J. Homer Thiel - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by J. Homer Thiel

Desert Archaeology, Inc., 2015

The Salvation Army constructed a new Hospitality House in 2014-2015. As part of the project, The ... more The Salvation Army constructed a new Hospitality House in 2014-2015. As part of the project, The Salvation Army traded a piece of land to the City of Tucson in exchange for a portion. This land contained the eastern cluster of graves from the Pima Tribe No. 10, Improved Order of Red Men plot, part of the larger Court Street Cemetery, in use from 1875-1909, and subsequently redeveloped for housing and business. The Court Street Cemetery has been assigned Arizona State Museum site number AZ BB:13:156 (ASM). The Pima Tribe No. 10, Improved Order of Red Men was a national fraternal organization that formed a chapter in Tucson in 1897. They purchased a cemetery plot within the Court Street Cemetery in 1898, using it until 1908. Historical records identify 15 individuals interred in the plot. In 2011, backhoe stripping revealed two clusters of burials within the plot, each with 10 graves. Desert Archaeology excavated the 10 graves in the eastern cluster in January 2015. One grave was empty, apparently abandoned while being dug when it struck other graves. Two graves contained complete child burials with skeletal remains, clothing, coffins, and outer boxes. Seven adult graves had been exhumed in 1915, but in each case, human remains were left behind, as well as six coffins, seven outer boxes, and clothing remnants. Analysis of the remains revealed that the two children were not the child identified in historical records, and therefore their identity could not be determined. Both children had been buried with floral arrangements placed on the lids of their coffins. None of the adults were complete enough to identify, although several could be identified as male due to distinctive clothing items (cuff links, collar buttons, and a celluloid collar). Outer boxes were plain, manufactured from pine. Coffins were decorated with a variety of hardware, most of which could be identified in contemporary coffin hardware catalogs. Almost 50 graves have been identified within the Court Street Cemetery since the 1940s. About half had [...]

Desert Archaeology, Inc., 2015

The El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson, Arizona, is planning on building a parking lot on a... more The El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson, Arizona, is planning on building a parking lot on a portion of an archaeological easement associated with the historic period León farm stead, AZ BB:13:505 (ASM), and the prehistoric period Eastside canals, AZ BB:13:642 (ASM). The archaeological easement was established in 1999 following the discovery of the two sites. Archaeological fieldwork for this project was undertaken in 2013 to mitigate the damage to these significant cultural resources through the construction of the planned parking lot. The León farmstead was occupied from the 1840s to the 1910s, by members of a prominent Tucson Mexican-American family. The current project area was located east of the León house foundation in an area known to have archaeological features. Stripping the plowzone away from this area revealed several dozen features. Eight were chosen for complete or partial excavation, providing a sample of items discarded by the León family from the 1860s to the 1910s. The distribution of features suggest the Leóns maintained a backyard area with trees, bushes, and other plants, perhaps serving as an outdoor refuge when the summer heat made staying inside difficult. Other activities that occurred outside the house included water collection, human waste disposal, and trash disposal. Research on the prehistoric and historic canals sought to determine their date of use, where the water originated from, and if they were related to a set of canals. Four prehistoric canals originally found in 1999 were reexposed in Trench 101. A new profile of the trench was drawn, and radiocarbon and optically stimulated thermoluminescence samples were collected, as were all visible sherds. The ceramics suggest the canals operated between A.D. 850 and 1150. Flood-deposited sands below the canals probably originated from a flood dating to about A.D. 1000, likely narrowing the canal dates to A.D. 1000-1150. A radiocarbon date on the underlying cienega clays provided an Early Ceramic to very early Pioneer period date [...]

