A Cultural Resource Survey of Reach 1 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 archaeological survey of Reach 1 and several adjacent roads that would be added or modified for its construction. Reach 1 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct extends about 18 miles from the Buckskin Mountain Tunnel, east to the Bouse Hills Pumping Plant.

This report describes the results of the archaeological surveys conducted along Reach 1 of the Granite Reef Aqueduct. Results suggest that project area sites were 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. Most of the aqueduct realignment traverses the sand dunes of the Cactus Plain located between the Buckskin Mountains and the Bouse Hills.

During the course of the surveys, OCRM archaeologists identified and documented 16 field loci, 31 isolated artifacts, and 7 instances of fossilized tortoise remains. Six of the field loci were combined into one site, AZ S:1:8 (ASU) and another field locus was designated AZ M:13:2 (ASU). Two other field loci were believed to be within the boundaries of previously recorded sites AZ S:1:6 (NAU) and AZ S:1:4 (NAU). The sites are of indeterminate age, although many likely are associated with the Patayan archaeological culture.