Sunset Mesa Footprints

3D Model

This is a digital model of an earthen surface that recorded a “wet day on the farm” sometime around 2500-3000 years ago. This particular farm is located on the Santa Cruz River, on the western side of Tucson, Az.

The model records the bare footprints of people working on the ancient irrigation canals, diverting the water to fields further away from the river. The footprints show a parent and child, a farmer with big feet, dogs, and several other individuals.

This deposit was found by Archaeological Backhoe Master Dan Arnitt, working for SWCA Environmental Consultants. The model was created by photogrammetric modeling based upon 730 images taken at a variety of elevations.,