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Shoofly Village Ruins... a brief overview: by A.O. Kime
Located 5 miles northeast of Payson, Arizona near the Mogollon Rim (pronounced 'mug-eon') is the Shoofly Village Ruins, a large masonry compound site of approximately 3.75 acres (1.5 hectares) in size. This village is believed to have been occupied between A.D. 1000-1250. At an elevation of 5,240 feet, Shoofly Village had a total of 79 structures of which the rock outlines, once the base of the walls, are still visible. At the center of this site was where a larger structure once existed, it is believed to have been a building with 26 rooms, averaging 37.4 square meters each, and part of this structure was perhaps two stories high. In clusters around the core area were 39 other smaller structures and 14 more were scattered about the general area, at least one of these structures had a curved wall. The entire compound was enclosed by a small rock wall.
Located atop the Houston Mesa on the northern edge, the immediate area (say, several hundred acres) is grassland sparsely populated with Juniper and Chaparral. The average annual rainfall for the area is about 20 inches. Shoofly Village Ruins is easily accessible, a mere 100 yards off of the Houston Mesa road (all paved). The site is not manned by Forest Service personnel but has a large parking area to accommodate any type of fifth wheel or travel-trailer.
This site was first recorded in 1930 by archaeologist John Hughes but full scale excavations did not occur until 1984. These excavations were conducted by Dr. Charles Redman from Arizona State University as a field school program over a four year period. More excavations are being considered.
The people who once occupied the Shoofly Village appeared to have been similar to those who once occupied the Flagstaff, Arizona area and those from the Upper Verde Valley (the Sinaqua) but with notable differences. It was deemed possible that the Shoofly residents had, or once had, Hohokam ties. As both farmers and hunters, they grew corn, beans, squash, possibly cotton and were successful in hunting deer, elk, rabbits, rodents, birds and migratory fowl (ducks and geese). It is also believed they may have raised turkeys (wild turkeys are indigenous to the general area). Their brown clay pottery were mostly jar-shaped vessels but those attributed to being crafted at the village were not decorated with designs. The decorated pottery found was believed to have come from the Little Colorado and Flagstaff areas. The only arrowheads located were very small, less than an inch long. Larger ones, it is believed, once existed.
Small figurines, stone pendants and quartz crystals (locally referred to as 'Arizona diamonds') were found but few 'trade items' (products not locally crafted or indigenous) were discovered. Of these 'trade items' were the above mentioned decorated pottery and obsidian fragments traced to Government mountain (Williams, Arizona), Post Mountain (Superior, Arizona) and to Mule Creek/Gwynn Canyon in west-central New Mexico.
Prehistory of the Payson area, a cultural overview
Archaeologists have divided the occupation of the greater Payson area (basin) into four periods. The pre-ceramic period (Clovis), from 10,000 B.C. to A.D. 700, is an era about which little is known except for evidence big-game hunters once slew bison and mammoths during this time throughout many parts of the southwest. Since a large arrowhead (Clovis point) was found south of Payson in 1977 suggested these hunts also occurred locally. The Hohokam occupation (2nd period) is fairly well documented and occurred from A.D. 800-1000, characterized by their 'house-in-a-pit' sites. Third was from A.D. 1000-1150 and when more dramatic changes took place, typified by small villages such as Shoofly Village. That could include the Risser Ranch Ruins and Deer Jaw Ruins located in the general area.
The fourth period, A.D. 1150-1250 (or perhaps up to 1300) is typified by larger villages and that period is currently being further defined. Towards the end of this fourth period, or about A.D. 1250-1300, it is believed the sites were in the process of being abandoned and were completely vacant by A.D. 1350. From that point on, for almost 250 years, it appears the entire area was unpopulated until nearly A.D. 1600. However disagreement on this exists, some archaeologists believe the Yavapai may have occupied the area after this abandonment but before the Apaches arrived at the end of the 16th century. Purportedly some evidence exists (unspecified) that suggests the Yavapai were in the Globe-Miami area (90 miles south) when the Spanish arrived. The previous inhabitants of the Globe-Miami area were the Salado Indians and they too moved away but it is unclear whether they did so voluntarily or were forced out by the Yavapai.
Source: The above information was gleaned from a flyer by the Shoofly Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society but re-stated.
