Archaeological Test Excavations in Sunset Park, Tucson, Arizona
Creators: name: J. Homer Thiel
Publisher: name: Desert Archaeology, Inc.
Year: 1995
Subjects: subject: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/335/arizona-state-territory
subject: Sunset Park
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/84527/sunset-park
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: Prehistoric Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5789/prehistoric-period
subject: Territorial Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/6161/territorial-period
subject: Spanish
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/31/spanish
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: Chinese American
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/27/chinese-american
subject: Euroamerican
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/28/euroamerican
subject: AZ BB:13:13 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/104873/az-bb1313-asm
subject: Sunset Park
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/105820/sunset-park
subject: AZ AA:16:187 (ASM)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/117163/az-aa16187-asm
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: Rock Alignment
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/360/rock-alignment
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: Mano
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/131/mano
subject: Fauna
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/4/fauna
subject: Charcoal
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/20/charcoal
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: 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: Metal
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/11/metal
subject: Artifact Analysis
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/3318/artifact-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: 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: The City of Tucson has plans to renovate and re-landscape Sunset park, located in downtown Tucson. The park, which was built between 1904 and 1909, lies over a portion of the Spanish/Mexican period Presidio. A portion of the Presidio wall is purported to run north-south through this location. Concern over the potentially destructive impacts resulted in revisions to the architect's plans. Impacts were expected in two areas, and archaeological testing was recommended. Archaeological test excavations were conducted by Desert Archaeology in July, August, and September 1995. Trenches 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were located in a gravel-covered portion of the park. An east west rock wall foundation is present about 21 inches below the modem ground surface in Trenches 1, 5, and 6. An outhouse pit, depicted on the 1883 Sanborn map, was located in Trench 6. The wall is believed to date to before 1862. Construction of a parking area at this location would destroy this wall and any other cultural resources above grade in this area. The outhouse pit originates at the approximate depth of the proposed construction. Once the parking area has been paved, it should be protected from impacts related to this project. Trench 2 was excavated in the grass lawn along the west side of the park, where a light pole will be placed. Intact cultural resources, which are believed to include a floor, sheet trash, and a courtyard surface, were located in this area. Placement of the light pole in the excavation unit will prevent damage to the cultural resources present. Desert Archaeology recommends that the gravel park area be stripped of dirt down to the level of the rock foundation, that the rock foundation be mapped, and that the remaining sediments be stripped down to the level shown on construction plans. An archaeologist would then map any additional features uncovered, collect diagnostic artifacts visible in the upper fill of the features, and record the features on forms. These measures will mitigate impacts to the cultural resources in this area of Sunset Park.