Hohokam

=Hohokam - An Ancient Civilization, native to the Americas= 300 BC to 1200 AD =Geographic Factors= The Hohokamcivilization was located in the state known as Arizona today (light yellow below). =Ancient Writings= == These pictures were called "hieroglyphics" and were seen on rock walls around their dwellings, on pottery and other other everyday implements. Because they didn't have an written language, they recorded their history through pictures which depicted important events in their life =Dwellings=

Their homes were mud huts. Primary means of entertainment was telling stories that had been passed down through dancing and storytelling.

Farming Methods
They were a farming community rather than hunters and gatherers. They used an elaborate system of canals to transfer water from the Salt River to their gardens. __Canal irrigation__ This is the most impressive Hohokam achievement and one that is unrivaled in native North America - and the one that most likely contributed to the rise of elaborate social mechanisms and class distinctions among the Hohokam =Division of Labor= There was not much division of labor in the Hohokam tribe. Men and women worked in the fields to raise the crops. Women were responsible for the food preparation. Both men and women participated in making pottery for their own use and for trade to other tribes. =Domestication of Animals= The early Native Americans did not utilize domestic animals for working. Rather they used tools and manual labor. They did have animals for food and used dogs for pets.
 * required a tremendous investment in labor to build &maintain - called for constant work: opening &closing floodgates, periodic cleaning &repairing
 * more than 500 miles of main canals were constructed (now mostly gone due to urban-suburban developments)
 * some were massive, even by today's standards - 75 feet across at the top &several miles in length - two near Phoenix were 10+ miles long, connecting the river with distant fields - the modern city of Phoenix uses a canal system virtually superimposed on the early Hohokam plan for diverting water from the Salt River (a mute &unintentional tribute to the native American engineers who came before)
 * canals were U or V-shaped and sometimes lined with clay
 * most appear at 800 AD or later ([])

=Sociopolitical Factors= The following [|website] gives more information about the political structure of the Hohokam civilization. There was very little social stratification or "classes" of people. They lived simply and were equal for the most part.
 * = **Band** ||= **Tribe** ||= **Chiefton** ||= **State** ||
 * Less than 100 || 1,000 to 2,000 || 5,000 to 20,000 || 50,000 and more ||

=Other Interesting Facts= =Lifestyle - Music=

[|Hohokam Music] =Dance= =Costumes=

Citations: 1. 2. 3.