A THEMATIC MAPPER ANALYSIS OF THE PREHISTORIC HOHOKAM CANAL SYSTEM, PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Landsat Thematic mapper (TM) imagery was analyzed to determine its feasibility for mapping linear, prehistoric cultural features in a semiarid environment. The Hohokam canal system along the Salt River in the vicinity of Phoenix, Arizona, was used as a test site because of: 1) the considerable lengths of its primary branches; 2) the substantial widths of some canals; and 3) extensive prior mapping that provided a means by which to measure the success of the experiment. Results suggest that TM imagery can serve as a valuable addition to conventional means of prehistoric canal identification and mapping. Despite the indistinct nature of the canals as they currently exist in Phoenix, the satellite imagery detected portions of previously known major branches and provided evidence for the possible extension of some segments.