Desert Archaeology, Inc., 1995

The A-Mountain drainage system is being designed by Parsons Brinkerhoff, Inc., for the City of Tu... more The A-Mountain drainage system is being designed by Parsons Brinkerhoff, Inc., for the City of Tucson to alleviate flooding in the residential neighborhood between A-Mountain and the Santa Cruz River. As part of the planning process, Desert Archaeology, Inc., performed an archaeological survey and archival study of the parcel of land on which the drainage system will be placed (Thiel 1993a). On the basis of this preliminary work, Desert Archaeology recommended that an archaeological testing program be initiated to determine if significant cultural resources are present beneath the surface of the project area. The area around A-Mountain has seen intensive usage during the Late Archaic (ca. 1500 B.C. to A.D. 50), Hohokam (A.D. 750 to 1450), Protohistoric (A.D. 1450 to 1694), and Historic periods (A.D. 1694 to 1945). There is a high probability that significant resources are present on the property. Based on subsequent bore-hole tests, it has been possible to narrow down the area that is most likely to contain these resources (Thiel 1993b). It is recommended that intensive testing take place within this zone, with limited testing in the areas thought to be less likely to contain undisturbed cultural remains. This testing plan provides the project area location and description, a discussion of historical use of the project area, a summary of archaeological work conducted on or in the vicinity of the drainage system, research questions that will guide testing, and a plan for archaeological testing.

Desert Archaeology, Inc., implemented an archaeological testing project in the northeastern corne... more Desert Archaeology, Inc., implemented an archaeological testing project in the northeastern corner of the historic Court Street Cemetery, AZ BB:13:156 (ASM). The project area is within the Catholic portion of the cemetery. The cemetery was in use for only 34 years, between 1875 and 1909, but research suggests that more than 8,000 individuals were interred during that time. The project was undertaken for the City of Tucson prior to improvements and the sale of a portion of the land. Archaeological investigations were conducted in three areas, all of which were tested through the backhoe stripping of the ground surface and the removal of overlying sediments. Previous archaeological investigations in other areas of the cemetery showed that backhoe stripping was an effective method for identifying the outline of burial plots and coffins. The goals of the testing program were to determine if human remains were present in the project area and to locate the eastern and northern edges of th...

Forgotten Folk, Forgotten Facts. The City of Tucson has one of the richest and longest documented... more Forgotten Folk, Forgotten Facts. The City of Tucson has one of the richest and longest documented settlement histories in the United States. Many societies have called Tucson home: the prehistoric Hohokam, historic Tohono O'odham, 18th and 19th century Spanish missionaries and their soldier compatriots, Mexican and Anglo-American pioneers, entrepreneurs, and settlers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Each of these cultures has made Tucson into an important center of political and economic resources amid harsh surroundings of the great Sonoran Desert. Surviving documents, often hidden away in libraries, museums, even basements, paint a picture of life in Tucson over the last two centuries. Yet the picture these documents provide is too incomplete to give us more than teasing glimpses of the city's past. In reality, there are all too few accounts of the city's early historic occupations, and even the ones we can find often ignore children, women, the vast majority of Mexican and Native American residents who lived here, and other important segments of society. And the accounts tell us nothing about the native peoples who lived in the Tucson Basin before history began to be written down. In all of these cases, the archaeological record fills in details of the cultural chronicle. Through an extremely fortunate set of circumstances over the past two years the Center for Desert Archaeology and its associated research consulting company, Desert Archaeology, Inc., have had opportunities to undertake a series of archaeological projects in the heart of downtown Tucson. The story that is cradled within Tucson's "Block 192" the vicinity originally bounded by Alameda, Church, Pennington, and Court streets (and now occupied mainly by the old Pima County Courthouse building with the tiled dome)-is being pieced together now as a result of our excavations.

The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is renovating the southern addition to the 1885 Tubac Scho... more The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is renovating the southern addition to the 1885 Tubac Schoolhouse. As part of this renovation, the park is making the structure handicapped-accessible by installing a covered ramp along the east side of the structure. Excavation of holes for footers for the ramp had the potential of disturbing intact cultural resources. Therefore, the Arizona State Parks contracted with Desert Archaeology to conduct excavations to mitigate the impacts caused by the footers. Desert Archaeology personnel excavated four test units on May 10,1995. This report includes the project area location and description, project background, research questions, project methods, results of the test excavations, and recommendations.

