Field Trip to Sabino Canyon (November 2005)

1. Field Trip to Sabino Canyon(November 2005) IGERT Fellow: Bill Reitze Mentors: Joan Regens and Thom Melendez

2. Third grade students at Esperanza Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona were accompanied by the University of Arizona's IGERT in the Archaeological Sciences fellow Bill Reitze on an exciting field trip to the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, just north of the city of Tucson. The students, guided by Parks and Recreation volunteers, learned how the ancient Hohokam peoples survived in this predominantly arid region of Arizona hundreds of years ago. Students learned about plants and animals the Hohokam would have consumed, as well as how to make functional items like pottery vessels, and decorative items like shell pendants. They were also shown models of ancient Hohokam pithouses.

3. Understanding the landscape of the Hohokam people of prehistoric Arizona

4. Where’s the water?

6. Shell Jewelry Production

7. Boring holes into shell – no electric drills for the Hohokam!

8. Almost Done!

9. IGERT Fellow Bill Reitze adding some muscle, or is it finesse?

12. Voila – Shell Pendants!

13. Making Coil Pots

15. Hohokam pithouse model Hohokam animal design on a pottery sherd. What could this animal be representing?

17. Experiencing nature in the Foothills of the Catalinas