Mohave County Intersections and Road Curves Survey

Purpose

Desert Archaeology was contracted to survey 26 discontinuous parcels in Mohave County prior to the installation of traffic control signs at intersections and road curves, on terrain ranging from alluvial basins to desert flats to mountain slopes.

Actions

• Records review to identify previously recorded cultural resources

• Survey of 26 locations within 289.35 total acres

• Recorded 4 sites, 4 historical in-use roads, and 39 isolated occurrences

Results

• The area contained surface artifact scatters accumulated over thousands of years of use

• Desert Archaeology recorded new segments of 4 previously recorded historic in-use roads.

• Two previously recorded sites were re-located, and two isolated occurrences with the potential for subsurface cultural resources were recorded as new sites.

• Culturally identifiable material culture included heavily patinated Archaic lithic scatters, Classic period Hohokam ceramic scatters, and Territorial period trash left by miners during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• No mitigations were recommended for the in-use roads. Avoidance was recommended for a previously recorded site that falls outside the project area. Monitoring was recommended for ground-disturbing activities within the two newly recorded sites.