James A. Neely

University of Texas at Austin | UT · Department of Anthropology

The travertine-lined irrigation canal networks of the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico allowed pre-Hispanic indigenous communities to overcome risks of crop failures in an arid setting. Segments of these systems are still in use today, therefore understanding when and how these irrigation networks functioned allows us to identify which attributes of a coupl...

Tripp bajada hanging canal field notes. This is the westernmost of the many dozens of prehistoric canals surrounding Mount Graham near Safford. It lies in Coronado National Forest and only a small portion of it is presently known and explored. Included are links to other field notes and other hanging canal papers.

The goals and background of this study are presented. A sample of rudimentary artifacts, recovered through survey and excavation from contexts in the American Southwest and southern Mexico, were physically examined to verify or reject their assumed validity as tools and their use in agricultural activities. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations...

Linkable directory of www.tinaja.com images on bajada hanging projects

The water resources and characteristics of two prehistoric canal systems, which are separated from one another by approximately 365 kilometers (227 miles) and about 500 years, are briefly described and discussed. In the process, similarities and differences are noted, adaptations to the arid environmental characteristics of the areas are evaluated,...

Excavations at Creekside Village in Tularosa Canyon have identified a series of agricultural terraces with an associated ditch system confidently dated to the mid-Mesilla phase. Characterized by earthen berms, the terraces form level field areas that were developed within Pleistocene loess sediments on the lower slope of the main ridge of Creekside...

A large network of exceptionally well-engineered prehistoric canals has been discovered near Safford, Arizona. Within an area of roughly 450 km2, 12 distinct canal systems, comprised of 41 canals, have been identified originating in the bajada of the Pinaleño Mountains. Conveying water from runoff and springs, the longest canal is about 13 km, and...

Some recent Safford AZ area discoveries have now located many dozens of Mt. Graham mountain stream fed prehistoric CE 1350 "hanging" canals that represent utterly mind boggling world class stone age engineering. An apparently unique hallmark of the entire complex system is that the canals are often literally "hung" on the extremely difficult terrai...

Only a six kilometer fraction of Henry's prehistoric Canal is presently verified, ranging from a wash crossing or takein at 32.71810-109.76715 to a well defined end use field area and possible ponding channel found at 32.74558-109.72845. The canal is characterized by being of "flatland" architecture without any major hanging portions. At a meter wi...

Some recent investigations have started to reveal a highly unusual rock walled and earthworks structural sequence of obvious significance. One that seems to have uniquely outstanding engineering combined with other unusual features. To date, the study clearly raises many more questions than it resolves.

Portions of the Tugood Canal are quite well preserved. Likely distance is five kilometers or more. The lack of significant area development and present state of much of this canal is exceptional, making it a reasonable candidate for preservation or even full restoration.

The abandoned Cluff Northwest Canal complex is the largest presently known and highest tech historic probable redevelopment of all the Safford Basin bajada prehistoric canals on Arizona State Land, Arizona Game & Fish, and on private lands in the Ash Creek and Cluff Ponds area of Mount Graham.

The Mud Springs Prehistoric Hanging Bajada Canal is one of the longer and more interesting and includes several unique features. It is one of the very few that can be viewed nearly in entirity from several locations. Which suggests its easier development might have might have formed an earlier prototype. Other points of interest include a significa...

The Tranquility Prehistoric Hanging Bajada Canal is unusual in that it appears to be a historic rebuild of a fairly short and apparently artesian sourced prehistoric original. As it flows through many private landholdings, it is by far the most "urban" of the prehistoric hanging canals

The centrist Allen Prehistoric Hanging Bajada Canal is one of the longer and more interesting and has several unique features that include possible historic reservoir use and a spectacularly huge "Culebra Cut". The length of the presently verified and surveyed Allen portion is 9.6 kilometers. But the total managed length may end up approaching a 15...

The canal system in Deadman Canyon is a curious mix of apparently prehistoric channel originals which still flow to this day that were combined with major yet partially abandoned historic rework. Routing begins with a single concrete takein from perennial Deadman Creek, climbs "up" over a buried pipeline replaced initial hanging segment to a mesa t...

The largely well preserved Robinson Ditch Prehistoric Hanging Bajada Canal is one of the longer and more difficult of foot-only access. Very significant hanging portions are included. It also offers an exceptionally strong and deceptive "water flows uphill" illusion caused by subtle differences in canal slope compared to the actual topography slope...

