Search

This is the seventh volume of a nine-volume series reporting archaeological investigations in south-central Arizona along the SaltGila Aqueduct (SGA), conducted for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) under Contract No. 0-07-32-V0101. The SGA is a 58-mile-Iong component of the Central Arizona Project that begins east of Phoenix and extends to the vicinity of the Picacho Mountains. During the course of the analyses presented in this volume, it became apparent that any attempt to approach issues of natural environment became entangled with the environmental effects of subsistence practices. The two topics discussed in this volume, environment and subsistence, are intimately tied together. The volume is thus a simplification of the topics covered by the Salt-Gila Aqueduct (SGA) Project specialists.

This volume is the first in a series of publications associated with the Salt-Gila Aqueduct Archaeological Data Collection Studies and Supplemental Class 3 Survey Project (SGA). The project focuses principally upon data recovery at those sites potentially subject to impact as a consequence of Central Arizona Project construction along a route extending 97 km from a point south of Apache Junction, Arizona, to the Picacho Reservoir. This initial volume incorporates the results of test excavations and preliminary reconnaissance with the research design subsequently developed for investigation of the SGA sites. Significant archaeological sites identified as potentially subject to direct impacts are principally Hohokam, with some possibility of Archaic components at four of the sites (Stein 1979a). Substantial habitation sites, smaller habitation sites that may have been fieldhouse locations, and a variety of specialized activity sites including agricultural systems are included in the SGA sample. The sites are located in a variety of environmental contexts, including the Gila River Valley, major intermittent drainages, and interdrainage areas. The environmental, functional, and chronological diversity of these archaeological sites suggests a research design focusing on the effects of local environmental conditions upon the occupants of environmentally distinct areas, the economic and social relationships between groups occupying these areas, and change through time in relationships between groups in these areas. It is believed that through addressing these problems it will be possible to make significant contributions to our understanding of the regional development of the Hohokam system.

This is the eighth volume of a nine-volume series reporting archaeological investigations in south-central Arizona along the SaltGila Aqueduct (SGA), conducted for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) under Contract No. 0-07-32-V0101. The SGA is a 58-mile-Iong component of the Central Arizona Project that begins east of Phoenix and extends to the vicinity of the Picacho Mountains. Specialized analyses of artifacts recovered from 45 sites excavated along the SGA are reported in this volume. The general research questions addressed in each analysis include spatial and temporal variability in Hohokam artifact assemblages. Part I includes six studies of ceramic artifacts. Chapter 1 is a technological assessment of a large proportion of the plain, red, and buff ware sherds recovered from SGA sites. A functional and technological assessment of whole vessels from the Classic period sites of Los Muertos and Las Fosas, and from three Classic period sites on Queen Creek is described in Chapter 2. Chapters 3 and 4 report analyses of stylistic attributes on buff ware and polychrome sherds from SGA sites. In Chapter 5, the results of X-ray fluorescence analyses of Hohokam plain ware, red ware, buff ware, and polychrome sherds are presented. Finally, whole vessels, worked sherds, and figurines from all SGA sites are described in Chapter 6. Part II includes reports on lithic materials from SGA sites. In Chapter 1, ground and chipped stone materials are documented with particular emphasis on tabular knives. An X-ray fluorescence analysis of obsidian is reported in Chapter 2. Part III is an extensive study of shell recovered from SGA sites. Part IV is an analysis of SGA bone artifacts. Finally, Part V is a general summary of the specialized analyses.