Progress Report for Area 1:

Archaeological testing of the northeastern portion of Area 1 began on October 30, 2000. Historical research indicates that the area was used as agricultural fields in the 19th century. It was laid out for development in the 1910s and by the 1930s was the location of a paint factory and warehouses, located immediately to the west of the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad tracks, which were laid down in the early 1910s. The nearby passenger and freight stations became part of the Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1920s, with the freight depot serving as the Southern Pacific Hospital. The paint factory remained in use until the 1980s. Today the passenger depot is in use as Garcia's restaurant and the new Evo Deconcini United States Courthouse has been built on the location of the depot/hospital.

Nine east-west backhoe trenches were excavated into the dirt lot on the east side of Central Avenue, south of Congress Street. The walls of each trench were scraped with trowels and hoes and examined for archaeological features. The trench backdirt was also examined for artifacts.

At the north end of the property a scattering of artifacts was found in the plow zone. These included Mexican and European ceramics, animal bones, a brass ornament- possibly for a saddle, and a clay pipe bowl. These artifacts probably reflect the discard of rubbish in the area in the early 1900s. At the south end of the lot, we discovered two depressions filled with trash in the late 1920s. Much of the trash appears to have originated from the Southern Pacific Railroad Hospital kitchen and included ceramic dishes and glass food and beverage bottles. A sample of artifacts was collected.

Ceramic and metal artifacts from Area 1

Work will begin in the parking lot on the west side of Central Avenue sometime in 2001.