Stephen W. Oachs Photography



"The Solstice"

Between 200 and 1450 A.D, the Hohokam (a Pima Indian word meaning, "those who vanished" or "those who came before") Indians lived and farmed in the Tucson basin. At that time, the Santa Cruz River was flowing year-round, which led the Hohokams to build extensive irrigation systems for their farms.

Hohokam petroglyphs can still be seen on rock surfaces sprinkled around the Tucson basin relaying ancient messages to modern visitors in locations such as Signal Hill in Saguaro National Park West. While their meaning is not fully understood today, there are two strong theories: one is that they signify that a water source was near by, and others believe they have a deeper meaning representative of ancient man's deep understanding of the night sky.









Copyright © 2024 Stephen W. Oachs • All rights reserved