Calderwood Butte Ceramic Analysis

These studies are intended to investigate ceramic provenance, the organization of ceramic production and distribution, and the structure of social and exchange networks among the ancient Hohokam communities in the lower Agua Fria River area.

This project includes the analysis of prehistoric Hohokam pottery from 16 archaeological sites situated near Calderwood Butte and along the lower Agua Fria River, Maricopa County, Arizona. It also comprises the collection and chemical assay of phyllite rocks from the Hieroglyphic Mountains for comparison with phyllite temper in the prehistoric pottery.

Several stages of research include a rough-sort analysis of all ceramics collected during Soil Systems excavations, a detailed analysis of a pottery sample chosen on the basis of sherd size and recovery context, electron microprobe analyses of raw phyllite specimens and phyllite-tempered potsherds, and the preparation of a publishable-quality analytical report for the rough sort, detailed analysis, and chemical assays.

Also, a comparative analysis of pottery from the nearby settlement of Casa de Piedras, located on the opposite bank of the Agua Fria River, was conducted by undergraduate students enrolled in ASB 494, Research Methods in Archaeology, during spring 2005. The classroom analysis contributed valuable supplemental information pertaining to the production and distribution of prehistoric pottery in the general area, which will be integrated with the Calderwood Butte data in the final project report.