“Arts and Culture of Ancient Southern Arizona Hohokam Indians” and “Modern and Historical O’odham Culture”

“Arts and Culture of Ancient Southern Arizona Hohokam Indians” and “Modern and Historical O’odham Culture” free presentations by archaeologist Allen Dart for the “Ha:san Bak Saguaro Harvest Celebration” at Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail, Arizona. Cosponsored by the Arizona Humanities Council.*

2-4 p.m. Free

The Hohokam Native American culture flourished in southern Arizona from the sixth through fifteenth centuries, and the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Tohono O’odham (Papago) occupied this region historically. Ancient Hohokam artifacts, architecture, and other material culture provide archaeologists with clues for identifying where the Hohokam lived, for interpreting how they adapted to the Sonoran Desert for centuries, and explaining why the Hohokam culture mysteriously disappeared. In this presentation archaeologist Allen Dart illustrates the material culture of the Hohokam and presents possible interpretations about their relationships to the natural world, their time reckoning, religious practices, beliefs, and deities, and possible reasons for the eventual demise of their way of life. The Hohokam discussion is followed by information about the historical and modern O’odham cultures of southern Arizona, and how they relate to the Hohokam. Funding for the program is provided by the Arizona Humanities Council.

* This is not an Old Pueblo Archaeology Center-sponsored event. For event details contact Lauren Hohl at the Park at 520-647-7121 or lauren@colossalcave.com; for information about the activity subject matter contact Allen Dart at Tucson telephone 520-798-1201 or adart@oldpueblo.org.