Report of the 2007 Archaeological Survey of Northwestern Portions of Perry Mesa within the Agua Fria National Monument, Yavapai County, Arizona

In the Spring and Summer of 2007 Arizona State University (ASU) conducted pedestrian survey of approximately 300 hectares of the northwestern portion of Perry Mesa region in Yavapai County, Arizona. All survey areas were located within the Agua Fria National Monument (AFNM) managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). All survey areas and located archaeological features are within the Perry Mesa National Register District. During this field season, archaeological survey efforts were focused on the 3 large survey tracks and detailed mapping of the Bull Tank Agricultural Field. Eighty-five hectares (210 acres) around Pueblo la Plata (NA 11648; ‘La Plata Mesa Survey Area’ in this report) were surveyed by the ASU Legacies on the Landscape undergraduate class during the spring. During the summer of 2007, 113 hectares (279 acres) of a mesa finger located to the south of La Plata Mesa (referred to as the ‘Control Mesa’) were surveyed by ASU personnel and Arizona Archaeological Society
volunteers. Additional survey work was conducted on a 91 hectares (225 acres) parcel surrounding Pueblo Pato (NA 11434) during the spring of 2007. A section of the Bull Tank Agricultural Field north of Baby Canyon was also mapped in detail. The results of these surveys have greatly expanded our knowledge of the habitation patterns and agricultural use of Perry Mesa during the 13th and 14th century occupation of Perry Mesa during what is known as the ‘Perry Mesa Tradition’ (Stone 2000). A total of 98 sites with masonry architecture or features
(76 previously unrecorded sites) were mapped and recorded and numerous agricultural areas were documented. This report includes descriptions of architectural and agricultural sites. The final chapters include analysis and interpretations of these sites and discuss their relationship to the larger villages.