A Cultural Resource Survey of Reach 8 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 Reach 8 and associated access roads. Reach 8 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct extends about 13 miles from the Hassayampa River east to U.S. 60.
This report describes the results of the archaeological surveys conducted along Reach 8 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct. Results suggest that the project area was 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. The aqueduct traverses the bajada north of the White Tank Mountains, which parallel the Hassayampa River.
Six field loci, 49 isolated artifacts, four recent structures, and a historic trash dump were recorded during the Reach 8 survey. Based on relative density of cultural material dispersion, the majority of the field loci were grouped into three sites: AZ T:6:3 (ASU); AZ T:6:4 (ASU); and AZ T:6:5 (ASU), previously recorded as AZ T:6:13 (ASM). Most of the sites are of indeterminate age, although they are likely associated with the Hohokam, Patayan, or Yuman traditions. AZ T:6:13 (ASM) was a recent structure not more than 50 years old at the time of recordation.