Archaeological Clearance Survey for Segment of Proposed Arizona Trail within Oracle State Park, Pinal County, Arizona

This report presents the results of a Class III archaeological survey for a proposed hiking/equestrian trail that is within the Oracle Center for Environmental Education State Park, Arizona. The area surveyed is on land owned by the Arizona State Parks Board (ASPB). Survey was conducted to obtain cultural resources clearance for construction of an approximately 5 3/4-mile segment of the proposed Arizona Trail. In entirety, the Arizona Trail will be over 700 miles, originating in Mexico and terminating in Utah. The project has been sponsored by the Arizona State Parks Resource Stewardship Section and construction of the portion of the trail within the park is being organized by the Oracle Trails Coalition.

Survey was conducted on February 9,1994. Approximately 1.5 person days were expended in the survey effort. The crew consisted of the Arizona State Parks Historic Resources Manager / Archaeologist, Laurene Montero, authorized under Arizona State Museum Non-Collection Survey Permit 94-25. Ms. Montero was shown the trail route by park rangers, James Suriano and Marti Murphy, who are involved in the trail planning and construction. Mr. Suriano and Ms. Murphy assisted with the survey by scanning the ground for artifacts and providing information on local vegetation across the survey area.

Survey resulted in the location of one archaeological site and two isolated artifact occurrences. The site (AZ BB:6:165 [ASM]), a chipped stone artifact scatter, was described, mapped, and photographed, and its information recorded on an Arizona State Museum site card.