archaeomagnetic-analysis
subject: Artifact Analysis
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/3318/artifact-analysis
subject: Petrographic Analysis
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/4090/petrographic-analysis
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: Heritage Management
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/24/heritage-management
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 presents the results of archaeological investigations at the Redtail site. Field investigations were conducted by Desert Archaeology, Inc. (formerly the Institute for American Research) under the sponsorship of the American Continental Corporation (AMCOR) between January and May of 1987. Redtail (AZ AA:12:149 ASM) was identified as a multicomponent site that was occupied during the Pioneer and Colonial periods (A.D. 700-900). A total of 148 features were excavated, tested, and/or profiled at the site. This included 45 pithouses, 9 occupation surfaces, 15 cremation or burials, 42 extramural features, 36 intramural features, and a central plaza/cemetery feature. Redtail was established in the Pioneer period, although there are indications that a late Archaic period use of the bajada may have included the site area. The central plaza feature was constructed during the Cañada del Oro phase, and the discrete placement of Early Colonial period burials within the plaza has been documented. Site organization was greatly influenced by the central plaza, and the traditional arrangement of courtyard groups was not found at Redtail. Rather a linear arrangement of house rows that partially enclosed the plaza feature was reconstructed for the Cañada del Oro phase occupation. The plaza displayed the remnants of several plastered surfaces, and many of the plaza burials were sealed under successive layers of plaster. There were no Rillito phase burials excavated within the plaza, and by the late Colonial period the mortuary practices appear to have changed. Even though a comprehensive data recovery program was conducted at the site, the artifact assemblage from Redtail was relatively sparse. Despite this, there was a pronounced typological diversity of material remains. The data indicate that locally produced decorated ceramics included Estrella Red-on-brown, Snaketown Red-on-brown, Cañada del Oro Redon-brown, Rillito Red-on-brown, and redware ceramics. Compositional analyses suggest that these ceramic remains were manufactured within the Tucson basin, although probably not at the Redtail site. At the same time, the distribution of in-process turquoise beads, blanks, and tessera at the site revealed a pattern of on-site production. Colonial period turquoise manufacture changed over time, and there are indications that this behavior reduced through time. Analyses of the cultural remains from Redtail found that much of the day-to-day activities probably occurred outside the site area. The low values for cultigens both in pollen and flotation samples suggest that primary processing behaviors may have taken place elsewhere. Interestingly, support for this argument was identified in the analysis of the chipped and ground stone assemblages where food processing implements such as manos and metates were relatively rare. The evidence from Redtail suggests that drier, perhaps more open conditions characterized the site locale. The openness of the terrain is mirrored in the increased percentage of jack rabbit remains in the faunal assemblage through time. These results argue for the prolonged devegetation of the local habitat, and, perhaps the growth of agricultural activities in the northern basin.