Late-period Hohokam site explored
Srianthi Perera
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 24, 2006 12:00 AM
Source: Arizona Central
For three years, experts have quietly excavated the remains of dozens of Hohokams in Queen Creek in what could be one of the latest settlements of the mysterious desert dwellers ever identified.
Archaeologists have done exploratory work in the Power Ranch area since the 1930s, but recent dating has put the Germann site complex, as it's known, toward the end of a rarely explored Hohokam era, preliminarily dated between 1400 and 1450.
Hohokams are believed to have inhabited the Sonoran Desert between 500 and 1450 before they abruptly disappeared.
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Toward the end of its existence, the society appeared to break down, with the economy and culture falling apart as the population dwindled, according to experts. The Hohokam had used up natural resources, such as firewood and plants, and had exhausted prime farming soil.
But while scholars believe that after 1350 or so, the population of Hohokam declined, "we seem to have a pretty thriving location" in Queen Creek, said Banks Leonard, senior project director for Soil Systems Inc., a Phoenix archaeology company. "Nonetheless, it was abandoned, too, eventually."
Leonard said the Hohokam way of life "had a negative impact on the environment," even though they appeared to be in touch with the land.
"It may be one of the latest Hohokam settlements that have been identified," Leonard said.
The Arizona Republic is not publicizing the exact location of the site because of fears of looting, a common problem with archaeological excavations, Leonard said.
A large adobe-walled compound, pottery styles, radiocarbon data and archaeological magnetic dating helped identify the time period.
Based on an early analysis, the adobe compound would be the largest construction by the Hohokam that late in their existence, Leonard said.
Earlier, Hohokams used a red-on-buff pottery decoration. Later, the predominant decoration was polychrome: red, black and white or cream. The Germann site includes a high percentage of the latter.
The settlement also distinguishes itself in other ways. Hohokams generally built near a major river or canal system, but this find doesn't have a major waterway and is placed on the Queen Creek alluvial fan.
"This is a different sort of Hohokam occupation that we have been not so aware of, and we are surprised by how much activity and how much occupation was occurring out here in this flat, alluvial fan," Leonard said.
Archaeologists believe the ancient settlers used periodic floodwater from Queen Creek and sheet wash from rainfall in winter and summer. They also have found what they believe is a reservoir used to capture water runoff for drinking.
The site is more than 1 1/2 miles in diameter and is dispersed, not a typical concentrated village. The archaeologists have removed about 30 human remains and expect to find at least another 30.
The remains will be handed over to the Gila River Indian Community.
"I was glad that these things could be discovered and removed rather than being bulldozed and built on top of," said Jim Power, whose grandparents James and Sarah Power homesteaded the land in 1908.
The family farmed in the area for most of the last century. The parcels of land that reveal the most findings are those that have not been under the farmer's plow.
Roanna Weahkee, a member of the Hopi-Tewa and Zuni tribes, is a technician working on the site.
"I love these projects. We should be interested in our ancestors," said Weahkee, who lives on the Gila River Reservation.
"Originally, my ancestors are the Anasazis from up north, but I have lived in the Valley most of my life, and I'm very happy to be involved in archeology."
Besides human remains, the excavation yielded pit houses, a trash mound, roasting pits, animal bones, pottery, stone tools and grinding stones.
About 50 percent of the artifacts will be analyzed, and the rest will remain in the land. Once agencies that view archaeological digs, such as the State Historic Preservation Office and the Arizona State Museum, are satisfied about compliance relating to cultural resources, the land would be released for construction. |
Archaeology 
