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The large Hohokam site of Los Aumentos (AZ T:12:178 [ASM]) is located in Phoenix, Arizona. WestLand Resources, Inc. (WestLand), was contracted by AZ 72 LLC and Capri I LLC to conduct archaeological testing. The proposed project (PGM 2006-40) is a mixed residential and commercial development. The project area is located on privately owned land. The City of Phoenix conducted an archaeological assessment of the proposed project (Z-31-06-7) on 18 April 2006 and determined that archaeological monitoring and/or testing would be needed for the portion of the project that appeared to include a small part of Los Aumentos. WestLand Resources, Inc. (WestLand) archaeologists tested within the boundaries of the site and a buffer area at the 1.5 percent level using 34 20-m-long backhoe trenches. No cultural features or deposits were found during archaeological testing. Because no prehistoric or historic cultural features or deposits were found during this testing project, WestLand recommends cultural resource clearance for the tested area. It is also WestLand’s opinion that, because of the absence of cultural remains and the extreme unlikelihood of human burials, archaeological monitoring of construction activities is not warranted.

The City of Phoenix (COP) plans to make improvements will include roadway widening, storm drain installation, the addition of curbs and gutters, and landscaping along the west side of the road. EcoPlan Associates, Inc., (EcoPlan) completed cultural resource survey of the COP’s Van Buren improvement project area (McDermott 2003). Archaeological Consulting Services, Inc., (ACS) surveyed the contiguous portion of the BOR irrigation lateral USA fee property (Fangmeier 2002). Both surveys identified site AZ T:12:184 (ASM) [SRP 002-396-1], a surface scatter of Hohokam ceramics and lithics, located within the current BOR fee property. Survey investigation of the surface artifact scatter did not provide sufficient information to assess the site’s National Register of Historic Places (National Register) eligibility or its relationship to the adjacent Hohokam site of Los Aumentos [AZ T:12:178 (ASM)]. Accordingly, identification and eligibility testing, along with collection of the surface artifact scatter, was recommended for the site (McDermott 2003). As an addendum to its cultural resource survey report associated with the project, EcoPlan prepared an archaeological testing plan for site AZ T:12:184 (ASM) (McDermott 2003). On behalf of COP, EcoPlan completed the field aspects of the testing program. The final documentation of the testing program will be completed upon receipt of the results of the detailed analyses on the collected samples. This preliminary report is provided to BOR as a summary of the testing results to date. It is intended to provide sufficient cultural resource documentation to support and expedite BOR’s consultation with SHPO regarding the USA fee property transfer.

The Museum of Northern Arizona, under contract to the Arizona Department of Transportation, has completed test investigations in five areas along the route of the proposed West Papago-Inner Loop sections of Interstate 10. Area 1 - NA15,787 included a portion of a site identified by Midvale as the Los Aumentos Ruin. However, with the exception of two small canals, there was no subsurface evidence of prehistoric or important historic occupation. Area 2 - NA15,788 and Area 3 - NA15,789 were devoid of any important cultural resources. However, site numbers were assigned for administrative purposes. Area 4 - NA15,790 included a portion of a small Hohokam site. There was evidence of a Santa Cruz phase occupation and a Classic period (re)occupation. However, most of the site lies south of the right-of way and was not investigated during the testing program. Area 5 - NA15,791 produced both historic and prehistoric remains. The recovered historic remains indicated an occupation starting about 1920, with the maximum occupation occurring during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Archival data which could not be confirmed in the field indicates Anglo interest in the area starting in 1868. Observed prehistoric remains were few in number and occurred as scattered isolated loci.