THE SITES
AZ EE:9:108(ASM)
In addition to the prehistoric component of AZ EE:9:108(ASM), archaeologists
found a large, cleared central area, rock piles, and rock alignments
associated with the 1916 camp. Construction of the camp certainly
disturbed the prehistoric remains in this location, and the prehistoric
material is mixed in among the historic features. Unfortunately,
field workers recovered only a few artifacts dating to the encampment.
The historic camp features at AZ EE:9:108(ASM) were ultimately
subsumed under the AZ EE:9:109(ASM) designation, as researchers
considered them to be part of that site. As a result, these loci
are discussed with AZ EE:9:109(ASM).
AZ EE:9:109(ASM)
Thirteen loci on the accessible portion of the site were identified
and investigated. The boundaries of the site extended into privately
held lands, beneath a trailer park and a storage facility. Researchers
used a historic panoramic photograph of the occupied camp, the U.S.
Army Field Regulations 1914, and the 1916 Quartermaster’s
Manual to help them identify the features they observed.
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map of AZ EE:9:109(ASM), National Guard/U.S. Army camp. »Enlarge
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The main terraced area (locus 4) comprised tent platforms for the
most substantial portion of the camp, the area where the 5th California
resided. A series of thirteen 40-foot-wide terraces stretched between
two deep drainages. These 390 to 460-foot-long terraces were created
by rock alignments and leveled ground. Several paths traversed the
terraces. Based on their dimensions, raised platforms on one section
of the lower terraces probably supported large storage tents and
wooden mess halls. The photograph indicates that most of the remaining
areas were occupied by pyramidal tents (living quarters). Personal
and military activities are reflected in the few artifacts recovered
from locus 4: part of a tooth powder can, a button hook, a .32 WCF
case, and a clear glass beverage bottle. The relative paucity of
material in this area likely resulted from amateur collecting over
the years.
Several similarly-oriented rock terraces (loci 6 and 7), a 12-meter-square
cleared area, and a trash dump (locus 8) were observed to the west
of locus 4. A rough baseball diamond created and used by the soldiers
survived to the northwest of locus 8. Archaeologists recovered military
materials from the trash dump, but they did not find any historic
artifacts among the rock alignments. Artifacts collected at locus
8 include a brass frame buckle from a military-issue haversack,
a brass slide used to attach equipment to a garrison belt, two .30-06
casings, colored bottle glass, and an iron spike.
Another group of rock alignments (locus 1) stood to the southeast
of locus 4. Two rectangular stone foundations linked by a wall and
a nearby L-shaped foundation followed the same orientation as the
rock alignments in the main camp (locus 4). Archaeologists noted
glass fragments and bed springs at locus 1. North of these three
rubble foundations, about 65 meters east of locus 4, archaeologists
encountered a rectangular depression (locus 2) that proved to be
a latrine trench filled with trash—metal cans, broken bottles,
barrel hoops, bricks, and cow bones. The latrine itself yielded
a chain link, a pulley, an iron stay with brass grommets, a .22
short cartridge case, and a hollow-backed aluminum tent peg. The
peg matches those used by the U.S. Army at the time.
The embankment and ravine to the east of locus 1 were covered with
a large historic trash scatter (locus 3). Archaeologists observed
historic pottery sherds, porcelain fragments, metal cans and objects,
glass bottles and fragments, leather materials, oyster shells, rubber
parts, a telegraph insulator, assorted building materials, and other,
more recently deposited refuse. Military items included a tent rope
tightener and two pieces of porcelain depicting the U.S. Army Medical
Department insignia. One of the most interesting finds was a .30-06
five-round stripper clip that would have been used in an M1906 Springfield
rifle.
A third major trash deposit (locus 12) was situated on an embankment
east of locus 3. Through surface collection and excavation, researchers
recovered an informative sample of artifacts, including various
glass, metal, and ceramic objects; horseshoes; several .30-06 cartridge
cases; thousands of cans; bricks and rocks that probably eroded
from surrounding tent platforms (locus 13); two aluminum tent stakes;
a brass fastener associated with canvas leggings; more Army medical
porcelain; a silver “Liberty War Service” ring; and
a cap insignia from the U.S. Army 24th Infantry, E Company. Records
confirmed that this unit was stationed in the Nogales area from
mid-September to mid-October of 1917.
North of locus 12, archaeologists encountered a series of eleven
rectangular tent platforms created from bricks and rocks (locus
13). These closely aligned features of variable width were oriented
east-northeast to west-southwest. Each platform had a smaller adjacent
platform to the south. A substantial amount of additional structures
had been disturbed and displaced by a dirt road and a Forest Service
compound. Based on the historic panoramic photo, this area corresponds
to the 2nd California camp.
A considerable ancillary encampment (loci 5, 9, 10, and 11) was
located immediately north of the main camp (locus 4) over prehistoric
site AZ EE:9:108(ASM). The structures on this hilltop followed two
different orientations: a small rectangular foundation, three small
rectilinear foundations with open western sides, and a single extant
linear alignment continued the cardinal orientation of locus 4,
but a second group of more widely spaced remains were aligned northwest-southeast.
Researchers surmised that the latter may have been occupied while
the main camp was being built. Several broad cleared areas (e.g.,
locus 9) likely served as tent grounds. Although tents are visible
in this area of the panoramic photograph, their orientation cannot
be discerned.
Archaeologists were not able to examine the easternmost portion of
the camp (originally inhabited by the 7th California) because that area
was occupied by a trailer park at the time of fieldwork.
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