Remnants of Adobe and Stone: The Surface Archeology of the Guevavi and Calabazas Units, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Arizona

During March 1992, archeologists from the Western Archeological and Conservation Center conducted survey, detailed mapping, and feature recording at the missions of Guevavi and Calabazas in the Santa Cruz River Valley of southern Arizona. The most prominent features at the sites today are standing walls of Spanish-period churches. However, both sites also contain prehistoric and later historic components as well.

The National Park Service is in the process of acquiring 8 acres at Guevavi from the Archaeological Conservancy and 22 acres at Calabazas from the Arizona Historical Society. These parcels will be managed as detached units of Tumacacori National Historical Park. The purpose of the archeological work was to provide information useful for the park's general management plan, which is being updated with the acquisition of these areas.

Survey covered approximately 20 acres at Guevavi and 22 acres at Calabazas. Thirty-six features at Guevavi and 26 features at Calabazas were identified and recorded. The Guevavi features include remains of the church, convento, plaza, several compounds and other structures, adobe borrow pits, bedrock mortars, and canals. In addition, significant features associated with Guevavi, including a possible earlier church, were identified outside the future National Park Service parcel. The recorded features at Calabazas include remains of the church and compound, a rowhouse, other possible structural remains, a large depression, a ditch, and two bedrock mortar outcrops.

Recommendations detailed in the report include: (1) acquisition of additional acreage at Guevavi to include all significant features related to the mission period; (2) backfilling of potholes and closure of roads to deter vandalism; and (3) archeological testing and surface collection to help mitigate the effects of increased site visitation.