Before reaching Florence near the town of Coolidge, you'll come to this
national monument. In spanish, Casa Grands means " Big House " and that's
exactly what you will find. In this instance, the big house is the rain of
an earth-walled structure built 650 years ago by the Hokokam people. It is
speculated that the building was once some sort of astronomical observatory,
but this is not known for certain. Whatever the original purpose of the
building, today it provides a glimpse of a style of ancient architecture
rarely seen. Instead of using abode bricks or stones, the people who built
this structure used layers of hard packed soil that have survived the
ravages of the Weather. The Hokokam people who once occupied this site
began. farming the valleys of the Gila and salt rivers about 1500 years ago,
and eventually built an extensive network of irrigation canals for watering
their fields. By the middle of the 15th century, the Hokokam cancels and
their villages and disappeared without a trace.
Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm
Location: Ariz 87, 1 mile north of Coolidge.
Phone: 520/723 - 3172 |
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