Evolving Hohokam Irrigation Strategies at La Plaza: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Hohokam irrigation canals were first excavated in the lower Salt River Valley in the early Pioneer Period (A.D. 1-700), possibly as early as A.D. 200 at Las Acequias in east Tempe. In the area, substantial expansion occurred in the Sedentary Period (A.D. 900-1150) and continued into the Classic Period (A.D. 1150-1450). During this time, Canal Tempe was a large main canal serving the site of La Plaza, now beneath central Tempe. The canal primarily irrigated land on an ancient terrace overlooking the Holocene floodplain. In recent excavations on the Arizona State University campus, the main canal was expected but not found. Rather, two relatively large main/distribution canals were discovered on the adjacent floodplain. Multiple analyses were conducted and data synthesized, showing that the larger canal (Feature 9) appeared to carry large volumes of water mostly during the springtime; low-velocity flows were rare. In contrast, the final channel of the smaller canal (Feature 12) may have carried water year-round. This suggests a major change in water intake and distribution strategy late in the Hohokam occupation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37925.0