Relocation and Assessment of Twelve Sites on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation Maricopa County, Arizona: Report

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) assisted the Fort McDowell Indian Community (FMIC) with cultural resource investigations in advance of widening and realigning portions of Fort McDowell Road (also known as Mustang Way). These improvements were required to facilitate increased road use associated with the construction and operation of the Fort McDowell Indian Community Irrigated Farmland Development Project.

At the request of Reclamation, Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd. (ACS) relocated and assessed 12 previously identified sites on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation to identify and assess potential impacts to cultural resources by the proposed widening and realignment of portions of Fort McDowell Road.
All sites were relocated and identified as to whether they were partially or wholly within the proposed right-of-way. Sites that were at least partially within the right-of-way were evaluated for their current condition, and a map of the site was prepared, showing features and artifacts. No collections or excavations were performed, although diagnostic artifacts were noted. Impacts to these sites from the potential project were assessed. If a site within the right-of-way lacked an Arizona State Museum (ASM) site number, one was assigned. Sites that lay completely outside of the right-of-way were examined and potential impacts from the proposed project assessed. New ASM numbers were not assigned to these sites.