Experts offer insights into Agua Fria National Monument

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 9/7/2011

An area just north of town that once had an active volcano in its midst will be the subject of a symposium from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Phoenix as a host of archaeologists gather to talk about part of the Agua Fria Natural Monument.
As Arizona approaches its centennial celebration a group of more than 15 presenters will discuss the history of Perry Mesa, an area within the Agua Fria National Monument, which is located 24 miles north of New River, east of I-17 at Badger Springs Exit (No. 256).
“When the monument was established in 2000 there were 440 known archaeological sites on the monument, and many more than that have been found since then,” Mike Hoogendyk, the Symposium’s Chair said.
Registration for the event, which is being presented by The Friends of Agua Fria National Monument (FAFNM), begins in the morning at 8 a.m. with the presentations starting at 9 a.m.
Hoogendyk explains that the event is designed to highlight what is known, what is
being studied and what is yet to be learned about several thousand years of prehistoric habitation on Perry Mesa and its immediate surroundings including everything from archaic hunter gatherers from thousands of years ago, to migrating tribes which may have ended up as part of the Hopi culture, to the Yavapai and Apache tribes up through the early days of the Wild West.
The area was once home to an active volcano, what now is called Joe’s Hill, which is located east of the Sunset Point rest stop.
“From the volcano you end up with rich soil,” he said. “If you were there during a time where there was a good amount of rain it would have been a good place to call home.”
One of the topics during the symposium will be the discovery of what some are identifying as racetrack in the Perry Mesa area.
Unlike modern circular racetracks used for auto races or track and field events the prehistoric racetracks in the area are straight lanes about the size for two people to run side by side, varying in length from 80 to 300 meters long and may have been constructed between 1200 and 1350 AD. Presenters will discuss whether the tracks were used by predecessors of today’s Pueblo Indians for footraces, whether they were ceremonial in nature, or whether they were strictly part of social events between prehistoric cultural groups of different backgrounds.
Experts believe Perry Mesa’s prehistoric habitation reached a population high point sometime between 1250 and 1450 AD, and is looked at by some as an extension of what is called the Verde Confederacy, a group of prehistoric communities around the Verde Valley “organized for warfare” – or maybe for protection from incursions of the Hohokom from the Salt River Valley.  Others look at the people of that period as being agriculturally oriented and relatively peaceful over a period of several hundred years.
Among the archaeologists attending will be a contingent from Arizona State University
that will discuss the farming that took place in the area throughout history.
“We’ve got experts that will be able to discuss the highlights of more than 80 years of research,” Hoogendyk said. “I’d say anybody with an interest in prehistoric cultures, curious about pottery shards, arrowhead or Indian ruins would want to attend.
The last part of the program will be a 90 minute panel discussion by experts who
will discuss the presentations and offer their insight about the findings.
Friends of the Agua Fria National Monument pay $75 to attend the event while the cost is $100 to non-members. Continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and handouts are included in the cost. Questions about FAFNM may be emailed to  info@aguafriafriends.org.
Information about the Symposium, including the program, schedule, registration information and hotel accommodations can be found by going to the FAFNM web site at aguafriafriends.org, and clicking on the links to the Perry Mesa Symposium.
The Embassy Suites Hotel is located at I-17 and Greenway Road in Phoenix