Archaeological Investigations in 2007 and 2008 at the Mission and Mission Garden Loci of the Clearwater Site, AZ BB:13:6 (ASM), and the Santa Cruz River Westside Canals, AZ BB:13:481 (ASM), Tucson, Pima County, Arizona

Desert Archaeology, Inc., personnel conducted archaeological fieldwork for the City of Tucson at the Mission and Mission Garden loci of the Clearwater site, AZ BB:13:6 (ASM), and the Santa Cruz River Westside Canal site, AZ BB:13:481 (ASM), in March through July 2007, and September through October 2008. The work was conducted to mitigate the effects of the planned construction of the Mission of San Agustín, Ancestral Village, Carrillo House, and Mission Garden components of the Tucson Origins Heritage Park. As of June 2015, only the Mission Garden component was constructed. The project was funded by the City of Tucson as part of the Rio Nuevo redevelopment project. In all, 461 archaeological features were documented at the Clearwater site, and 21 canal segments from the Santa Cruz River Westside Canal site were studied. These features date from the time span between the Silverbell Interval of the Early Agricultural period (circa 2100 B.C.) into the American Statehood period, ending at about A.D. 1960. The features located included prehistoric pit structures, roasting pits, and small pits used for various purposes. Mission-era features included foundations of the Mission Garden walls and several middens. American Territorial period features were also found and included a brick-lined well and several outhouse pits. A number of prehistoric and protohistoric mortuary features were also located. These were excavated, and the remains and associated artifacts were repatriated to the Tohono O'Odham Nation. Analyses presented in this report used the features, recovered artifacts, plant materials, and faunal bone to examine three research issues — the changing riverine oasis, oasis communities, and community diversity.