TUCSON, Ariz.— The SWCA project team responsible for unearthing human footprints that date back 2,500 to 3,000 years at a road-construction site just north of Tucson received a preservation award from the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation. The awards ceremony honored individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to historic preservation in Tucson and Pima County.
The team, which includes SWCA Environmental Consultants, Pima County’s Cultural Resources Program, Archaeology Southwest, and Innovative Excavating, Inc., was recognized for their public outreach efforts after the exposition. The team hosted several public tours to showcase the footprints, attracting more than 4,000 people to the construction site.
The prints – numbering in the dozens – showed the distinct movement of several adults, at least one child, and even a canine
The prints – numbering in the dozens – showed the distinct movement of several adults, at least one child, and even a canine, as they worked in the corn field. By the team’s estimation, the fields date back to 800 to 500 B.C.E. and were likely preserved in such pristine condition because of a sudden flood from a nearby creek.