Bear Springs is both a major and reliable arid region artesian aquifier found on Arizona State Lands at N 32.84969 W 109.94507 that once supported a hippy commune and stock ponds. While understudied to date owing to access issues and priorities, at least three historic canals are associated with this resource. A key question is whether the known ca...

Recent Acme Mapper evidence has now strongly supported the presence of the smaller but long sought after Veech Canal which still remains unvisited or field verified. This is likely the Southeasternmost significant canal in the entire bajada hanging canals system and apparently routes from a takein found at N 32.64138 W 109.74348 to fields in the N...

The Jernigan Prehistoric Hanging Bajada Canal is a western branch of the Mud Springs Canal. Jernigan is somewhat over 2 kilometers in length and is primarily northward oriented. While only portions have been mapped, its hallmarks include exceptionally well defined end use fields, a related occupancy structure, four "U" turns", area artifacts, a cou...

There is only the barest hint of a Longview Prehistoric Hanging Bajada Canal. But this is in an extremely culturally rich area midway within the range of the other canals. And in an area certainly worthy of further study.

Newly discovered bajaca hanging canals prehistorically extracted virtually every drop of Mount Graham Gila Valley water. One of a series of preliminary field notes. More info at https://www.tinaja.com/tinsamp1.shtml

We seem to be due for another revision of our Prehistoric Bajada Hanging Canal list, perhaps adding a few images and field note links of varying currency. There are presently two ways to count the canals. Per this study candidates list (now 82) that may include multiple names having missing pieces, some related significant prehistoric water managem...

Evidence is accumulating that an incredibly sophisticated prehistoric canal water pre-distribution system existed in the lower Frye Mesa area of Frye Creek. At present, water is thought to be diverted from Frye Creek above the falls near N 32.74352 W 109.83988 and then be watershed crossed to merge with a then presumably large spring in Spring Cany...

Of all the Gila Valley Prehistoric Hanging Bajada Canals, the TB Ponding Area centered on 32.76621-109.73602 would seem quite significant. Because… (1) The TB Ponding Area appears to be an obvious end use area with several associated habitation sites to the southwest and some rock alignments combined with ag artifacts to the north...

The Tehuacán Archaeological and Botanical Project, directed by Dr Richard 'Scotty' MacNeish, is well recognized for its contributions to our knowledge of early plant domestication in Mesoamerica. The project also greatly increased our knowledge of the development of water management and agricultural intensification. More recent work in the region h...

A stratified pedestrian survey provides the data for this interim report on the Partho-Sasanian occupations of the Deh Luran Plain. Settlement and site patterning observed in relation to water and soil management systems are described and compared with other regions, primarily the Diyala and Upper Khuzistan (Susiana) Plains. The roles of marginalit...

Ongoing archaeological survey in the Safford Valley of southeastern Arizona has revealed an extensive, well-preserved complex of prehistoric water management features and agricultural fields. A broad and varied array of these features and systems date between ca. A.D. 800-1400. Four categories of features have been found: dry-farming fields, canal...

Nearly three decades ago, Woodbury & Neely (1972) published the first analysis of the extensive and complex system of Prehispanic Canals found in the northern portion of the Tehuacan Valley of Puebla, Mexico. These springfed canals, functioning to supply waters for irrigation and domestic uses, were uniquely preserved in near entirety by natural pr...

The 2003 and 2004 surveys at the Purron Dam Complex (PDC) demonstrate the value of resurveying previously studied areas. Additional habitation sites, water management features, a cave with pictographs, and a major canal were discovered, increasing the number of recorded sites from eight to 57. From this survey, the collected ceramics and a synthesi...

Survey in the Tehuacán Valley of Puebla in south-central México has discovered what appears to be an effigy mound in the form of a scorpion.

Ongoing archaeological survey in the arid Safford Basin has disclosed a series of exceptional small prehistoric canals (Figure 1) that have expanded our knowledge of prehistoric water management engineering and agricultural intensification in the American Southwest.

Two large-scale water management systems, one in the Tehuacán Valley of Puebla, Mexico and the other in the Safford Basin of southeastern Arizona, are briefly described and compared. In the Tehuacán Valley, the Purrón Dam exhibits a massive construction effort totaling about 370,000 m3 of earth and stone. In contrast, the 36 “hanging” canals of the...

