Cohonina facts for kids
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 United States(  Arizona) |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Yuman, Havasupai, Walapai |
The Cohonina people lived in the northwestern part of Arizona, near the Grand Canyon in the United States. They were first identified in 1937 by Lyndon Hargrave, who was studying pottery for a museum. Their name comes from the Hopi people. It refers to groups like the Quechan, Havasupai, and Hualapai, who live in the same area today. Many believe these modern groups are related to the Cohonina.
The Cohonina also gave their name to Coconino County, Arizona. They are thought to have lived between the years 500 and 1200. They grew and developed alongside the Ancestral Puebloans, another ancient group. During this time, the Cohonina made a lot of pottery. However, the weather got worse, with dry soil and heavy rain causing erosion. This forced them to leave their homes.
Scientists believe that a period of climate change caused a severe drought from 1276 to 1299. Since the Cohonina depended on farming, they had to move. After this time, archaeologists find no more evidence of the Cohonina people.
Contents
What We Know from Archaeology
Most of what we know about the Cohonina comes from old farm remains and pottery. Archaeologists have found pottery from the Pueblo I Period, which often has decorations. They also found signs that the Cohonina grew maize (corn).
Pottery and Tools
The Cohonina made their pottery using a "paddle-and-anvil" method. This means they shaped the clay with a paddle while holding a stone (anvil) inside the pot. Their pottery often had black and grey designs. These pottery pieces are found west of the San Francisco Peaks, east of Aubrey Cliffs, and south of the Grand Canyon.
The area where the Cohonina lived was mostly pine forest. They might have used wild plants as a main part of their food. They also used obsidian, a sharp volcanic rock, to make arrowheads. They likely traded obsidian with other groups too.
How the Cohonina Built Their Homes
Research from the Anthropology Department at Northern Arizona University shows that the Cohonina changed how they built homes over time. They had three main building periods.
Early Homes: 700 to 900 AD
Between the years 700 and 900, their homes were "pit houses." These were deep holes in the ground lined with timber (wood). People entered these homes through the roof, and they had special air shafts for ventilation. The materials they used for these homes sometimes changed depending on the season.
Stone Walls and Masonry: 900 to 1100 AD
From 900 to 1100, the Cohonina built large stone walls around their forts. Archaeologists have also found stone masonry (building with cut stones) in homes from this time.
Later Homes: 1100 to 1250 AD
Between 1100 and 1250, Cohonina homes used more masonry. They also used a type of stone called San Francisco Mountain Gray Ware. However, they stopped making things from this stone after 1275.
