Mesa Grande Hohokam Platform Mound Extension
Mesa Grande Extension · Mesa Platform Extension
Classic Period Hohokam (1100–1450 CE)·Hohokam Classic Period (Pueblo Grande region)·🇺🇸 Arizona, Maricopa County, Salt River Valley, Mesa, United States
About
About Mesa Grande Hohokam Platform Mound Extension
Mesa Grande Hohokam Platform Mound Extension is the eastern lower terrace of Mesa Grande Ruin — the largest extant Hohokam platform mound in the Salt River Valley, within modern Mesa. Extension trenches expose a caliche-adobe platform with compound wall, Classic Period Civano redware and the Mesa Grande canal lateral (Lehi Canal reach) — documenting Salt River Hohokam Classic platform aggregation contemporaneous with Casa Grande and Pueblo Grande before the 1450 CE Salt–Gila abandonment that ended Hohokam canal society in Phoenix Basin.
Why it mattersLargest Salt River platform mound extension — Mesa urban Mesa Grande Classic canal aggregation
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Mesa Grande extension as residential or ceremonial platform?
- 021450 CE Salt abandonment synchrony with Gila?
Theories
- 01Hayden Salt River Classic aggregation model Mesa Grande
- 02Urban archaeology Mesa — platform mound within metropolis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1100 CE Pre-Classic; platform 1250 CE; extension 1300 CE
- Period
- Classic Period Hohokam (1100–1450 CE)
- Culture
- Hohokam Classic Period (Pueblo Grande region)
- Builders
- Salt River Hohokam canal farmers, Mesa Grande mound builders
- Purpose
- Extension of Mesa Grande platform mound — Salt River Hohokam largest platform mound (Mesa Grande Ruin) eastern extension in Mesa urban core
- Abandoned
- c.1450 CE Salt River abandonment
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1927–28 Hayden; 2006–present Mesa Museum salvage
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1927
Hayden maps Mesa Grande platform, extension compound found
2006
Mesa Museum salvage extension Civano redware published
2015
Lehi Canal lateral Mesa Grande extension mapping
On the ground
Structures & features
33.4100° N · 111.8400° W · 385 m · 3 mapped features
Mesa Grande Platform Mound (Caliche)
platform moundCaliche-adobe platform 8 m high with compound wall eastern extension
33.4108° N · 111.8394° WLehi Canal Lateral (Mesa Grande Canal)
hydraulicCanal lateral feeding Mesa Grande extension, Salt River system
33.4093° N · 111.8409° WCivano Redware Compound
settlementCivano phase redware compound houses on extension 1300–1450 CE
33.4111° N · 111.8393° W