Archaeological Data Recovery at the Sunset Mesa Ruin (AZ AA:12:10 ASM)

Phase 1 Data Recovery was conducted at the Sunset Mesa Ruin, AZ AA:12:10 (ASM), to evaluate the archaeological resources that will be impacted by the gravel mining operations of Tucson Ready Mix, Inc. The information gathered from the excavated backhoe trenches, added to previous archaeological investigations at the site, has identified several loci where prehistoric and historic or modern features cluster. Two areas were also identified that may be cremation cemeteries. The historic features are from two occupations: one the turn-of-the-century homestead of Basillio Cuevas; the second the Sunset Dairy in operation from the 1920s to the 1960s. A total of 69 features was identified in 59 strategically-placed backhoe trenches, creating 2,018 m of trench cuts. Stratigraphic and ceramic data suggest that the prehistoric portion of the site is a single component occupied primarily during the Middle Rincon subphase (A.D. 1000-1100). There is some ceramic evidence to suggest that portions of the site were used later, into the Tanque Verde phase (A.D. 1150-1450). The five human secondary cremation burials located so far are in two areas, north and south in what remains of the site. A Phase 2 Data Recovery Plan discusses the research questions and presents a plan of work for the next level of effort needed to retrieve the information from Sunset Mesa Ruin before it is removed by the gravel mining. Emphasis is placed on the locus with the largest concentration of features and on the discovery of any remaining human burials. The work plan outlines what analyses will be conducted on the recovered artifacts in order to address the specified research questions.