Many contemporary cultural traditions exist within the Greater Southwest, includingYuman-speaking peoples inhabiting theColorado River valley, the uplands, andBaja California,O'odham peoples of Southern Arizona and northern Sonora, and thePueblo peoples of Arizona and New Mexico. In addition, theApache andNavajo peoples, whose ancestral roots lie in theAthabaskan-speaking peoples inCanada, entered the Southwest during the 14th and 15th century and are a major modern presence in the area.
List of Indigenous peoples of the North American Southwest
A map showing the extent of three major cultures within the American Southwest and Northern Mexico with modern borders to provide geographical context
The Pre-Columbian culture of theAmerican Southwest and NorthernMexico evolved into three majorarchaeological culture areas, sometimes referred to asOasisamerica.
TheAncestral Pueblo peoples, or Anasazi, culture was centered around the present-dayFour Corners area. Their distinctive pottery and dwelling construction styles emerged in the area around 750 CE.[6] Ancestral Pueblo peoples are renowned for the construction of and cultural achievement present atPueblo Bonito and other sites inChaco Canyon, as well asMesa Verde,Aztec Ruins, andSalmon Ruins.
TheHohokam tradition, centered on the middleGila River and lowerSalt River drainage areas, and extending into the southernSonoran Desert, is believed to have emerged in approximately 200 CE. These people lived in smaller settlement clusters than their neighbors, and built extensive irrigation canals for a wide range of agricultural crops. There is evidence the Hohokam had far-reaching trade routes with ancientMesoamerican cultures to the south, and show cultural influences from these southerners.[7]
Mogollon peoples/moʊɡəˈjoʊn/ lived in the southwest from approximately 200 CE until sometime between 1450 and 1540 CE. Mogollon archaeological sites are found in theGila Wilderness,Mimbres River Valley, along the Upper Gila river,Paquime andHueco Tanks, an area of low mountains between the Franklin Mountains to the west and the Hueco Mountains to the east.
In addition, three distinct minor cultures inhabited the eastern, western, and northern extremes of the area. From 1200 CE into the historic era a people collectively known as theLa Junta Indians lived at the junction of theConchos River andRio Grande on the border of Texas and Mexico.[8] Between 700 and 1550 CE, thePatayan culture inhabited parts of modern-day Arizona, California and Baja California. TheFremont culture inhabited sites in what is now Utah and parts of Nevada, Idaho and Colorado from 700 to 1300 CE.
Agriculture in the Southwest was based on the cultivation ofmaize, beans, squash and sunflower seeds.[9] The Tepary beanPhaseolus acutifolius has been a staple food of Native peoples in the Southwest for thousands of years on account of their tolerance of drought conditions. They require wet soil to germinate but then prefer dry conditions, so they were generally grown on floodplains that would dry out after heavy rains.[10]
Foraging for wild foods also played a major role in the ancient diet of Southwestern peoples. For example, the fruit and seeds of theSaguaro cactus were collected and eaten both fresh and dried, and made into preserves and drinks by tribes such as the Tohono O'odham and Pima.[11] The flower buds of theCholla cactus have also been collected and roasted in clay lined pits.[12] Another important food for Indigenous peoples living in mountainous areas of the Southwest are the seeds of thePinyon pine, known as "pine nuts" or "piñóns."[13] The nuts are traditionally a vital source of protein in the winter for the Ute and Paiute peoples.
Theagave plant has historically been a vital food source, useful to Indigenous people in many ways.[14] Agave hearts can be roasted and relished for their sweetness, and dried agave eaten during the winter months. The tough fibers of agave are used in making baskets and mats. In addition, agave is famously used for distilled spirits such astequila andmezcal.
Indigenous peoples of the region have traditionally raised turkey and hunted deer, antelope and rabbit. After European contact they began to keep sheep, goats and cattle.[15]
Contemporary Pueblo Indians continue to be organized on a clan basis for pueblo activities and curing ceremonies.[16] The clans of the eastern Pueblos are organized into the Summer people and the Winter people (Tanoans) or as the Turquoise people and the Squash people. The western Puebloans are organized into several matrilineal lineages and clans. Many Pueblo peoples continue to practice thekachina (katsina) religion.
^Clark, Jeffery; Lyons, Patrick (2012).Migrants and Mounds: Classic Period Archaeology of the Lower San Pedro Valley. Tucson, Arizona: Archaeology Southwest.
^Miller, Myles R. and Kenmotsu, Nancy A. "Prehistory of the Mogollon and Eastern Trans-Pecos Regions of West Texas." in Perttula, Timothy K.The Prehistory of Texas. College Station: TX A & M Press, 2004, pp. 205–265
^Little, Elbert L. (1994) [1980].The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. p. 562.ISBN0394507614.
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