Proposed $15 Million Costco Land Deal Prompts Tribal Consultation Over Ancient Tucson Site

TUCSON, AZ (Oct. 26, 2026) — A proposed sale of 56 acres of Pima County land to Costco Wholesale Corp. is prompting consultation with Tribal Nations because the property contains significant archaeological resources dating back more than 3,000 years, AZPM reports.

The property, near Sunset Road and Interstate 10 in northwest Tucson, is the subject of a nonbinding letter of intent signed in September outlining a potential $15 million sale. The transaction remains subject to tribal consultation and Costco’s feasibility review.

County Administrator Jan Lesher notified the Board of Supervisors in a memorandum addressing the property’s historical and cultural significance that those considerations were omitted from its initial appraisal.

The site contains deeply buried cultural deposits documenting some of the earliest irrigation agriculture in North America north of Mexico, along with later Hohokam settlements. Ancestral human remains and ancient footprints have also been documented there.

The area drew public attention in 2016 when archaeologists discovered human footprints preserved in an irrigated field dating back approximately 2,500 to 3,000 years.

The proposed transaction will mark the first application of Pima County’s updated Tribal Consultation Policy, approved by the Board of Supervisors in September. The policy calls for consultation when county projects or actions could affect cultural resources, including traditional cultural places.

Pima County Historic Preservation Officer Ian Milliken told AZPM that 13 federally recognized tribes had been notified of the proposal. The Tohono O’odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Gila River Indian Community and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community have expressed interest in meeting with county officials.

Milliken said Costco approached the county about acquiring the property. He added that, should the transaction move forward, efforts would be made to mitigate impacts to the archaeological site.

County Communications Director Mark Evans told AZPM that archaeological discoveries are a consideration for development along the Santa Cruz River and emphasized the county’s commitment to including Tribal Nations in the process.

The potential sale remains several months away, with tribal consultations and Costco’s feasibility reports expected to help determine the next steps.

Source: AZPM, reporting by Kieran Hadley.