This very large structure is from the Hohokam culture which was once the largest prehistoric culture in what is now southern Arizona around modern day Phoenix and Tucson. Built during the Civano phase cira AD1300 - 1350 Casa Grande lies about halfway between these two modern cities. The Big House is the only remaining structure of it’s kind and was thought to be used by an elite class, perhaps for religious purposes by a priestly class. Aside from it’s size the building was aligned to movements of the sun and moon.
In the inner most room of the Big House, holes in the wall are aligned with the equinoxes of the rising sun. In the photo above the sunlight shines through the hole on the left, from the rising sun, during the equinox and casts it’s image on the opposite wall. As the sun moves higher in the sky, it’s image moves down the opposite wall and lines up in another hole in that wall. There are also alignments to the Major and Minor standstills of the moon.
Surrounding the Big House are adobe, or caliche, room blocks like modern apartment structures. These made up a larger compound that may have once been walled in like a small ancient medieval city. Casa Grande Runs National Monument consists of at least four of these compounds. Many of the compounds have platform mounds that where used for ceremonies, dances and other public events. Much like plazas are used by modern Pueblo cultures. There is also a ball court where ancient game was played with a rubber ball where the players could not use their hands. Ball courts are common in Meso America and their presence in North America is thought to be a cultural influence from Meso America. To read more about other travels I’ve taken in the southwest visit the ECHOES FROM THE ROAD section of www.cedarmesa.com
As an aside, the desert, after the hugh amounts of rain that have fallen this winter, is in full bloom now. Wildflowers are everywhere and everything is a wonderful green.
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