Hohokam Heritage & Culture

The name “Hohokam” comes from the O’odham word meaning “all used up” or “exhausted”, but was also used to refer to anyone or anything that had perished, according to Al Dart from the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center. The name refers to the mysterious collapse and disappearance of their civilization around 1450.

These native peoples are famous for their engineering feats; constructing ballcourts, pit houses, and canal systems that helped the Hohokam water their crops. These early canals helped inspire Arizona’s present-day irrigation systems. Stretching for hundreds of miles, these canals were the most advanced and largest in the Americas, and supported a significant population in the Southwest.

Marana and the surrounding areas, especially the Tortolita Fan (a fan-shaped landform made of fine dirt and loose rocks that carries water down the mountain) and Santa Cruz Valley, are dotted with the remains of Hohokam settlements. Their remains offer several experiences to immerse yourself in the culture of a lost civilization!

Named after the mortar holes found in volcanic rocks throughout the site, Los Morteros is a well-preserved village site. The mortar holes were used to grind mesquite pods, seeds, and corn. It is thought by archaeologists that people would gather at the clustered mortars to chat while they worked, so these beds of rock are sometimes known as “gossip stones”!

In addition to the mortar holes, the site contains remnants of Trincheras (which is the Spanish word for “terraces”, and also refers to a civilization that predates the Hohokam, who originally carved the feature), a ballcourt where a variant of the Mesoamerican Ball Game was played, remains of pit houses, and trash mounds, where pottery pieces are frequent on the ground.

The site was used in more recent history as a camp by Juan Bautista de Anza on his expedition from Sonora to California, and was also used as a stop on the Butterfield Stagecoach Route.

Today, you can stroll through the site and experience the history of it firsthand, with a system of walking paths and interpretive signs.

Just a 30-minute drive from the heart of Marana, Catalina State Park is home to the Romero Ruins. If you enjoy hiking, you will love the walk to view one of the last Hohokam villages. Approximately 200 Hohokam people lived in this village at its peak in 900 A.D. -- that’s more than 1,100 years ago! Located on a 15-acre ridge, you will be able to see ancient ball courts, stone foundations, and trash piles, all of which helped archaeologists imagine what Hohokam-era was like. If you have a furry friend, no worries! This hike is short – about ¾ of a mile– and completely pet friendly.

If you take a short drive north up to Coolidge, you can see one of the best-preserved examples of a Hohokam-era settlement. It contains canals, a ballcourt, smaller dwellings, and ceremonial mounts, all anchored by the Great House, where the name Casa Grande comes from.

Most Hohokam-era structures have deteriorated over time due to exposure, which makes the Casa Grande Ruins so significant, with a great deal of the site still intact.

One of the most important parts of daily Hohokam life was the use of the agave plant. The plants were used for everything from food, clothing, and yes, distilled into spirit beverages!

Remnants of Hohokam villages can often be identified by the remnants of an agave roasting pit. These pits were important communal gathering spaces, much like the mortar holes at some other sites.

The Hohokam people used an innovative farming technique to grow thousands of agave plants, where they would grow them in rock piles to retain moisture and to protect young plants.

You can experience and celebrate the agave plant’s contribution to the ancient and modern history of the Sonoran Desert at the Agave Heritage Festival, held every April, and with four days of tastings, tours, demonstrations, and artistic performances all related to agave culture.

Besides the remnants of their dwellings and buildings, the Hohokam people left behind thousands of petroglyphs on rocks, mountain faces, canyons, and everywhere in between throughout Southern Arizona. These rock drawings give archaeologists and casual visitors a like an idea of how the Hohokam people saw and attempted to understand the world around them.

Marana has 3 areas that you can visit to see some petroglyphs for yourself!

Signal Hill

Head on over to Saguaro National Park West to see some of the most well-known and ancient Arizona petroglyphs made before and during the Hohokam period! Featuring over 200 petroglyphs, Signal Hill is just a short trail away from the Signal Hill picnic area.

Picture Rocks Site

The site dates back approximately 1,000 years. It’s located behind the Redemptorist Renewal Center, via a short trail which leads down to the large rock face that contains the petroglyphs. One of the petroglyphs is designed to interact with the sun in a certain way at the summer solstice and fall equinox!

Tortolita Mountains

The Tortolitas on the eastern edge of Marana have some petroglyphs that predate the other two sites by thousands of years! They can be found at various points along the Wild Burro Trail System, and near the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.

The Old Pueblo Archaeology Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create an appreciation for archaeology and early cultures, preserve archaeological and historical sites, and educate on the importance of nonrenewable resources and traditional cultures. They host monthly talks, regularly scheduled guided tours, free education, presentations on local archaeology, and children’s education programs. They even have special events like the guided solstice and equinox tours, where you can see the light interact with petroglyphs! You can visit their website here to learn more about upcoming events and contact information.