The Roosevelt Rural Sites Study, Volume 1: Research Design

The Roosevelt Rural Sites Study (RRS) was one of three data recovery mitigative studies that the Bureau of Reclamation funded to investigate the prehistory of the Tonto Basin in the vicinity of Theodore Roosevelt Dam. The series of investigations constituted Reclamation's program for complying with historic preservation legislation as it applied to the raising and modification of Theodore Roosevelt Dam. Reclamation contracted with Statistical Research, Inc. to conduct this study.

The RRS was a two-year mitigative data designed to study small habitation, agricultural, and resource processing sites, which are located away from the main centers of prehistoric habitation in the Tonto Basin, and to contribute to an ongoing synthetic study of Tonto Basin prehistory. The specific research focus of the Roosevelt Rural Sites Study in Reclamation's overall compliance program was the evolution of prehistoric rural land-use systems in the Tonto Basin. Twenty-nine prehistoric sites grouped into six study areas located in the bajada zone surrounding the lake on lands administered by the Tonto National Forest comprise the data base for this study.

The Roosevelt Rural Sites Study Volume 1 presents the research design governing the study. As outlined here, the research design outlines the goals, culture-historical and theoretical background, and general methodology for the RRS. The 29 archaeological sites selected for study consist of agricultural sites, processing areas, field houses,farmsteads, and small hamlets dating to the Archaic, pre-Classic and Classic periods. A two-pronged approach was suggested to meet the project goals. In addition to conventional excavations at these archaeological sites, SRI proposed to undertake a broader-based study of soils, landforms, vegetation patterns, and possible agricultural field areas. The data derived from both these studies were then to be integrated with regional environmental and archaeological data derived from previous research in the Tonto Basin. The results of these various research efforts were designed to complement the efforts of researchers involved in the other archaeological research project undertaken as part of the Bureau of Reclamation's compliance program.