Archaeological Investigations Along Reach 11 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project

Under contract with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Office of Cultural Resource Management (OCRM), Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, completed an archaeological survey of undisturbed portions of Reach 11 and its associated recreation areas. Reach 11 was previously surveyed in 1969 (Dittert et al. 1969) and 1972 (Kemrer et al. 1972), and one site (AZ U:5:13) was mitigated prior to construction (Reynolds 1974). The majority of Reach 11 had already been constructed when this project was undertaken in 1978. Reach 11 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct extends about 13 miles from Cave Creek Road east to the Taliesin West access road.
Six field loci and 24 isolated artifacts were recorded during the Reach 11 survey. Based on relative density of cultural material dispersion, the field loci were grouped into four sites: AZ T:8:53 (ASU); AZ U:5:67 (ASU); and AZ U:5:68 (ASU), and AZ U:5:69 (ASU).
Mitigation was completed at four sites in the winter of 1979. Investigations consisted of surface collection, mapping, and testing of areas of high artifact density. While some test units recovered artifacts, no subsurface features were identified.
The investigations identified a pattern of secondary resource zone exploitation in the desert areas between the river valleys. Researchers defined and described a secondary resource zone as an area which did not support a permanent population, but was utilized intermittently, probably on a seasonal basis, in the exploitation of wild plant and animal food resources by people whose primary subsistence was derived from a different zone.

受美国垦务局委托，亚利桑那州立大学（Arizona State University, ASU）人类学系文化资源管理办公室（OCRM）完成了第11河段及其相关休闲区域未受扰动区段的考古调查。第11河段此前曾分别于1969年（Dittert等，1969）和1972年（Kemrer等，1972）开展过考古调查，其中一处遗址（AZ U:5:13）已于施工前完成文物保护缓解（mitigation）处置（Reynolds，1974）。本项目于1978年启动时，第11河段的大部分区域已完成施工。花岗岩暗渠（Granite Reef Aqueduct）的第11河段西起卡夫溪路（Cave Creek Road），东至塔利辛西通道（Taliesin West access road），全长约13英里。
本次第11河段考古调查共记录6处野外遗存点位（field loci）与24件孤立出土文物。依据文化遗存散布的相对密度，本次调查的野外遗存点位被划分为4处遗址：AZ T:8:53（ASU）、AZ U:5:67（ASU）、AZ U:5:68（ASU）以及AZ U:5:69（ASU）。
1979年冬季，上述4处遗址均完成了文物保护缓解处置。本次调查工作涵盖地表遗物采集、遗址测绘以及对文物遗存高密度区域的考古探方（test units）测试。尽管部分考古探方出土了文物，但未发现任何地下遗存遗迹。
本次调查揭示了河谷间沙漠区域的次级资源带开发模式。研究者将次级资源带定义为：无法支撑永久定居人口，但会被以其他区域为主要生计来源的人群间歇性、大概率按季节周期性地加以利用，以采集野生动植物食物资源的区域。