Besh-Ba-Gowah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Besh-Ba-Gowah
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Besh-Ba-Gowah, Facing southeast towards central plaza
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| Nearest city | Globe, Arizona |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000648 |
| Added to NRHP | May 9, 1984 |
Besh-Ba-Gowah is an ancient village site in Arizona. It has about 200 rooms. This village was built by the Salado people long ago. It sits on a ridge overlooking Pinal Creek. You can find it about one mile southwest of Globe, Arizona.
Today, Besh-Ba-Gowah is a city park and museum. The museum shows off items found there. These include old pottery, stone tools, and woven goods. The city runs the site as the Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum.
The Salado people lived at Besh-Ba-Gowah between 1225 AD and 1400 AD. The term "Salado" describes the way of life of these ancient people. They lived in the Globe/Miami and Tonto Basin areas. This was between 1150 AD and 1450 AD.
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Discovering Besh-Ba-Gowah
Besh-Ba-Gowah is a very important place. It helps us understand the Salado culture. Experts call it a "type site." This means it's a key example for studying these ancient people.
What the Pueblo Looked Like
The buildings at Besh-Ba-Gowah were made of stone. They had many rooms, sometimes several stories high. These room groups were connected by long, narrow paths. Some paths were like long, open areas or plazas.
The village had a large main plaza. This open space was for the community. It measured about 12 meters (40 feet) north to south. It was about 27 meters (89 feet) east to west.
How They Built Their Homes
The walls at Besh-Ba-Gowah were made from granite stones. These stones were not shaped perfectly. They were laid with a special clay mixture called mortar. This mortar held the stones together.
Inside the rooms, the walls were often covered. They used the clay mortar or a white, chalky mix. This made the walls look white. Some outside walls might have been plastered too.
A cool building trick they used was with the bottom stones. They often stood large, flat stones upright. These vertical stones formed the base of the walls. This style is a special sign of Salado buildings.
How the Site Was Saved
Work to dig up and save Besh-Ba-Gowah started long ago. It was during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people needed jobs. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration helped fund the first digs. Later, the Works Projects Administration continued the work.
This site is special because it shows how people helped during tough times. It's one of the few places in Arizona that was rebuilt and protected. This was done to help people find work during the Depression.
Besh-Ba-Gowah was officially recognized in 1984. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical sites across the country.
Gallery
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Besh-Ba-Gowah, unexcavated rooms, Globe, AZ
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Besh-Ba-Gowah, roof detail, Globe, AZ
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Besh-Ba-Gowah, modern day, looking south west, Globe, AZ
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Besh-Ba-Gowah diorama, looking south west, GlobeAZ
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Besh-Ba-Gowah, diorama looking south down central corridor, Globe, AZ
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Besh-Ba-Gowah, looking south down main corridor, Globe, AZ
