Recovery of Additional Information from the Gila River Farm Expansion Area
Creators: name: Sawyer-Lang, Monique
name: Effland, Richard W.
Publisher: name: Archaeological Consulting Services Ltd.
Year: 1988
Subjects: Gila River Indian Community
Casa Blanca
Sacaton Butte
Seed Farm Road
1940s
Historic
20th Century
Prehistoric
World War II
Japanese American
Butte Camp
Camp Rivers
Canal Camp
Funerary and Burial Structures or Features
Structure
Historic Structure
Isolated Burial
Trash Deposit
Archaeological Feature
Internment Camp
Artifact Scatter
Dairy
Non-Domestic Structures
Textile
Glass
Building Materials
Cement
Plasterboard
Metal
Roofing
Paper
Frame
Bed Frame
Razor Blade
Flower Pot
Lotion Tube
Lipstick Tube
Mop
Broom
Cane
Hearing Aid
Cleaning Supply Can
Light Bulb
Fireplace Equipment
Scrub Brush
Cleaning Supply Bottle
Switch Plate
Electric Cord
Hot Plate
Heater
Chalk
Pipe
Eraser
Pliers
Tape Dispenser
Glue Bottle
Curtain Rod
Clothes Hanger
Needle
Soap Dish
Washbowl
Screwdriver
Joint Anchor
Picture Hanger
Kettle
Keyhole Escutcheon
Stirrup
Bit
Bucket
Paper Roofing
Tile Roofing
Sinker
Medicine Bottle
Fishing Float
Fish Hook
Pen
Fishing Pole
Collar
Rake
Photograph
Fishing Reel
Leash
Bicycle
Cot Frame
Trowel
Shovel
Toothbrush
Sprayer
Ink Bottle
Buckle
Newspaper
Button
Book
Flag
Liquor Bottle
Chair
Stove
Syringe
Money
Spark Plug
Cup
Nail
Salt or Pepper Shaker
Coffee Pot
Necklace
Mug
Insulator
Screw
Light Fixture
Clock
Hoe
Table
Sewer Pipe
Eyelet
Plate
Paint Can
Comb
Coin
Stemware
Spool
Tumbler
Pin
Tobacco Pipe
Eyeglasses
Pan
Pencil
Bracelet
Whistle
Bowl
File
Can
Watch
Dish
Bottle
Typewriter
Safety Pin
Key
Doll
Shoe
Jewelry
Pitcher
Rivet
Staple
Jar
Platter
Washer
Scale
Saucer
Mirror
Fuse
Container
Hinge
Window Glass
Crock
Tureen
Thimble
Bolt
Harness
Gravy Boat
Chisel
Butter Dish
Food Container Closure
Marble
Serving Bowl
Vegetable Dish
Rice Bowl
Teapot
Sugar Bowl
Dessert Glass
Utensil
Ring
Saki Cup
Carafe
Mixing Bowl
Jug
Condiment Bottle
Churn
Syrup Jug
Thermometer
Cigar Holder
Hammer
Opium Pipe
Lighter
Cigarette Holder
Aspirin Can
Gas Can
Clothing Fastener
Tack
Match
Ashtray
Scissor
Bobbin
Knitting Needle
Sewing Needle
Horseshoe
Hair Curler
Handbag
Earring
Hair Brush
Shoe Polish Can
Saw
Toothpaste Tube
Cosmetic Bottle
Cosmetic Can
Site Evaluation / Testing
Systematic Survey

description: As a result of a cultural resource investigation of the Gila River Farms expansion area conducted by Archaeological Consulting Services Ltd. (ACS), a number of significant cultural resources were identified within the project area. Of particular interest was cultural material associated with the World War II Japanese-American internment camp of Camp Rivers. This camp was used between May, 1942 and November 1945 and housed approximately 12.000 Japanese and Nisei (Japanese-Americans born and educated in the United States). The camp was named after Jim Rivers who was the first Native American of Piman descent to be killed in action during World War I. The camp was divided into two units: Butte and Canal camps. The project area surrounds the larger of these units, Butte Camp. Butte Camp covered approximately 789.25 acres (319 .4 ha) at the foot of Sacaton Butte. The camp was divided into a series of blocks, each with a requisite set of facilities for housing and feeding for 300 persons. A block characteristically had 14 barracks. one mess hall, a recreation hall. a laundry and ironing room. and two latrines. The complex also included a hospital, administrative offices, warehouses. auto repair shops, a post office, a camouflage net factory, a school, and other common use facilities.

A review of the project by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, Gila River Indian Community, and State Historic Preservation Office resulted in the recommendation that further data recovery be undertaken in order to mitigate potential effects of the project. A plan designed to recover further information primarily from the remains associated with Butte Camp was developed by Dr. Richard Effland, Dr. Margerie Green, and Ms . Monique Sawyer-Lang of ACS. This plan involved a number of specific tasks to assure that the important qualities of the cultural material within the project would be preserved through recordation and documentation prior to construction. These tasks initially were defined at a meeting held on March 1, 1988 which was attended by representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, State Historic Preservation Office, Gila River Indian Community, Gila River Farms, Franzoy-Corey Engineers and Architects, and Archaeological Consulting Services.

ACS initially had investigated an area which covers approximately 5,625 acres (2276 ha) south of Casa Blanca on the Gila River Indian Community. The purpose of this investigation was to identify potentially significant historic and/or prehistoric cultural properties which might be affected by development of the area. While the main portion of the Butte Camp has been excluded from development by the Gila River Farms, several peripheral components of the camp will be affected. These components include deposits of trash which appeared to be relatively isolated within the desert surrounding Butte Camp as well remains of the camp' s dairy. These remains were considered components of Camp Rivers. the whole of which is potentially eligible for National Register inclusion.

Deposits of trash from the Butte Camp were identified surrounding the north and east sides of the camp. These areas were located north of Seed Farm Road in an area which was surveyed intensively. Areas to the southeast and south of the camp (south of Seed Farm Road) were not surveyed during the initial survey, but it is assumed that the remains extended into these areas. In order to fully delineate the extent of the trash scatter surrounding the camp, an intensive 100% survey of the previously unsurveyed portions of area southeast and south of the camp, was performed. This survey defined more deposits of trash as expected.

The purpose of this survey was not only to delineate the full boundaries of this scatter of trash, but also to define any other unknown components which may relate to the World War II Japanese-American internment camp. Data relating to prehistoric remains within the area were also collected as warranted. As was expected, isolated prehistoric artifacts and limited scatters of prehistoric artifacts were encountered along with the historic period remains. None of these meet the criteria for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Recordation during the survey has provided documentation on the distribution and nature of the prehistoric phenomena. A pattern reflecting travel and limited use of the area is suggested. This is similar to the pattern found throughout the project area.