This report is the first of two technical reports that present the results of archaeological and ... more This report is the first of two technical reports that present the results of archaeological and historical studies conducted by Desert Archaeology, Inc., and Arizona Preservation Consultants personnel for the City of Phoenix (City) Community Noise Reduction Program and associated Voluntary Acquisition and Relocation Services (CNRP-VARS) Program. Residential parcels within seven City-defined neighborhoods were the focus of archaeological investigations, including: North Neighborhood, AZ T:12:258 (ASM); Eastlake Park Neighborhood, AZ T:12:259 (ASM); El Campito Barrio, AZ T:12:260 (ASM); Cuatro Milpas Barrio, AZ T:12:261 (ASM); Ann Ott Barrio, AZ T:12:262 (ASM); Green Valley Barrio, AZ T:12:263 (ASM); and Rio Salado San Juan Bautista Barrio, AZ T:12:264 (ASM). The names were established as each neighborhood was annexed by the City, and mirror names used historically by the residents of the neighborhood. The term barrio, the Spanish word for neighborhood, reflects those neighborhoods p...

Archaeological testing was conducted at the Salvation Army property. Work identified 20 graves wi... more Archaeological testing was conducted at the Salvation Army property. Work identified 20 graves within the Improved Order of Red Men plot in the Court Street Cemetery, as well as eight prehistoric features. A portion of the property contained a single prehistoric pit and no Compliance Summary Page iii human burials. The pit was sampled. The area tested on the eastern side contained 20 graves from the Improved Order of Red Men plot, present in two separate clusters of 10 burials. Two pit houses and five prehistoric pits were present in the western group of burials. The houses and two pits were sampled. None of the graves was excavated. It is recommended that the Salvation Army proceed with construction work on the property west, where no burials were located. The discovery of human burials on the property on the eastern side, presents a unique set of issues. The Salvation Army has options for how to proceed that include: (1) no action is required if the burials located through testing...

Archaeological testing was conducted at the proposed location of a new arena, located in Pima Cou... more Archaeological testing was conducted at the proposed location of a new arena, located in Pima County, Arizona. The project area was historically known as Lot 2 of Block 221. Desert Archaeology, Inc., personnel conducted the testing at the request of the property owner, the City of Tucson, to determine if any significant cultural resources were located within the remaining unexamined portions of the Catalina Lot, a modern paved parking lot. Cultural resources compliance for City of Tucson projects is mandated from several sources. On October 3, 1983, Tucson's Mayor and Council passed Resolution No. 12443 that first defined procedures for protecting Tucson's rich, multicultural heritage. In 1999, these procedures were formalized in an Administrative Directive titled Protection of Archaeological and Historical Resources in City Projects, issued by the City Manager. Updated in 2005, the Administrative Directive includes policies and procedures that apply to City employees, right...

An archaeological survey conducted by Desert Archaeology on a parcel of state land slated for sal... more An archaeological survey conducted by Desert Archaeology on a parcel of state land slated for sale resulted in the discovery of a small historic site. This site is located at the base of the Mule Mountains and consists of a small, dry-laid rock foundation and an associated artifact scatter. The site was potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under criterion D. As a result, it was decided to mitigate the site prior to its transfer to private ownership. Desert Archaeology mapped the site, collected all artifacts from the surface, and placed a test unit inside the foundation. The findings suggest that the foundation was built between 1880 and 1900 and was probably covered with a tent or some other perishable material. The presence of at least one male and possibly a female is demonstrated by the artifact assemblage. In all likelihood, the nineteenth-century residents of the site were conducting prospecting or ranching activities in the vicinity.

