The U.S. 89 Archaeological Project: Sunset Crater and the History of a Volcanic Landscape

1998-present

The 130 miles of U.S. 89 between Flagstaff and the Utah border has long been one of the most dangerous roads in Arizona. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) wanted to widen and improve 16 miles of this road, between Flagstaff and Wupatki National Monument. Approximately 40 prehistoric sites were in the path of the construction. Through a competitive bid process, Desert Archaeology was awarded the contract to investigate these sites and thereby "mitigate" the impacts of road construction. This was the largest single archaeological project ever conducted in the Flagstaff area. Following the archaeology, ADOT improved this section of U.S. 89.

Sunset Crater erupted sometime between A.D. 1050-1125, significantly affecting the inhabitants of the U.S. 89 project area.

Crew excavating a pithouse.

Excavated pithouse at the Lenox Park site, occupied between A.D. 800-1000, before the eruption of Sunset Crater.

Excavated masonry room block at the Homestead site, occupied between A.D. 1050-1150. Volcanic ash on the floor of the structure indicates the site was occupied when Sunset Crater erupted.

Parícutin Volcano, which erupted in central Mexico between 1943-1952, is almost an identical twin of Sunset Crater. Data from this eruption helped model the A.D. 1050-1125 eruption of Sunset Crater.

Hopi Tribal members and archaeologists worked together to interpret the prehistoric remains in the U.S. 89 project area. The Hopi provided important insights into the use of prehistoric features and artifacts, as well as supplied information on agricultural practices, and played a significant role in the U.S. 89 research.

Hopi Bear Clan member Ronald Humeyestewa standing in his cornfield below Second Mesa. Research into modern Hopi agricultural methods was very important in interpreting how prehistoric groups survived along U.S. 89.

A piece of Sunset Crater lava with impressions of prehistoric corn cobs recovered from a site investigated as part of the U.S. 89 project. To the Hopi, this "corn rock" signifies "our ancestors were here."

The U.S. 89 project investigated "human adaptation to natural and cultural diversity in the Flagstaff region." A specific focus was how local groups adapted to the A.D. 1050-1125 eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano, located less than 5 miles east of the project area. A multidisciplinary team of archaeologists, volcanologists, geomorphologists, botanists, and dendroclimatologists provided significant new information on both the eruption and the resulting human response. Another important research question was the relationship of modern-day Hopi peoples to the prehistoric people who lived along U.S. 89. The Hopi are the direct descendants of these prehistoric groups, and ethnographic research with Hopi tribal members provided important insights.

U.S. 89 is a well-traveled road, and our work was highly visible. An open house was held, publicized by a preceding media day, in which television, radio, and print reporters from throughout the state visited the excavations. Tours for school groups and Native American tribal members were also conducted. Funding from ADOT, Desert Archaeology, the City of Flagstaff, and the Arizona Humanities Council allowed the production of a 30-minute video, which was shown on public television and distributed to libraries, schools, and Native American communities throughout Arizona. A special issue of Archaeology Southwest focused on Sunset Crater and the U.S. 89 Project.

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