El Valle de Tehuacán es actualmente una de las áreas mejor estudiadas en México, conteniendo una de las secuencias culturales más amplias y uno de los complejos tecnológicos más diversi-ficados de control del agua registrados en América. Aquí se presenta un panorama general de los elementos prehispánicos de manejo del agua con una discusión sobre s...

An overview of the prehistoric agricultural strategies of the Safford Basin, based primarily on studies of the settlement patterns and water management features and systems that have been conducted over the last several decades, is presented. The information was largely obtained by survey, although historical information and the results of a few sm...

The nature of the Deh Luran gristmill system is described, and archaeological and ethnohistorical observations provide insights into ancient rural technology, economics, and socio-politics. Optically Scanned Luminescence, ceramics, and other archaeological associations, date the Deh Luran gristmills to the Sasanian period (A.D. 225–700). A Middle E...

Recent investigations at the prehistoric Purrón Dam Complex in the Tehuacán Valley of southern Puebla, México applied radiometric dating to more securely date the complex. Ceramic-based dating in the 1960′s placed the Dam's origin to the Formative Period. While Formative Period origins are widely accepted, the chronology lacks resolution and direct...

Archaeological survey, a few archaeological excavations, and historical information have provided important substantive and circumstantial evidence that Gila River water was extensively tapped by canals for domestic uses and agricultural irrigation during prehistoric times in the Safford Basin. Several of the historic canals currently in use are be...

The issues related to water management systems constructed at various sites throughout southern Mexico are discussed. Ancient engineers built thousands of kilometers of canals and aqueducts that predated the arrival of Europeans in Mexico by two millennia. They delivered water from springs and streams, conveying it across drainage divides, around c...

One of the three prehistoric agricultural strategies found in the Safford Basin of Southeastern Arizona is briefly described and placed into a chronological framework.

This paper presents the results of a juxtaposition of archaeological findings on Hohokam irrigation and ethnographic research on the social organization of irrigation. There are no ethnographic or historic records pertaining to the Hohokam, so the comparative ethnographic approach is perhaps more productive than in other situations. Several forms o...

This paper will present a synthetic overview of the current knowledge of the impoundment and distribution aspects of Formative period water management technology in Mesoamerica. Over a decade of new discoveries, and continuing research on older finds, that have substantially augmented Doolittle’s (1990) study have prompted the writing of this paper...

Recent studies have disclosed several forms of agricultural technology and methodology employed by the prehistoric occupants of the Safford Valley. This paper is devoted to the consideration of another: foothill or bajada agriculture as it appears in Lefthand Canyon. This system incorporated the use of canals, some of which were rock-bordered, to c...

Recent studies have disclosed several forms of agricultural strategies and settlement patterns employed by the prehistoric occupant of the Safford Valley in Southeastern Arizona. This paper is devoted to the consideration of another: foothill or bajada agriculture and settlement as it appears in Lefthand Canyon in the central Safford Valley.

An interregional overview of irrigation agriculture during the Formative period in Mesoamerica is presented. Case studies from highland central Mexico and the Maya areas are considered for environmental, technological, and socio-political comparison and contrast. Evidence for water management and agriculture are briefly reviewed and the nature of t...

Several complexes of salt-rendering sites have been found in the Tehuacán Valley and adjacent Zapotitlan Valley of southern Puebla, México. The regional geological and hydrological settings are briefly considered as they relate to the aqueous and pedologic sources of salt. The size, nature, chronological placement, and varying complexity of the sit...

A filled prehistoric water well discovered at the village of San Marcos Necoxtla, Puebla, Mexico, may be the oldest directly dated water-management feature in the Americas. The ∼10 m stratigraphic section exposed at this remarkable site records 18,000+ yr of deposition, erosion, water-table and hydrochemical fluctuations, and ≥10,000 yr of continua...

A methodology for radiocarbon dating of calcified microbial mats has been developed and successfully applied in establishing a preliminary chronology for the prehistoric carbonate-encrusted canals of the Tehuacán Valley of Puebla, Mexico. In contrast to traditional carbonate dating techniques, this method focuses on the organic carbon component of...

