Trip Report: An Initial Assessment of the Presence of Archaeological Resources Near Springs in the Coal Mine Spring Addition, Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, AZ State Parks

The purpose of the site visit was to assess the presence and nature of archaeological sites near springs in the new addition to the Natural Area. This was not a systematic survey hut a quick check of the area surrounding three springs; Coal Mine Spring, George Wise Spring, and Matachin Spring. We spent over an hour at each spring. This initial site visit was useful for understanding the potential for buried cultural remains, geomorphological/erosion Issues, and other factors that may affect the presence/absence of archaeological remains on the surface of spring areas; and for developing a research design to conduct more systematic surveys in the future. During the trip we discussed the difficulty of site access, preservation issues, and methods for the proposed survey.