Archeological Lessons from an Apache Wickiup

Abstract

During the summer of 1965, an abandoned Apache living site was investigated as a part of research undertaken by the University of Arizona Archaeological Field School. The site appeared to have been deserted quite recently. The living site is located in the northeast part of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in the rugged, forested country south of the Mogollon Rim. It lies on the north side of the westernmost branch of Spring Creek, which follows a southerly course to join the Salt River. The immediate vicinity of the site revealed a long record of human occupation. The wickiup was constructed beside the remains of one of the buildings of a ranch built around the turn of the century. An older wickiup was discovered nearer the spring. The ranch was established on top of trash from a small thirteenth-century pueblo, which in turn was erected on a preceramic lithic site.