Hohokam Life Term Paper

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Hohokam Culture and Traditions

The Hohokam culture was one of four "major cultural groups that dominated the southwest," which included like minded native American groups such as the Anasazi, Mogollon and Patayan (McGuire, 1996; Cordell, 1984). The Hohokam culture is often referred to as the sibling of the Anasazi (Kroeber, 1962), having many cultural similarities with its better known cousin. The Hohokam lived among the entire region of the "lower Sonoran desert within Arizona, part of the Basin and the Range in this region" (McGuire, 1996). The Hohokam contributed many different ideas and cultural practices that changed the way of traditional native Americans. They are most well-known for their agricultural fervor, artistic ability and ceremonial rituals which involved cremation of their dead rather than burial.

The name Hohokam is synonymous with "the ancients" (Kroeber, 1962). The tribe were neighbors to the Anasazi, somewhat similar to Pueblo cultures (Kroeber, 1962), and though to have migrated from various regions in Mexico to Arizona and the surrounding area (Gregoris, 1997). Many often compare the Hohokam with the Anasazi, who built very similar dwellings and lived similar lifestyles. The Hohokam distinguish themselves somewhat however by building largely segregated dwellings on posts and reeds, with habitats typically more arid in nature requiring the digging of irrigated canals and ditches (Kroeber, 1962).

The Hohokam prehistory period is often divided into four periods by archeologists, including the following: pioneer, colonial, sedentary and classic (McGuire, 1996; Dean, 1991). Most often commented on are the periods from sedentary to classical.

In the earliest phases of culture, referred to as the colonial, red-on-grey pottery was often created by Hohokam potters (McGuire, 1992). Pottery was used for trade, cooking and as a form of art, often decorated with images of designs and animals. Hohokam traditions during the colonial period typically spread across all of Arizona, with villages popping up along large canals (McGuire, 1992) and harvesting crops that grew along irrigated canals.

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During the sedentary period, ranging from approximately AD 1000-1100, much "artistic expression" was realized within the culture, including a "hierarchy of settlements in villages" with central plazas and expanded architecture (McGuire, 1992). The Hohokam are well-known for building "pit house" villages on the edges of large settlements" (McGuire, 1992). The Hohokam used irrigation agriculture but also cultivated wild plants and game, which made up the majority of their diet (Gasser, 1976; McGuire, 1992

The Hohokam were believed to be the first to live among the Tucson Basin in Arizona (Gregonis, 1997). The agricultural settlers were often referred to as sedentary farmers, living primarily on farms in average sized settlements initially along the Salt and Gila rivers (Kroeber, 1962; Gregonis, 1997). The style of living was often referred to as "rancheria" where people lived in separate house groups within a larger village (Gregonis, 1997). Perhaps this tradition was derived from the lands in Mexico from which they Hohokam are believed to have originated. These were the pit houses as described above. Members of the community had separate family lives, but also contributed to the greater good of the community. A majority of village members made a living from trading shells and carving stone bowls as well as clay human figurines (Gregonis, 1997).

Among the crops harvested by the tribe include cotton and corn, beans and squash (Gregonis, 1997; Erickson, 1994). Corn is often an agricultural item depicted in pottering drawings and designs. Often complex intertwining systems of canals were built to lead water from rivers to fields (McGuire, 1992; Gregonis, 1997). The Hohokam were among the first native Americans to place so much of an emphasis on farming and irrigation instead of hunting and gathering. If nothing else their lifestyle might be considered one that was more settled than that of traditional native cultures.

Hunting and gathering was however, still a way of life among a majority of the.....

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