ANT 351 Lecture 17: The Mogollon
The Mogollon
Introduction and Overview
-one of the basic cultural “roots” of the Southwest
-Mogollon might well be referred to as “Mountain Peoples” because they inhabited the
rugged, high-elevation mountain and canyon country of eastern Arizona and Western
New Mexico and extended into far northwestern Texas, northern Chihuahua, and
perhaps the far northeastern corner of Sonora
-began to develop a distinctive cultural pattern at around AD 200
-probably originated their distinctive culture from a late Archaic cultural base
oexcellent evidence suggests continuity between the late Archaic and the early
Mogollon.
- at first pit house dwellers, living in and around well-watered highland valleys and
practicing a lifeway that incorporated agriculture but also relied heavily on hunting and
gathering
- made brown ware pottery, manufactured with a coil-and-scrape technique but fired in
an oxidizing atmosphere
-the Mogollon maintained close relationships with Ancestral Puebloans to the north
-after about AD 1000 many aspects of Mogollon culture began to resemble the Ancestral
Puebloan patterns
-By AD 1150 masonry pueblos had become a common form of dwelling for the Mogollon,
and kivas began to look more like their Puebloan counterparts
-After the Great Drought of AD 1276-1299, many Ancestral Puebloan people moved into
Mogollon country and cultural exchanges between the two groups became even more
intensive
-Mogollon pueblos became quite large after AD 1300
o existed throughout the mountains of east-central Arizona and west-central New
Mexico
-around AD 1400, however, these communities were abandoned, and Mogollon people
sought better living conditions elsewhere
-By AD 1450, the mountainous areas were no longer inhabited
-Mogollon contributed population to several late prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan groups,
especially the Zuni
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-archaeologist Emil Haury first proposed the concept of a Mogollon culture in the 1930s,
many southwestern archaeologists were skeptical that this cultural pattern was
distinctive enough to warrant its own classification
-Many unresolved questions:
oWe do not fully understand the relationships between the Mogollon and their
neighbors: Ancestral Puebloans to the north, and the Hohokam and Salado to
the south.
oWe do not know about many aspects of the Mogollon lifeway
oWe do not know the role that conflict may have played in the development of
the Mogollon cultural pattern
There is some indication that conflict and competition and there may
have been significant forces that shaped cultural change.
oWe do not know where the Mogollon went, nor exactly how they contributed to
modern Native American groups in the greater Southwest/Northwest.
About the Term Mogollon
-Mogollon culture is named for the Mogollon Mountains in New Mexico
oMany significant sites were discovered in the 1930s
- Mogollon Mountains were named for Don Ignacio Flores Mogollón, the provincial
governor of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715
Environmental Context for the Mogollon
- inhabited the highland country of east-central Arizona and west-central New Mexico
- lies between about 3,500 and 7,000 feet above sea level
oGenerally, summers are relatively mild, and winters are cold, with substantial
amounts of snow above about 6,000 feet
-There are numerous streams that flow year-round through Mogollon country
othe Mimbres River, the Gila River, and the San Francisco River in New Mexico,
and Canyon Creek, Carrizo Creek, Cedar Creek, the White River, and the Black
River in Arizona
-emphasized hunting and gathering more than other farming groups in the ancient SW
o two factors: Greater opportunities for hunting and gathering, and a marginal
environment for agriculture
Hunting of mule deer and elk was probably especially importan
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-mountain streams provided opportunities for irrigation using small ditches
- dry farming could be practiced successfully in many years
-Mogollon sites are associated with impressive field systems having stone contour
terraces, check dams, rock piles, and rock alignments used to control surface runoff and
retain soil moisture
- the Mogollon periodically burned off trees and other vegetation
-Tree-ring records provide a detailed view of prehistoric climatic conditions in many
areas
-the Great Drought, from AD 1276 through 1299
o The AD 1280s are the most severe years of the drought
o After AD 1300, and lasting until about AD 1325, there is an increase in
precipitation and this period is very wet
oThe period AD 1325 through 1355 is below average.
oFrom AD 1355 to 1435, precipitation is highly variable
-This area has been subdivided into several cultural “branches,” each of which was
geographically and, in some ways, culturally and perhaps linguistically distinct
othe Forestdale branch, centered on modern Show Low, Arizona, and
encompassing multiple drainages that flow off the Mogollon Rim country into
the Salt River and including a portion of the headwaters of the Little Colorado
River as well as Silver Creek and Chevelon Creek.
Major Sites: Grasshopper, Kinishba, Fourmile, Hooper Ranch, and Casa
Malpais pueblos
o south in Arizona is the Black River Branch
Nantack village, Point of Pines, and Crooked Ridge village
othe San Simon branch
Major sites: San Simon and Cave Creek
othe Mimbres branch in SW New Mexico
Major sites: Cameron Creek, Swarts, Galaz, Harris, and Mattocks sites
o the Cibola branch
Major sites: SU site, Mogollon Village, and the Starkweather Ruin
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Document Summary
Introduction and overview one of the basic cultural roots of the southwest. Mogollon might well be referred to as mountain peoples because they inhabited the rugged, high-elevation mountain and canyon country of eastern arizona and western. By ad 1150 masonry pueblos had become a common form of dwelling for the mogollon, and kivas began to look more like their puebloan counterparts. After the great drought of ad 1276-1299, many ancestral puebloan people moved into. Mogollon country and cultural exchanges between the two groups became even more intensive. Mogollon pueblos became quite large after ad 1300: existed throughout the mountains of east-central arizona and west-central new. Mexico around ad 1400, however, these communities were abandoned, and mogollon people sought better living conditions elsewhere. By ad 1450, the mountainous areas were no longer inhabited. Mogollon culture is named for the mogollon mountains in new mexico: many significant sites were discovered in the 1930s.