Conventional radiocarbon assay of carbonate sediments may yield unreliable ages because the source(s) of 14C in the calcium carbonate are unknown. Some of this 14C may be extinct if it derived from calcarious bedrock through aqueous solution or incidental grazing by gastropods. Equilibration of 14C in inorganic carbonate/bicarbonate with atmospheri...

Rock alignments built for controlling the flow of water and its effects on soil, and known by a number of terms including check dams, terraces, linear borders, and trincheras, have troubled Southwestern archaeologists for years. Especially problematical are attempts to determine the ages of such features; recently built rock alignments can be easil...

The recognition of intrusive fauna in archaeological assemblages has been attempted through many methods, although no single technique can be applied in all situations. The high number of anuran remains recovered from the WS Ranch site in west-central New Mexico is problematic as regional archaeological and ethnographic discussions of this taxon ar...

The operational characteristics and functions of a pre-hispanic water management and terrace system, which comprises the primary feature of a unique archaeological site in the mountains just outside the southern extreme of the Valley of Oaxaca, are described and discussed.

The loss of friable pigments, as well as the ceramic surfaces to which they were applied, was researched in an attempt to stay the destructive processes affecting sherds recovered by survey in SW Iran. Prior to experimental treatment, the pigments and salt efflorescences were identified using optical and instrumental analyses. A technique for clean...

Archaeolgical surface survey on the piedmont near the present village of Xoxocatlan, Oaxaca, Mexico has revealed the pattern of prehistoric settlement around irrigation canal that distributed water from a spring and runoff supplied dammed reservoir located on the flanks of Monte Alban. Intensive systematic collection techniques have permitted quant...

Agricultural water distribution systems in the Highlands of Mexico have received considerable attention. Functional analysis of water control features at Monte Alban, Oaxaca demonstrates the potential of a classification system which treats both agricultural and residential‐civic public works, such as drains, filters, catchment structures, and rese...

A computerized method for machine assisted ceramic measurement from two-dimensional reproductions is given and its applicability in canonical correlation analysis is tested.

Surface survey on the piedmont near the present village of Xoxocotlan, Oaxaca, Mexico, has revealed the pattern of prehistoric settlement around an irrigation canal that distributed water from a dammed reservoir located on the flanks of Monte Alban. Intensive systematic collection techniques have permitted quantitative statements to be made about t...

That urban society and states arose in Mesopotamia during the Uruk period is widely accepted. The end of the 'Ubaid period and the beginning of the Uruk period have been the object of much work. In fact, though individual workers have attributed particular manifestations to such a transitional period, there is no adequate taxonomic or chronological...

This article presents the findings of an 1968-69 pedestrian survey of the Deh Luran Plain in Southwestern Iran. The paper focuses on the water-control and irrigation systems dating to the Sassanian and Early Islamic periods (ca. 300 B.C. to A.D. 1250). The systems are discussed in relation to their environmental and settlement contexts.

Using data collected by NASA in the Tehuacan Valley, Mexico, tests were undertaken to determine the effectiveness of aerial color infrared film for archaeological reconnaissance. The study area was chosen primarily because MacNeish's Tehuacan Archaeological-Botanical Project (1960-1964) provided a convenient check of site visibility on the photogra...

As part of the Tehuacan Archaeological and Botanical Project, an extensive and intensive archaeological survey of the Tehuacan Valley, Puebla, Mexico was conducted to discover and record various methods of water control dating from the Formative through the Post-Classic, and into the historic periods. A long history of water management, for both do...

Between 1960 and 1964 fieldwork for the Tehuacán Archaeological and Botanical Project was conducted in the Tehuacán Valley of southern Puebla, Mexico. This volume presents details regarding the archaeological excavations and valley-wide reconnaissance conducted in the valley. In this volume the data presented in Volumes 1-4 are put in context. By d...

Between 1960 and 1964 fieldwork for the Tehuacán Archaeological and Botanical Project was conducted in the Tehuacán Valley of southern Puebla, Mexico. This volume presents the detailed studies of the archaeological site chronologies as well as prehistoric and ethnohistoric water management and irrigation in the valley. Two somewhat specialized, but...

This monograph presents the results of The Rice University Project in Iran 1968-1969. This is the report of a series of investigations carried out in the extreme southwestern comer of Iran, and related to the beginnings of successful plan t and animal domestication, village life, and irrigation agriculture in that region. The time span involved is...