Snaketown Ballcourt South Compound
Snaketown South Ballcourt · Hohokam Ballcourt South
Pre-Classic Hohokam (400–1100 CE)·Hohokam Pre-Classic (Pioneer–Colonial–Sedentary: Vahki–Sacaton phases)·🇺🇸 Arizona, Pinal County, Middle Gila River, Gila River Indian Community, United States
About
About Snaketown Ballcourt South Compound
Snaketown Ballcourt South Compound is the southern ballcourt village of Snaketown — the archetypal Pre-Classic Hohokam canal town 30 miles southeast of Phoenix on the Gila north terrace (protected within Hohokam Pima National Monument, not open to public). South compound trenches expose the 58×25 m earth-walled ballcourt (Gila Butte–Snaketown phases 700–900 CE), Pioneer Colonial pit-house village with red-on-buff, and the Snaketown canal (10 km from Gila) headcut — documenting Pre-Classic Hohokam ballcourt–canal integration before the Sedentary–Classic transition that emptied Snaketown south by 1100 CE.
Why it mattersArchetypal Pre-Classic Hohokam ballcourt–canal village — 58-m ballcourt south of Snaketown on Gila
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Ballcourt at Snaketown south — Mesoamerican import or Hohokam invention?
- 021100 CE abandonment — Classic move to Casa Grande or continuity?
Theories
- 01Haury Snaketown ballcourt as Mesoamerican stimulus vs. indigenous
- 02Gladwin Gila Pueblo Snaketown Pre-Classic canon south compound
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.400 CE Vahki phase pit houses; ballcourt 700 CE (Gila Butte phase)
- Period
- Pre-Classic Hohokam (400–1100 CE)
- Culture
- Hohokam Pre-Classic (Pioneer–Colonial–Sedentary: Vahki–Sacaton phases)
- Builders
- Gila River Hohokam ballcourt architects, Pioneer–Colonial farmers
- Purpose
- South compound ballcourt village of Snaketown — Classic ballcourt system 30 miles SE Phoenix on Gila north terrace, National Historic Landmark south of main Snaketown
- Abandoned
- c.1100 CE Sedentary–Classic transition abandonment (then Snaketown shift to Classic)
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1934–35 Gladwin & Haury (Gila Pueblo); re-excavated 1964–65 Haury (Arizona)
- Excavation
- Excavated
1934
Gladwin & Haury excavate Snaketown south ballcourt, 58m ballcourt found
1964
Haury re-excavates south compound Pioneer pit houses Snaketown phases
1972
Hohokam Pima National Monument authorized protecting Snaketown south 33.1875N 111.9245W
On the ground
Structures & features
33.1875° N · 111.9245° W · 385 m · 3 mapped features
Gila Butte Ballcourt (58×25 m, 700 CE)
ritualEarth-walled ballcourt with caliche floor 58m long, Gila Butte–Snaketown phases
33.1883° N · 111.9239° WPioneer Pit-House Village (Vahki–Sacaton)
settlementPit-house village with Sacaton red-on-buff beneath ballcourt, 400–900 CE
33.1868° N · 111.9254° WSnaketown Canal Headcut (Gila Canal)
hydraulic10-km Gila River canal feeding south compound, Pre-Classic headcut
33.1886° N · 111.9238° W