Yuma City River Park/Yuma Territorial Prison Historic Trash Dump Site

A historic trash dump site was discovered by the City of Yuma while excavating a handicap access sidewalk for a washroom facility building below the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park and a City River Park. The excavation area is partially on City property and State Land (Arizona State Parks). The area of concern is in a recently excavated cut-bank containing historic trash; large mammal bones (cow), glass, metal, porcelain, and ceramics. Approximately 10-15 artifacts and 50+ bones and fragments were observed. No items were collected.

Two archaeological sites have been recorded in the area, AZ X:6: l (ASM): This site basically consists of the Yuma Crossing National Historic Landmark. Site AZ X:6:90 (ASM) consists of a small historic trash dump site found within the Yuma Territorial Prison yard. ADOT surveys conducted in 2000 & 2001 indication concentrations of artifact scatter areas below and around Prison Hill and directly uphill from this historic trash site. Guard rail posts excavated in the 1990s (no site number was given) along the north end of Prison Hill also produced historic materials.