Excavations at the Clearwater site were conducted by Desert Archaeology, Inc., in 2004. Findings from the Clearwater site indicated—for the first time—that ancient farmers were living in the Tucson Basin as early as 4000 B.C. The images below provide a window into the newly-defined Early Agricultural period.
Pithouse Excavation
Archaeologists from Desert Archaeology, Inc., excavating one of the first homes in Tucson. more »
Overlapping Pithouses
A pair of pithouses on the Santa Cruz River floodplain. more »
Community House?
Most villages from the Early Agricultural period contain one structure that is larger than the other homes. more »
Artifacts from the Clearwater Site
Some of the earliest ceramics in North America were found at the Clearwater site. more »
Superposition!
Overlapping pithouses illustrate both time-depth and natural site formation processes. more »
Irrigation Canal
The earliest known irrigation canals in North America are found in the Tucson Basin. more »
Deep Time Depth
A pithouse from the much later Hohokam occupation. more »
