Hohokam Farm Found on Site of Future Phoenix Store

Archaeologists have unearthed about five Hohokam pit houses and a well from a historic firehouse at the site of the next CityScape development in downtown Phoenix.

VIEW LARGER Foundation of 1890s fire station exposed during archaeological excavations in downtown Phoenix.

Laurene Montero

When built, the area’s first Fry’s grocery store will sit within Pueblo Patricio, the Hohokam farming village that lies beneath much of downtown Phoenix.

The village saw use from around 300 B.C. to 1450 A.D., said Laurene Montero of Pueblo Grande Museum, which will house the finds. Montero was impressed that the remains survived years of activity in a busy area that’s held a firehouse, a theater, a J.C. Penney’s and a parking lot.

“We often hear: ‘This area is completely disturbed. There’s utilities out here. There’s old buildings out here. What’re you going to find?’ Well, you know, this is really good example of - there’s a lot of varied archaeology that can be found even with all the disturbances.”

With the archaeological work complete, Fry’s will break ground Thursday.

This story is from the Arizona Science Desk, a collaborative of the state's public radio stations, including NPR 89.1. Read more from the Arizona Science Desk.