Description

Results of Archaeological Monitoring for the I-10 Widening Project, Prince Road to 29th Street, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona (TR2011-5) (PDF)

Monitoring was conducted in archaeologically sensitive areas affected by construction related to widening Interstate 10 (I-10) through Tucson. Activities ranged from one-time or multiple spot checks to extended monitoring of a particular job.

Findings during monitoring consisted largely of surface distributions of prehistoric and historic artifacts that were consistent with results of previous investigations at project area sites. However, this project contributed new information leading to a reassessment of site boundaries in two instances and identification of a new temporal component at one site. Results support a combination of two sites (AA:12:85 and AA:12:735) north of Fort Lowell Road and west of I-10 based on similarities in subsurface deposits and a continuous scatter of surface artifacts between them. A newly identified historic component was also found at this site.
Monitoring subsurface exposures also raised questions about the nature of historic trash dumping along the Santa Cruz River near Speedway Boulevard, where additional deposits were identified in the area between BB:13:110 to the north and BB:13:514 to the south. In addition, this project provided the opportunity to examine geomorphology exposed in deep trench sections. The stratigraphy is consistent with the alternation of overbank flood deposits and periods of relative stability indicated by soil formation and evidence of human occupation along the Santa Cruz River.