A Cultural Resource Survey of the Bouse Hills-Harcuvar-Little Harquahala 115 kV Transmission Lines, 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 the Bouse Hills-Harcuvar-Little Harquahala 115 kV transmission lines. The Bouse Hills-Harcuvar Transmission Line stretches 23.3 miles from the Harcuvar Substation to the Bouse Hills Pumping Plant. The Harcuvar-Little Harquahala Transmission Line stretches 41.7 miles from the Harcuvar Substation to the Little Harquahala Pumping Plant. In total OCRM surveyed 65 miles of transmission line.

This report describes the results of the archaeological surveys conducted along the Bouse Hills-Harcuvar-Little Harquahala 115 kV transmission lines 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 transmission lines traverse the Harcuvar Mountains, Granite Wash Mountains, Little Harquahala Mountains, and Bouse Hills.

Eight field loci and 8 isolated artifacts were recorded during the Bouse Hills-Harcuvar-Little Harquahala 115kV Transmission Lines surveys. Based on relative density of cultural material dispersion, field loci were grouped into one site: AZ S:6:7 (ASU). Most of the loci are of indeterminate age, although they are likely associated with the Hohokam or Yuman traditions.