Summary (a personal observation)
It seems to be the consensus among archaeologists that drought was the most likely reason for the exodus (or effectively an exodus) from the greater Payson area. However, disease, war and depleting natural resources may have been contributing factors or, it's also possible any one of these could have been the primary reason. Yet, contrary to the scientific consensus it was drought, and ruling out other possibilities, I think the biggest reason for the exodus (overall) was due to warring raiders. Not necessarily across the board however, any combination of these problems may have contributed at various times in different locations. In other words, in contrast to always being an exclusive reason. A prolonged drought during that time period was unlikely severe enough. Of these other possible causes, I believe depleting natural resources (game animals) was the least likely cause... unless the human population was much greater than appears the case. Yet, it could have occurred, but unlikely, a decline of one species is usually followed by an increase of another, as in the deer/elk ratio. While predators may have contributed, that is usually short-lived as they move on to 'greener pastures'. Also, foraging animals may have been on the increase, deer, rabbits or javelinas threatening their crops, but doubtful that was the cause either... there are ways to deal with that. Infectious diseases (those potentially fatal) may have occurred occasionally, perhaps a plague of some type, but such incidences should have been more-or-less isolated and confined to individual communities. Nonetheless diseases could have been devastating at times, perhaps eradicating entire villages. However, without knowing the cause of these fatal diseases, if that was ever the case, it seems doubtful moving away would be seen as the remedy.
As to warring raiders, from recorded history we know Indian tribes frequently waged war with each other and had a violent nature often. In Arizona however, it was less likely this violence occurred due to one village being at war with another, although that may have happened occasionally. Most likely for Arizona, it was the villages versus marauding bands of murderous thieves from another area, plundering and then occupying the area temporarily. Sticking around for perhaps months, enjoying the spoils of war and/or until the captured food supply was depleted, the band would then leave to seek out another village. Such invasions probably occurred only occasionally, or once in a generation, but nonetheless, discouraging prospects for the villagers. Once a village was located and became known, it would become a habitual target. Aside from having a fortified position, safety under anarchy is primarily 'anonymity via remoteness', so the most likely reason for the exodus was to distance themselves from danger. Who were these marauding bands? Most likely they were either Yavapai or Apache, perhaps both at times. The Yavapai resided just north of this area while the Apache lived further north, believed to have originated in Canada but drifting southward. While it is believed the Apaches didn't arrive until around A.D. 1600, that doesn't necessarily preclude them from conducting earlier raids into this territory. For any worthwhile booty, women, training or even adventure, the distance these raiders were willing to go depended on the individuals. Anything handmade, anything at all, would be considered booty, most likely footwear was highly prized.
I realize this doesn't paint a pretty picture for early Arizona, but most likely the case. Yet, the violent nature of the American Indians wasn't an exclusive trait, the fortified castles all over Europe are testimony to the perils of anarchy. While fortified positions were rare in Arizona, Montezuma Castle (external link) is some proof perhaps the same conditions existed here as in Europe. I believe fortified positions were rare in Arizona because of being so sparsely populated, compared to Europe or other areas, so an anonymous existence was not hard to come by... for a time. The logic probably often being... it's easier to relocate than to build a fortress.
The location of the Shoofly Village also seems to substantiate violence was ever-present, located atop a mesa instead of creek-side for the closeness to fresh water. Along the creek or source (spring) would be where marauding bands would likely first look for victims, being the most logical place to reside or construct a village. In southeastern Arizona (Cochise County) that was the case, virtually every ancient site known was located next to the San Pedro River... perhaps because either the threat was less or their mentality was different. Atop Houston Mesa, about three miles east of the East Verde River and three miles west of Mayfield Springs, is not an practical location unless to also shield its existence. It may have been practical in the sense it was still within walking distance to water, but not being an easy six-mile round trip in either direction suggests security concerns. I believe the logic for locating themselves atop a mesa was knowing traveling groups do not traverse the land by climbing over each hill and mountain they encounter, rather they go around if possible and stick to the passes and lowlands. However if they went so far as to disguise their presence, and since a night fire could cause a location to be revealed, there were probably fire restrictions or else fires were shielded. They were probably also cautious about excessive smoke and noise.
However, as to their everyday water supply at this Shoofly location, there is evidence of a hand-dug well. However I question whether it adequately served the village, if at all. It would be extremely rare to find shallow water atop any mesa in Arizona. This may only represent an attempt to dig for water, and unsuccessful. If it was found, say at 10-30 feet deep, it would have tasted awful if not unfit for drinking. If that was the case, then perhaps they obtained their drinking water from the creeks, being a frequent chore of carting jugs of water and using their well-water for other purposes... washing and watering their crops. However, during the rainy season or by melting snow, trips to the creek wouldn't always be necessary. In either case, while they had access to water, the location of the village was not as ideal as it could have been. I believe these were very dangerous and violent times otherwise these villages would have survived.
