Silverbell dig's almost done

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Rob Ciaccio, the site's crew chief, takes a closer look at a cross-section from a dried-up water canal unearthed during the archeological dig near Cortaro and Silverbell roads.

Silverbell dig's almost done

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Jeff Eighmy takes samples from the remnants of a hearth at one of the pit houses.

Silverbell dig's almost done

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Archeology field technician Estee Rivera last week sifted through gravel from one of dozens of pit houses along Silverbell Road. Archeologists have about two weeks to finish their work.

Silverbell dig's almost done

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, A crew of five archeological field technicians excavates a pit house last week along side Silverbell road. An estimated 100 to 200 people lived in the area from 1100 to 1400 A.D.

A big dig for Twin Peaks

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, A track excavator ceremoniously breaks ground for the Twin Peaks Interchange project Monday morning. The $50.5 million project has been 15 years in the making.

A big dig for Twin Peaks

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Beside the stage, a table filled with small commemorative traffic cones sits while local dignitaries and officials speak during the Twin Peaks Interchange groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning.

Digging soon? Call 811 first for safety's sake

Ina dig reveals early irrigation practices

Randy Mecalf/The Explorer, Pit houses, canals and streams have been unearthed revealing an area used for growing crops and sustaining life for around 150 people around 1200 B.C.

Ina dig reveals early irrigation practices

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Archaeologist James Vint holds a metate found during excavation at Pima County's Ina Road wastewater treatment facility. It is suspected the metate was used to grind pigments.

Ina dig reveals early irrigation practices

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Archaeologist Gene Espinosa slowly uncovered an area suspected to be a site of interest within the archaeological dig at Pima County's Ina Road wastewater treatment facility.

Ina dig reveals early irrigation practices

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Archaeologist James Vint points out sediment deposits in a cross section of an irrigation canal unearthed at Pima County's Ina Road wastewater treatment facility. It is estimated the land was used for farming more than 3,000 years ago.

Ina dig reveals early irrigation practices

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Using the land that was home to nearly 150 people thousands of years ago, archaeologists are attempting to grow corn, and succeeding.

Ina dig reveals early irrigation practices

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Arrowheads and artifacts like these have been discovered all around the wastewater treatment facility.

Lawn care 101: Dig into spring with tips for a lush lawn

Pink with a purpose

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Ironwood Ridge junior Amber Sanford warms up prior to the school's volleyball match against Sunnyside during the "Dig for the Cure 2008" last week.

Pink with a purpose

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Ironwood Ridge junior Amber Sanford warms up prior to the school's volleyball match against Sunnyside during the "Dig for the Cure 2008" last week.