An Archaeological Survey of the Reach 10 Realignment 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 three discontinuous segments of the Granite Reef Aqueduct route within Reach 10, which had been realigned since the initial archaeological surveys (Dittert, Fish and Simonis 1969; Kemrer, Schultz and Dodge 1972). Reach 10 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct extends about 15 miles from New River on the west to the Cave Creek Highway on the east. The three discontinuous areas which are the subjects of this investigation are referred to as the western, central, and eastern segments of the aqueduct route. The western segment is two miles in length; the central segment is about six miles; and the eastern segment is about 3/4 of a mile in length.

This report describes the results of the archaeological survey along Reach 10 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct. Results suggest that project area sites were part of a secondary resource zone, an area which apparently did not support a permanent population, but was utilized intermittently, probably on a seasonal basis. Most of the aqueduct realignment runs across the deeply dissected pediment of a series of small, but rugged mountain ranges located between the principal drainage systems.

During the course of the survey, OCRM archaeologists identified and documented 8 prehistoric sites. The sites are of indeterminate age, although many likely date to the Hohokam era. Three complementary site types are represented: AZ T:8:79(ASU) and AZ T:8:82(ASU) are large soil and water control terrace systems on the lower talus slopes of the surrounding elevations. AZ T:8:80(ASU), AZ T:8:81(ASU), and AZ T:8:83(ASU) are groups of rock rings, rock piles, and metate fragments located on the floodplain; these sites likely represent collecting and food processing activities. Finally, AZ T:8:84(ASU) is a grinding site situated to take advantage of the dense riparian growth at the confluence of two large drainages as well as the resources on the hill slopes.