The Hohokam and Their World: An Exploration of Art and Iconography

People traveling around the Sonoran Desert will see the traces of an ancient society, the Hohokam, through the material that they left behind--pottery, shell ornaments, carved stone, and rock imagery.

The Hohokam and Their World offers readers the opportunity to explore how these various images and objects may have been used by the Hohokam, and what the icons and objects may have meant, including how the Hohokam conveyed ideas about water, the Sonoran Desert, the ocean, travel, ancestors, and the cosmos.

Authors Linda M. Gregonis and Victoria R. Evans discuss how artists drew inspiration from their Sonoran Desert homeland and were also influenced by the cultures of western Mexico, the hunter-gatherers of the western desert, the Mogollon to the east, and the Pueblo cultures of the northern Southwest. Unlike traditional archaeological texts, this book takes a holistic approach by examining a diverse range of artistic expressions used by the Hohokam. From intricately crafted pottery to mesmerizing carvings in rock, each medium offers a unique glimpse into the Hohokam’s relationship with their environment and the wider world.

Whether you’re planning a visit to national parks or museums in the Southwest or simply intrigued by ancient civilizations, The Hohokam and Their World is a must-read. The work includes a glossary of key archaeological and anthropological terms, as well as endnotes and an extensive list of references for those who want to dig deeper.

Linda M. Gregonis is an independent archaeological consultant based in Tucson, Arizona. She has spent more than forty years researching and teaching about various aspects of Hohokam culture. Her interest in art and iconography stems from her work as a ceramic analyst.

Victoria R. Evans is an archaeologist who has conducted research in the Sonoran Desert for more than twenty years. Evans recently retired from New Mexico Highlands University, where she served as the anthropology laboratory director.