A Statistical Analysis of Hohokam Pithouse Orientation

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This research investigates the archaeological record of major Hohokam villages in Arizona, including sites like Snaketown, La Plaza, and Las Acequias. Our approach involves statistical analysis to identify trends in the orientation of pithouse entrances. We aim to apply this knowledge to inform future archaeological investigations by furthering our understanding of the relationship of pithouse orientation to known factors.

A pithouse entrance is a distinct space for entry that protrudes from the house, typically oriented toward a cardinal direction. The direction in which a house is built—specifically where the entryway extends—may be influenced by various factors, such as social organization, cultural practices, environmental conditions, and functional efficiency. In this study, we explore the relationship between these factors and the orientation of pithouse entryways. By compiling average percentages of each influence on pithouse orientation, we create a comprehensive dataset for further analysis.

Our research will examine documented social organization at Hohokam sites to compile data which can be used to predict pithouse orientation based on known influences or, conversely, infer aspects of the environment or village setup from the orientation of a pithouse.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 54019