Mesa Grande facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mesa Grande
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Entrance of the Mesa Grande Cultural Park
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Mesa, Arizona |
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| Architectural style | Hohokam |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000549 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1978 |
Mesa Grande Cultural Park, located in Mesa, Arizona, is a special place that protects ancient structures. These structures were built by the Hohokam people during their Classic Period. The Hohokam lived here between about 1100 and 1400 AD. They were famous for building a huge system of water canals. This site is one of only two large Hohokam mounds left in the Phoenix area. The main part of the site is a massive ruin made of adobe walls and platforms.
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Discovering Mesa Grande's History
The Mesa Grande site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. At that time, it was owned by an actress named Acquanetta and her husband, Jack Ross. The city of Mesa bought the site from them in 1988.
Visiting Mesa Grande Cultural Park
Since 2013, the Mesa Grande Visitor's Center has been open to the public. You can visit the park seasonally, from October through May. The Arizona Museum of Natural History helps run the park. They also do archaeological studies there. The large mound at the site is still in great condition. The entire area is protected, but it is not fully developed yet.
Ancient Finds Nearby
People have found many ancient tools and pottery pieces near the ruins. In the 1960s and 1970s, residents often found axe heads, arrowheads, and pottery pieces just below the ground. These items were likely used by the Hohokam people who lived at Mesa Grande.
Gallery
- Mesa Grande Cultural Park
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"Room D", a 1955 excavation by Arizona State University below the main Mesa Grande mound.
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A member of the Southwest Archaeology Team excavates matrix materials from a test pit.
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A view of test pits from Station 6 of the north end of the mound.
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The Mesa Grande Temple Mound. Built by the Hohokam in 1100 AD. The walls are made of “caliche”, the calcium carbonate hardpan that forms under the desert soils. The mound is longer and wider than a modern football field (note: U.S. Football) and is 27 feet high.
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Different view of the Mesa Grande Temple Mound.
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A large plaza in front of the Mesa Grande Temple mound which was enclosed by a large adobe wall.
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Another view of the plaza.
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One of the two largest networks of irrigation canals created in the prehistoric Americas by the Hohokam.
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Replica of the Mesa Grande Hohokam Ballcourt . The ballcourt, which is located at 1000 N. Date St., is an open-air structure where the Hohokam played ballgames using a rubber ball made from a local plant.
See also
