Hohokam Pima National Monument Arizona

Hohokam Pima National Monument is named after an ancient peoples called the Hohokam who are now the modern day Pima. The monument pays tribute to their ancient village and way of life by preserving the archeological remains of the area for future generations. The Hohokam Pima Village is composed of adobe structures and various artifacts that were created by a highly-skilled and brilliant group of ancient peoples. The monument is located on an Native American Reservation called the Gila River which is under tribal ownership. Unfortunately, the ancient village and priceless artifacts are not open to the general public and is an extremely sensitive area filled with history. Prior to the public closing of the village, excavations of the monument area were conducted in the 1930's and then again in the 1960's. The site was inhabited from 300 BC to 1200 AD and is believed to have been home to more than 2,000 people. Excavations of the Hohokam Pima National Monument are no longer allowed, they are restricted by tribal and government law.

Archeologists have revealed that the Hohokam Pima people were a farming culture that lasted several centuries in the mesquite-studded desert lands. The culture was advanced and had one of the first irrigation systems in the United States. At the site of the villages, archeologists were able to discover canals that had been hand-dug and extended for miles through the Salt River and Gila River valleys. A large crop of corn, cotton, squash and other vegetation were said to have been watered by the complex irrigation systems. The Pima people were also expert weavers, sculptures, and builders. The Hohokam were named after a Native American word which means "that which has vanished". The former village of the Pima people was named after the Native American world skoaquik, which means "place of the snakes." In 1972, the government authorized the village as Hohokam Pima National Monument to protect what is now commonly refereed to as Snaketown.

Hohokam Pima National Monument is located on over 2500 acres of land and near a city called Sacaton in southern Arizona. The exact location of the monument is not revealed to the public in order to protect the wishes of the tribe and keep the sensitive area from being disturbed by possible explorers. The National Park Service reiterates that the national monument is not open to visitors under any conditions. There are other areas near the monument that tourists are welcome and encouraged to visit. One of the open facilities include the Gila River Indian Arts and Crafts Center. The center is both a museum an cultural center located north of Tucson, Arizona. The Gila River Indian Arts and Crafts Center has Native American artifacts and crafts that come from the tribes living in the surrounding areas. Some of the tribal items that are found in the center come from the Hopi, Navajo, Tohono, and Gila nations. The center contributes to the local Native American economy and is a source of revenue for local native artists.