The City of Tucson is planning to construct a bikeway in northeast Tucson. As part of the plannin... more The City of Tucson is planning to construct a bikeway in northeast Tucson. As part of the planning process, Desert Archaeology, Inc. performed an archaeological survey and records check of the project area (Eppley 1998). The evaluation revealed that a portion of the project area was adjacent to AZ BB:13:444 (ASM), a previously recorded archaeological site. On the basis of the preliminary work, Desert Archaeology recommended that an archaeological testing program be initiated to determine if significant cultural resources are present beneath the surface in this area. Testing was completed in August 1998 under a project-specific archaeological permit (1998-114ps) from the Arizona State Museum (ASM) and an excavation permit from the City of Tucson (982204). This report summarizes the results of that work. No archaeological features were found during testing, indicating that AZ BB:13:444 does not extend beyond the south side within the bikeway project area. Clearance is recommended for ...

Desert Archaeology, Inc., implemented an archaeological monitoring project for Pima County within... more Desert Archaeology, Inc., implemented an archaeological monitoring project for Pima County within the historic Court Street Cemetery, AZ BB:13:156 (ASM). Eleven locations within and adjacent to the cemetery were monitored during installation of a new plastic lining within the existing ceramic sewer pipes, first installed in the mid-1910s. The Court Street Cemetery was established in 1875, on what was then the far north side of Tucson. It was envisioned as the final resting place for approximately 8,000-9,000 city residents. The cemetery was divided into sections, including areas for religious and fraternal organizations, as well as a nonsecular area for city residents. The Catholic portion of the cemetery encompassed 50 percent of the total area. Efforts to enhance the physical appearance of the cemetery through landscaping and fencing of the different sections were thwarted by the lack of water for vegetation, a high caliche level, and overall apathy of city residents. As Tucson gr...

The City of Tucson (City) developed plans to remove contaminated soils at the Fort Lowell-Adkins ... more The City of Tucson (City) developed plans to remove contaminated soils at the Fort Lowell-Adkins Steel property. This action followed the City's acquisition of the last remaining major portion of historic Fort Lowell. The Master Plan for the park as a whole was completed in 2009 (Poster-Frost Associates 2009). Among its recommendations were that a number of post-fort buildings and structures be removed from the Fort Lowell-Adkins Steel property. The City's environmental consultant recommended removal of contaminated soils, based upon site investigation. The City has received an Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup Grant to remediate this site. Desert Archaeology, Inc., participated in the Master Planning process through the preparation of two reports that documented the historical and archaeological resources of the park, as well as archaeological surveys of all City-owned parcels (Thiel 2009; Thiel and Theriot 2008). Desert Archaeology was also contracted to ...

In November 1997, Desert Archaeology, Inc., conducted archaeological testing along a portion of A... more In November 1997, Desert Archaeology, Inc., conducted archaeological testing along a portion of AZ AA:12:16 (ASM). According to the Arizona State Museum site card, this Hohokam site was originally recorded by Mitalsky, in 1937. Mitalsky found Hohokam pottery, cremated human bone, and ground stone scattered along the embankments and in adjacent cotton fields. In the years since the site card was filled out, this area has been extensively developed, with little additional archaeological work. Desert Archaeology's 1997 testing program six trenches were excavated with a backhoe, resulting in the discovery of seven archaeological features. These features were documented by profile drawings and standard field forms. The features were identified as: a large borrow pit, an outhouse pit, a basin-shaped pit, a smaller borrow pit, a possible outhouse pit, a prehistoric firepit, and a small pit. All the features were located in Trench 1. The site was determined to be eligible for inclusion ...

