Archaeological Investigations at the Grand Canal Ruins: A Classic Period Site in Phoenix, Arizona Volume 1

This report presents the results of the archaeological excavation of a prehistoric Hohokam village known as the Grand canal Ruins (AZ T:12:14(ASU) and AZ T:12:16 (ASU)). Excavations were performed at the site in 1986 in advance of the Squaw Peak Parkway, a city-funded transportation project located in Phoenix, Arizona. The archaeological work was conducted by Soil Systems, Inc., for the City of Phoenix under Contract Nos. 41116 and 42877.

The Grand Canal Ruins represent a large Classic period settlement occupied from around A.D. 1100 to 1450. Over 200 features were identified in the portion of the site investigated and consisted of habitation features, large roasting pits (hornos), midden deposits, irrigation canals, and a large cemetery. The habitation features included pithouses, adobe-walled structures, and a compound. The cemetery extended over the entire project area and contained 79 inhumation and 22 cremation burials. Analysis of the site and its features focused on chronology and site structure, subsistence, mortuary variability, material culture, and settlement patterns.

Chronometric dates and ceramic seriation were used to identify periods of settlement occupation and growth. The site was initially established during the Santan phase (ca. A.D. 1075-1100), attained its maximum extent during the Soho and Civano phases (ca. A.D. 1100-1350/1375), and was abandoned sometime during the Polvorón phase (A.D. 1375-1450). Subsistence studies indicated reliance on domesticated (corn, cotton, bean, and squash) and nondomesticated resources (cactus, agave, mesquite, and small mammals). Irrigation canals in the vicinity probably supplied local agricultural fields. The investigated large cemetery provided abundant information on Hohokam burial practices, osteology, and material culture. Unequal distributions of grave goods were used to examine Classic period social organization. Osteological analysis was used to examine the health, biology, demography, and cultural affinity of this population. Material culture studies focused on the nearly 400 ceramic vessels recovered as well as a variety of stone, shell, and bone artifacts.

The Grand Canal Ruins represent the northernmost settlement within Canal System 2 and the site is discussed in terms of settlement hierarchies and irrigation community organization. This settlement was part of the La Ciudad occupation zone, which may have been administered by a lineage-based authority. It is proposed that the occupation zones were under independent jurisdiction and acted cooperatively to regulate and maintain the large irrigation systems.

本报告呈现了编号为AZ T:12:14(ASU)与AZ T:12:16 (ASU)的史前霍霍坎（Hohokam）村落遗址（又称大运河遗址）的考古发掘成果。1986年，为配合位于亚利桑那州菲尼克斯市的城市资助交通项目——斯夸峰公园大道（Squaw Peak Parkway）的建设，该遗址开展了考古发掘工作。本次考古工作由土壤系统公司（Soil Systems, Inc.）受菲尼克斯市委托完成，项目合同编号为41116与42877。

大运河遗址属于规模较大的霍霍坎古典期聚落，存续年代约为公元1100年至1450年。本次发掘揭露的遗址区域内共识别出200余处遗迹，包括居住遗迹、大型烘烤坑（hornos）、厨余堆积层、灌溉渠以及一处大型墓地。居住遗迹涵盖半地穴式房屋、土坯墙建筑与院落建筑群。墓地覆盖整个发掘区域，共发现79座土葬墓与22座火葬墓。针对该遗址及其遗迹的研究分析聚焦于年代学与遗址布局、生计方式、丧葬习俗差异、物质文化以及聚落模式等方向。

研究通过测年数据与陶瓷序列断代，确定了该聚落的定居与扩张阶段。该遗址最初始建于桑坦期（约公元1075年-1100年），在索霍期与西瓦诺期（约公元1100年-1350/1375年）达到最大规模，最终于波尔沃龙期（公元1375年-1450年）前后废弃。生计方式研究表明，该聚落先民依赖栽培作物（玉米、棉花、菜豆与南瓜属作物）与野生资源（仙人掌、龙舌兰、牧豆树以及小型哺乳动物）为生。遗址周边的灌溉渠应为当地农田提供灌溉水源。本次发掘的大型墓地为研究霍霍坎的丧葬习俗、骨骼学与物质文化提供了丰富资料。研究通过分析随葬品的不均分布，探讨了古典期的社会组织结构。骨骼学分析则用于解析该人群的健康状况、生物学特征、人口统计学特征以及文化亲缘关系。物质文化研究聚焦于本次发掘出土的近400件陶瓷器，以及各类石质、贝壳与骨质人工制品。

大运河遗址是2号灌溉渠系统内最北端的聚落，本文从聚落层级与灌溉社区组织的角度对该遗址展开讨论。该聚落属于拉席达德（La Ciudad）聚落区，该区域可能由基于世系的统治机构进行管理。研究提出，各聚落区拥有独立的管辖权，但会通过协作对大型灌溉系统进行规制与维护。