HikeArizona.COM

Along the Gila Trail – Dec2011

Put some miles on the F-150 today retracing a section of the GILA TRAIL on the “trail of the ancients” from;

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=836
Hohokam Pima National Monument (aka “Snaketown”) => http://www.nps.gov/pima/index.htm
Patio Area Petroglyph Site => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=16371
Gatlin Site – Gila Bend => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1961
Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=787
Sears Point Petroglyph Site => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=868
Antelope Hill Petroglyph Site => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=892
Confluence of Gila River with Colorado River near Yuma AZ? => Unexplored territory for this author (but suspect the area is rich in ancient artifacts…)

Attached is reference document I used researching the GILA TRAIL. Thought I would share with HAZ members. I’d appreciate hearing from anyone with some “insights” on rock art near the confluence of the Gila and Colorado Rivers. I’ve never had a chance to explore this area and suspect there are some significant sites.

I vaguely recall that the Yumans were believed to be culturally distinct from the Hohokam, and that much of the mesoamerican trade went through their domain. If so, that seems like a good reason to want to know more.

big_load wrote:I vaguely recall that the Yumans were believed to be culturally distinct from the Hohokam, and that much of the mesoamerican trade went through their domain. If so, that seems like a good reason to want to know more.

I have done a little study of this topic, and I recommend a book, which although drily written is very informative, called Yuman Tribes of the Gila River by Leslie Spier, http://www.amazon.com/Yuman-Tribes-Rive ... ikearizona Looks like you can pay as little as 64 cents for this book, or $118...take your pick.

I used this book for my presentation in Aug. 2009, at Homolovi State Park to the AZ Archaeological Soc., on petroglyphs found in western Arizona.

The Maricopa Indians came up from Yuma to escape persecution by other tribes, sometime before settlement times. Dates slip my mind now, but it was well after Hohokam times. They are considered one of the Yuman tribes, though.

azbackpackr wrote:The Maricopa Indians came up from Yuma to escape persecution by other tribes, sometime before settlement times. Dates slip my mind now, but it was well after Hohokam times. They are considered one of the Yuman tribes, though.

The Maricopas (Pee Posh) settled with the Akimel O'otham (Pima) with the condition of helping protect the Pima from the Apache.
There were no warm and fuzzy feelings between the Pima and Apache.
I've always believed the Mojaves drove the Pee Posh out, but now some say it was the Chemehuevi.
The Maricopas became one of the best non-Pueblo potting groups in the Southwest. A far cry from the other Yumans and much better than their new neighbors the Pima and Papago.
Also in historic times the Yavapai moved away from Colorado River toward Prescott.

azbackpackr wrote:
I used this book for my presentation in Aug. 2009, at Homolovi State Park to the AZ Archaeological Soc., on petroglyphs found in western Arizona.

With your first hand knowledge on petroglyphs found in western Arizona, any "suggestions" as to where to explore near the Gila/Colorado River confluence?

PS. Put the book on the stocking stuffer "wish list" - let's see if it shows up on the 25th...

Thanks for posting the info about the Patio area; I've always wanted to explore this historic site.
You probably know this, but the petroglyph in the upper right hand corner of your photo #5 looks like the bogus initial marker point for the Peralta Grant from James Addison Reavis, the 'Baron Of Arizona'. http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=227013

From the site http://www.brazilbrazil.com/maricopa.html 'In fact, a photograph showing Dona Maria standing in front of a well decorated rock at zero ground is the earliest picture of the petroglyphs. This Peralta Grant was a bogus claim based upon counterfeit documents that, if successful, would have given James Addison Reavis ownership a rectangular 18,750 square mile chunk of land 50 miles to the north, 50 miles to the south and 250 miles to the east of the marker, to just west of Silver City, New Mexico. Around 1885, to substantiate his claim, Reavis made a secret midnight ride to the Estrellas from his mansion at Arizola (near Casa Grande) and chiseled out a cedula (certificate) along with a Peralta Coat Of Arms. This was later 'discovered' to prove that the grant did, in fact, exist. The claim was examined by the U.S. government and after several years declared fraudulent, but not before Reavis had caused quite a bit of excitement and managed to pocket up a half-million dollars. It is interesting that the proof documents, dating from 1760, specifically name the Sierra Estrellas by name.'

BTW, James Addison Reavis was distant cousin to Elisha Marcus Reavis, better known as the "Hermit of Superstition Mountain", who started Reavis Ranch.

Fascinating stuff. ;)

John Arthur's site has always been an incredible source for local information => http://www.brazilbrazil.com/contact.html