Between October 2000 and January 2003, Desert Archaeology, Inc., conducted archaeological investi... more Between October 2000 and January 2003, Desert Archaeology, Inc., conducted archaeological investigations at seven locations for the City of Tucson as part of the Rio Nuevo Archaeology project. The City of Tucson plans to revitalize the downtown area, including the re-creation of the historic San Agustín Mission and the Spanish Presidio fortress, as well as the construction of new homes and businesses. Excavations were conducted to either provide basic data for planned reconstructions, or to mitigate the effects of development. Hundreds of cultural features were excavated, with more than 160,000 artifacts recovered. This work documented 4,100 years of occupation and 3,500 years of irrigated agriculture in the floodplain of the Santa Cruz River just west of downtown Tucson, Arizona. Well-preserved remains of the late eighteenth century Spanish period mission and mission gardens were also revealed on the western side of the river, as was a portion of the Tucson Presidio, founded in 177...

As part of the planning process for the construction of the Evo A. DeConcini Federal Building and... more As part of the planning process for the construction of the Evo A. DeConcini Federal Building and United States Courthouse, Desert Archaeology, Inc., has performed a detailed study of the proposed courthouse property for Fugro West, Inc., under a subcontract with the General Services Administration. This study has many purposes: to summarize prehistoric and historic settlement patterns and land-use trends for the project area; to identify the locations of any prehistoric and historic archaeological sites on the parcel and discern whether these are likely to have survived impacts of recent land use; to develop and present opinions as to whether any surviving sites meet the criteria for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places; and to discuss whether archaeological testing is necessary, and if so, present a plan and budget for such a course of action. In this report, Chapter 1 provides the project location and description; summarizes paleoenvironmental, cultural, and hist...

Presented here are the results of an archaeological testing project to determine if subsurface cu... more Presented here are the results of an archaeological testing project to determine if subsurface cultural resources are present on Block 175 and a small area within Block 174 in downtown Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. These blocks are within the original Tucson town site, surveyed in 1872. Block 174 was the location of the First Baptist Church and dwellings, block 175 was primarily the location of private residences. The two parking lot areas are owned by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Tucson (the "IDA"), a non-profit corporation designated as a political subdivision of the State of Arizona, authorized to provide lower cost financing for qualified projects through the issuance of revenue bonds exempt from Arizona income taxation. The IDA provides financing of community development projects whenever appropriate, and where traditional sources of funding may be unavailable. Although not a City agency, by statute, the IDA board is appointed by the Mayor and C...

Residents of modern cities are often surprised to learn that historical artifacts and architectur... more Residents of modern cities are often surprised to learn that historical artifacts and architectural remains survive below ground. The excavations on lots 5 through 12 of historic Block 138 demonstrate that past Tucsonans discarded large quantities of garbage in the areas next to their homes. Hundreds of items were discovered during archaeological testing of the block. The City of Tucson plans to expand its Water Plant over the block, and it was necessary to determine whether significant cultural resources were present. Test excavations conducted at AZ BB:13:424 (ASM) by Desert Archaeology, Inc., uncovered 51 features dating from the occupation of the site. The goals of testing were to locate, identify, and evaluate archaeological features; to obtain datable artifacts from selected features; and to perform preliminary documentary research on the history of the block. Currently, the city has not finalized construction plans for the water plant expansion; therefore, a program to mitiga...

In March and April of 1998 and 1999, volunteers and archaeologists from the Center for Desert Arc... more In March and April of 1998 and 1999, volunteers and archaeologists from the Center for Desert Archaeology searched for traces of Tucson's Presidio fortress. The project had several goals: (1) to determine if archaeological deposits survived in several areas around the perimeter of the Presidio; it was not certain if archaeological deposits survived years of construction, demolition, utility installation, and other ground-disturbing activities; (2) to locate portions of the Presidio Wall — the adobe wall that surrounded Tucson from the 1780s to the 1850s; and (3) to expose members of the Tucson public to archaeology. Volunteers from the community excavated under the guidance of professional archaeologists. Tucson residents visited the project in person, or learned of the dig through television coverage, newspaper and newsletter articles, or through stories posted on the Internet. During the two field seasons, six trenches around the perimeter of the Presidio were excavated, uncov...

Desert Archaeology, Inc., 2015

Desert Archaeology, Inc., 1995