2018/11/07 by Chris Loendorf, Craig Fertelmes, David H. DeJong +2 · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · #Archaeology and Natural History #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/00231940.2018.1517203
openalex publication_date 2018/11/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
Much of what is known regarding Historic period Native American communities is based on studying documents that were written by non-indigenous peoples. However, archaeological excavations in a portion of the Blackwater Village within the Gila River Indian Community provide another perspective on Native American life ways within south-central Arizona during the late 1800s. The latter nineteenth century was a pivotal time for the Akimel O’Odham (i.e., Pima) who have long lived within the Phoenix Basin, and they experienced dramatic changes in their subsistence strategies, settlement patterns, craft production, and other cultural practices during this time. These recent investigations demonstrate that the Akimel O’Odham were not passive recipients of Euroamerican culture, and instead they chose to adopt some aspects of non-native practices while at the same time retaining important traditions. As a result, the Akimel O’Odham have successfully maintained their society in the face of tremendous hardships, and Blackwater Village remains a vibrant settlement to this day.