In the course of an archaeological survey of the Point of Pines area, San Carlos Apache Reservation in east-central Arizona, E. W. Haury and E. B. Sayles, of the University of Arizona, noted the presence of a number of depressions which held surface water for a considerable period of time beyond the normal time for runoff. Furthermore, these depressions, or basins, appeared to be associated to some extent with specific archaeological ruins. The possibility that these depressions were made by the aboriginal inhabitants for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a water supply, led the writer in 1948 to excavate several of the depressions to determine their nature and date of construction, length of usage, time of abandonment, and other cultural information. The work was carried on during the 1948 season of the University of Arizona archaeological field school.
Lithologic map of the western part of the Springerville volcanic field, east-central Arizona
