Winona Site facts for kids
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Winona Site
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Winona, Arizona |
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| NRHP reference No. | 66000177 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | July 19, 1964 |
The Winona Site is a group of old archaeological places in Coconino County, Arizona. It is found inside the Coconino National Forest. This area is close to Sunset Crater, a volcano that erupted in the year 1066.
Scientists have found clues at the Winona Site that show how people's lives changed after this volcano erupted. Because of its importance, the Winona Site was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
Exploring the Winona Site
The Winona Site was first looked at closely in the 1940s. An archaeologist named John McGregor led this first study. He worked with the Museum of Northern Arizona.
What John McGregor Found
McGregor dug up six pit houses at the site. These houses had special designs often seen in homes of the Hohokam people. The Hohokam lived around the 10th century. They usually lived further south in Arizona.
McGregor thought the Hohokam moved to this area. He believed they were drawn by the rich, fertile land. This land was made fertile by the ash and soil from the volcano's eruptions.
Besides the pit houses, McGregor also found piles of trash. He also found a ball court. This court was used for a special game played by ancient cultures. The pottery found at the site also looked like Hohokam pottery. It had their typical colors, decorations, and shapes.
New Ideas About the Site
Later, other researchers studied the Winona Site. They had different ideas than McGregor. They thought the site might have been a trading spot. This means people came here to trade goods, not to live there permanently.
These new researchers found things more common to the Sinagua people. The Sinagua lived in the areas around the Winona Site. They found Sinagua-style pottery. They also found human remains buried in ways that the Sinagua people used.
Scientists also found pieces of shell at the site. These shells were likely left over from making jewelry. The shells probably came from the Gulf of California. The Hohokam people had ways to get things from that area.
