The earliest documented occupation of the American Southwest dates to before 9,000 B.C. More than 2,000 years ago, this vast land was inhabited by settlers of the Basketmaker culture, which later evolved into permanent towns of cliff dwellings and pit houses, the ruins of which can still be seen in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. While hunting and gathering activities predominated in the Great Basin and California, and bison hunting dominated the Plains, the peoples of the American Southwest established early agricultural communities and grew maize, beans and squash. Gradually, they also built above ground structures known as pueblos and developed a sophisticated culture of community housing and religious beliefs and activities based in nature.
Narrated by Dave Alexander Produced/Edited by Kathy Weiser-Alexander
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Categories & Keywords
Category:Travel and Places
Subcategory:North America
Subcategory Detail:United States of America
Keywords:American, Southwest, States, United, culture, history, information