Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Old Things. This morning I took my mother to see the site my company is digging, a few miles south of my house. The site is about 1,000 years old and was occupied by the Hohokam, a name given to Native Americans who lived in the Sonoran Desert from about AD 600 to AD 1450. The portion of the site being examined is immediately to the south of several other previously excavated areas and contains a number of pithouses, some food roasting areas, and a large area where trash was discarded.
The Hohokam lived in pithouses, which were dug slightly into the ground, had posts that held up the roof and walls, which were made from brush and mud. An entranceway protrudes from one side of the house, and often the entrances of neighboring houses point toward a common courtyard area. Floors and lower walls were plastered and a hearth is usually present just inside the entrance. Sometimes you find artifacts lying on the floor of houses, items left behind when the house was abandoned or accidently burned down. The houses at the site have yielded broken pottery, stones used to grind corn into meal, pottery making tools, and even a pile of burned beans.
Hohokam pithouse, the entrance is on the right side.
The residents of this site were well known for making beautifully decorated pottery. I've photographed a few examples:
Now I'm at work trying to be productive. Sigh. Not very successful. It is that end of the year when working is about the last thing I feel like doing. Tomorrow Mummy and I are going to Dena's for supper. I'm making a lemon cheesecake and parsnip, carrot, and cheese enchiladas.
Hey to Kelly in DC and John G. in Phoenix. I've been lucky to make some great friends this year, which is the what I give the most thanks for in 2003.
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The Hohokam lived in pithouses, which were dug slightly into the ground, had posts that held up the roof and walls, which were made from brush and mud. An entranceway protrudes from one side of the house, and often the entrances of neighboring houses point toward a common courtyard area. Floors and lower walls were plastered and a hearth is usually present just inside the entrance. Sometimes you find artifacts lying on the floor of houses, items left behind when the house was abandoned or accidently burned down. The houses at the site have yielded broken pottery, stones used to grind corn into meal, pottery making tools, and even a pile of burned beans.
Hohokam pithouse, the entrance is on the right side.
The residents of this site were well known for making beautifully decorated pottery. I've photographed a few examples:
Now I'm at work trying to be productive. Sigh. Not very successful. It is that end of the year when working is about the last thing I feel like doing. Tomorrow Mummy and I are going to Dena's for supper. I'm making a lemon cheesecake and parsnip, carrot, and cheese enchiladas.
Hey to Kelly in DC and John G. in Phoenix. I've been lucky to make some great friends this year, which is the what I give the most thanks for in 2003.
