Comparative Analysis of Southwestern Corral Structures with Feature 18 of Mission Guevavi

Abstract

This paper will examine the typical attributes of contemporary corrals located within Arizona and New Mexico for identification of Feature 18 of Mission Guevavi. Mission Guevavi is a historic Spanish mission site located in the Pímeria Alta region of Arizona. Recent excavations during the 2014 University of Arizona Field School found that Feature 18 consists of trenches and post-holes dug into a layer of calcium carbonate (caliche), with rectangular room enclosures of various sizes. Analysis was made by comparing outlines of corrals found through Google Earth with those from Feature 18, examining average area and overall corral organization. Feature 18 was most similar in area to current Navajo corrals, while overall shape and organization were more similar to current Tohono O’odham corrals. The study also demonstrates the use of public data and Google Earth as a simple, cost-efficient method of preliminary data gathering and analysis within archaeology.