Building the future uncovers secrets of the past in Phoenix

November 3, 11:02 AMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Phoenix Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Hohokam ruins near Sky Harbor at the Publo Grande Museum.

By the end of 2012, the PHX Sky Train will be carrying travelers and Sky Harbor International Airport employees between the METRO light rail, the east economy parking facility and Terminal 4. Eight years later the PHX Sky Train will continue all the way through the Airport to the Rental Car Center. In October, however, archaeologists reported an amazing discovery that confirmed that the ancient Hohokam people plotted their fields and canals.

The discovery is the result of a three-month long archaeological excavation recently completed along the proposed light rail route to Sky Harbor. The excavation revealed that the Hohokam organized their farm plots, which were each approximately 20 square feet, were laid out side by side with a feeder canal running along one side and smaller branch canals coming off that feeder canal. The Hohokam people inhabited the Phoenix area between 450 A.D. And 1450 A.D. They are believed to have grown corn, squash, beans, cotton and agave.

Farming in the Valley of the Sun today. Copyright 2008 J. Hammond

Sound like modern farming but on a smaller scale?

It is. Today, there are approximately 10,000 farms and ranches in Arizona. The average size is 2,610 acres. Of course, not all of those acres are used for farming nor are all the acres irrigated even if they are farmed. In fact, only 1,280,000 acres (of more than 26 million acres used for agriculture) are irrigated and used for crops. Arizona's top crop commodities today are cotton, hay and lettuce. The state is the 2nd largest grower of cantaloupe and honeydew melons, head and leaf lettuce, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower and lemons in the nation.

A cheese vendor on a sunny day at the Downtown Public Market. Copyright 2007. JCH

You can get a taste of the many great foods raised in Arizona, by one of the many farmers' markets that take place around the Valley, particularly during winter months. For a list of area farmers' markets including hours of operation and locations, please see Phoenix Travel 101: Farmers' Markets. In addition, the Green Streets Festival being held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2009 is one of the many Green Week events that will feature local produce and chefs.

For more information about the Hohokam people: Visit the Pueblo Grande Museum or the Arizona Museum of Natural History to learn more about the ancient Hohokam people who vanished almost 500 years ago.