Description

The Institute for American Research conducted an archaeological mitigation program for the Pima County Department of Transportation along Mission Road. Mapping, testing, and excavation activities at the West Branch Site [AZ AA:16:3(ASM)], a large preclassic Hohokam village, are reported. Hohokam remains were primarily from the Early and Middle Rincon subphases of the Sedentary period.

Analyses focused on the refinement of the ceramic typology for the Rincon phase and on the documentation of household units in the archaeological record. The ceramic studies were aided by the use of multidimensional scaling techniques which facilitated the separation of Early and Middle Rincon decorated ceramics based on the attribute analysis.

A range of household sizes was documented and a model that correlates the change in maximum household size with the diversification of subsistence practices is presented. A focus on household economics demonstrates that each unit was responsible for its own subsistence needs and for the production of most of its material needs. Pottery productions is also documented at the household level and the introduction of Rincon Redware and Rincon Polychrome ceramics is seen as a hallmark of the Middle Rincon subphase.