Archaeological Investigations at Eight Sites on Interstate 17
Purpose
Desert Archaeology conducted phased data recovery at eight previously recorded archaeological sites located along I-17 near New River, Maricopa County, Arizona. The project was conducted under contract with HDR Engineering, Inc., for ADOT prior to planned improvements to I-17 between the Anthem Way TI and the Sunset Point TI (MP 228.5 and MP 252.5).
Actions
Phase I subsurface depth testing at the six sites with precontact components
Following consultation with ADOT and other interested parties, Phase II data recovery focused on feature excavation at AZ T:4:193(ASM), AZ T:4:194(ASM), AZ T:4:195(ASM), and AZ T:4:196(ASM).
Results
Studies of excavated features, architecture, and artifacts revealed the subsistence strategies practiced by Native American groups in the New River area at during different precontact time periods.
Desert Archaeology recovered evidence of stone tool manufacture and the thermal processing of plant foods in a midden at AZ T:4:194(ASM), an Archaic period (7500-2100 BCE) hunter-gatherer camp.
Excavations of cobble masonry pitrooms at AZ T:4:193(ASM) and AZ T:4:195(ASM) helped identify these sites as seasonally occupied early Classic period (CE 1150-1250) farmsteads.
