An Archaeological Survey of Reach 6, Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, Maricopa County, Arizona

Under a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation, United States Department of the Interior, the Office of Cultural Resource Management of the Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, conducted an intensive archaeological survey of approximately 28 km (17 mi) of right-of-way along the Granite Reef Aqueduct, Central Arizona Project, located in the Tonopah Desert of western Maricopa County, Arizona. The area surveyed included Reach 6, a part of Reach 7 to be used as an access road, and floodwater detention areas adjacent to the right-of-way. The total area surveyed was approximately 1600 ha (3800 a).

This report describes the results of the archaeological survey along Reach 6 and a small portion of Reach 7 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct. The survey yielded evidence of transient historic and prehistoric activity. Historic remains are those of a temporary campsite, c. 1930. Prehistoric remains, predominantly small scatters of chipped stone, indicate a collecting economy of low intensity but long duration, a stable human adaptation to an economically marginal zone. Metric data on the chipped stone collection, and hypotheses concerning the cultural affiliation of the manufacturers, are presented. No additional archaeological work is recommended.