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Article Title: Shoofly Village Ruins… a brief overview: by A.O.
Kime
Author: A.O. Kime
Category: American history/archaeology
Word Count: 1,851
Format: 65 characters per line
Website Source: http://www.matrixbookstore.biz
Article URL: http://www.matrixbookstore.biz/shoofly_ruins.htm
Author’s Email Address: [email protected]
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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.
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Resource Box: © A.O. Kime (2003) A.O. Kime is an author of two
books plus some 70 articles on ancient history, spiritual
phenomena, political issues, social issues and agriculture which
can be seen at http://www.matrixbookstore.biz
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