The Bartlett Dam Project: Archaeological Test Excavations at Fourteen Sites in the Lower Verde Valley, Maricopa County, Arizona

This report documents the results of a testing program completed by SWCA, Inc. Environmental Consultants in August of 1990 in anticipation of the modification of Bartlett Dam. Modifications to the dam were planned as part of the Central Arizona Project's Regulatory Storage Division (Plan 6) and the Safety of Dams Project.

During the month of April, 1990, archaeologists from Northland Research, Inc. conducted an archaeological survey of approximately 929 acres located on the Lower Verde River in the Tonto National Forest, immediately south and west of Bartlett Dam. In consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer, the Bureau of Reclamation determined that 14 of the 17 sites identified required archaeological testing to determine eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

At the request of the Bureau of Reclamation, SWCA conducted an archaeological testing program at these sites from August 8-September 8, 1990. The purpose of this testing program was to determine the presence or absence of significant subsurface deposits as they relate to the National Register criteria. This report documents the nature and results of the archaeological testing conducted at these 14 sites, one of which includes two distinct loci.

The testing program conducted at the 14 sites has determined that eight of them--AZ U:2:106/ 01-316, AZ U:2:107 / 01-318, AZ U:2:108/ 01-702, AZ U:2:95/ 01-1134, AZ U:2:98/ 01-1136, AZ U:2:101 / 01 - 1156, AZ U:2:102/ 01 1140, and AZ U:2:103/ 01-1141--contain significant subsurface cultural deposits that make them eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. These eight sites will require additional data-recovery studies to adequately document the remains, if the sites are to be impacted.

Six sites--AZ U:2:142/ 01-317, Loci 39 and 40, AZ U:2:99/ 01-1137, AZ U:2: 100/ 01-1138, AZ U:2:104/ 01-1142, AZ U:2:96/ 01-1135, and AZ U:2:105 / 01-1143 --were all found to contain no significant subsurface deposits. These sites are not eligible for National Register listing and their information potential is thought to have been exhausted as a result of this testing program. Therefore, SWCA recommends that archaeological clearance be granted for these sites.