Were hilltop rock structures forts, retreats, or habitations? There is not enough evidence left to tell much about them.
Stone was the most common building material due to its abundant supply. Outcroppings of basalt, rhyolite, and slate/shale were used for tools and building materials. Diets were supplemented with wild animals and plants: saguaro, prickly pear, and cholla cacti mesquite, palo verde, and ironwood trees deer, rabbit, and bighorn sheep. These Hohokams did not dig canals like those down in the valley, but built extensive dam and terrace systems to utilize rainwater.
Additional water sources consisted of springs, and deep pools that held water when the rivers weren't running. Smaller fields were scattered throughout the region. Farming fields were also located along Skunk Creek. Along the New River, corn and cotton were grown in large flooded fields. The Agua Fria River had agricultural sites where the Indians grew agave and corn on terraces. By around 1450 AD, this entire area along with the rest of central Arizona had been abandoned. Hohokams lived along the Agua Fria River until approximately 1450 AD (the end of the Middle Ages). The major occupation of the region took place between 1000-1250 AD (the beginning of the Middle Ages). Hohokam Indians began settling this area around 600-800 AD (the time of the Vikings). The inhabitants were probably in contact with the larger Hohokam villages in the Salt and Gila River Valleys. The settlements in this region were mostly small, widely diverse, and informally organized. This transition zone between the lower and upper deserts was the northern periphery of Hohokam culture. Some local residents have even found arrowheads and potsherds in their own backyards. If you live in New River, Cave Creek, or Black Canyon City, there are probably Indian ruins and archaeological sites within walking distance of your home. Petroglyph sites include Painted Rocks State Park and Deer Valley Rock Art Center. Parks and monuments that feature ruins or cliff dwellings, artifacts and exhibits include: Canyon de Chelly, Casa Grande, Montezuma Castle, Tonto National Monument, Tuzigoot, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki National Monument. I would like to encourage everyone to visit some archaeological sites and learn about Arizona’s earliest inhabitants. We are privileged to live in one of the most archaeological-rich states. March is “Arizona Archaeology Heritage Awareness Month.” This year is also the centennial of the Antiquities Act, the first law established to safeguard the nation’s archaeological resources. Take a virtual field trip to see some of our favorite places! Looking for field trip guides, DVDs, books about AZ? Browse a great selection of items in association with: Helpful info that you need to know when you're on the go! Links to event calendars for kids, parents, and families. Quotes by Barry Goldwater, Henry David Thoreau, Charlotte Mason, and others on travel and field trips. Informative articles related to travel and field trips, reviews of field trip destinations, and additional articles of interest.
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