What was the Mogollon culture?

The Mogollon culture was a prehistoric group of Native Americans who lived from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in the mountainous regions of present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Their name comes from the Mogollon Mountains in New Mexico. The Mogollon are believed to have evolved from the Cochise culture, with influences from elsewhere. They were the first in the Southwest to make pottery, which suggests the craft may have been imported from Mexico. The Mimbres people were a branch of the Mogollon culture. The Mogollon culture ended for unknown reasons in the 15th century. The people abandoned their villages, perhaps dispersing or joining other groups.

Where did the Mogollon people live?

The Mogollon people lived in the mountainous region of what is now southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico from approximately 200 to 1450 CE. Their name comes from the Mogollon Mountains in New Mexico. The Mogollon culture may have developed from the earlier Cochise culture, with influences from elsewhere. The Mogollon culture ended for unknown reasons in the 15th century, with the people abandoning their villages.

What kinds of homes did the Mogollon build?

The Mogollon people, who lived from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, constructed various types of homes throughout their history.

What were some important crafts or skills of the Mogollon people?

The Mogollon people, who lived in present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico from approximately 200 to 1450 CE, were known for several important crafts and skills. The Mogollon were the first in the American Southwest to produce pottery, which was initially well-made, suggesting the craft may have been imported from Mexico. During the Mimbres period of the Mogollon culture (11th and 12th centuries), they produced pottery with lively black and white decorations depicting human, animal, and insect forms. The Mogollon were also known for building pit homes, which transitioned from lightly built structures to more heavily built ones, and later to above-ground adobe and masonry apartment houses.

How did Mogollon people get their food and what did they eat?

The Mogollon people, who lived from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in mountainous regions of present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, obtained food through a combination of foraging, hunting, and agriculture. During the Mogollon 1 period (approximately 200–650 CE), they primarily foraged for wild seeds, roots, and nuts, with agriculture just starting at this time. They hunted small prey, such as rabbits and lizards, using nets or snares. Over time, the Mogollon people increased their reliance on agriculture, with corn (maize) cultivation becoming more predominant. They also hunted larger game like deer. The degree to which they relied on domesticated versus wild foods depended on their proximity to water sources. They also grew crops of corn, beans, and squash.

How did the Mogollon culture influence or connect with other cultures in the region?

The Mogollon culture, which existed from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, was influenced by and connected to other cultures in the region. The culture is believed to have evolved from the earlier Cochise culture, with additional influences from elsewhere. During the Mogollon 3 period (650–850 CE), the appearance of kivas, separate ceremonial pit structures, suggests the influence of the Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi). In the Mogollon 4 period, pit homes were increasingly constructed of stone masonry, again suggesting Ancestral Pueblo influence. During the Mogollon 5 period, traits such as adobe and masonry apartment houses were likely introduced by the Ancestral Pueblo. There is also evidence from this period that Ancestral Pueblo and Mogollon individuals lived peacefully in the same villages. After 1200 CE, Hohokam culture exhibited Ancestral Pueblo and Mexican influences.

Mogollon culture

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Related Topics:: Indigenous peoples of the Americas; Mimbres; Mimbres ware; Classic Mimbres phase

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Mimbres bowl Bowl with an abstract insect or animal design, 950-1150 ce; in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mogollon culture

North American Indian culture

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Top Questions

What was the Mogollon culture?
The Mogollon culture was a prehistoric group of Native Americans who lived from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in the mountainous regions of present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Their name comes from the Mogollon Mountains in New Mexico. The Mogollon are believed to have evolved from the Cochise culture, with influences from elsewhere. They were the first in the Southwest to make pottery, which suggests the craft may have been imported from Mexico. The Mimbres people were a branch of the Mogollon culture. The Mogollon culture ended for unknown reasons in the 15th century. The people abandoned their villages, perhaps dispersing or joining other groups.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where did the Mogollon people live?
The Mogollon people lived in the mountainous region of what is now southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico from approximately 200 to 1450 CE. Their name comes from the Mogollon Mountains in New Mexico. The Mogollon culture may have developed from the earlier Cochise culture, with influences from elsewhere. The Mogollon culture ended for unknown reasons in the 15th century, with the people abandoning their villages.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What kinds of homes did the Mogollon build?
The Mogollon people, who lived from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, constructed various types of homes throughout their history.
- Mogollon 1 period (200–650 CE) Small villages of circular wattle-and-daub pit houses with floors 10 to 40 inches below ground level, with tunnel entrances.
- Mogollon 3 period (650–850 CE) Transition from round, lightly built pit houses to more heavily built pit homes. Separate ceremonial pit structures, or kivas, began to appear.
- Mogollon 4 period (850–1000 CE) Pit homes were increasingly constructed of stone masonry.
- Mogollon 5 period (1000–1450 CE) Pit houses were replaced by adobe and masonry apartment houses built at ground level, rising one to three stories high. These pueblo villages sometimes contained 40 to 50 rooms arranged around a plaza.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What were some important crafts or skills of the Mogollon people?
The Mogollon people, who lived in present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico from approximately 200 to 1450 CE, were known for several important crafts and skills. The Mogollon were the first in the American Southwest to produce pottery, which was initially well-made, suggesting the craft may have been imported from Mexico.

During the Mimbres period of the Mogollon culture (11th and 12th centuries), they produced pottery with lively black and white decorations depicting human, animal, and insect forms. The Mogollon were also known for building pit homes, which transitioned from lightly built structures to more heavily built ones, and later to above-ground adobe and masonry apartment houses.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Mogollon people get their food and what did they eat?
The Mogollon people, who lived from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in mountainous regions of present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, obtained food through a combination of foraging, hunting, and agriculture. During the Mogollon 1 period (approximately 200–650 CE), they primarily foraged for wild seeds, roots, and nuts, with agriculture just starting at this time. They hunted small prey, such as rabbits and lizards, using nets or snares.

Over time, the Mogollon people increased their reliance on agriculture, with corn (maize) cultivation becoming more predominant. They also hunted larger game like deer. The degree to which they relied on domesticated versus wild foods depended on their proximity to water sources. They also grew crops of corn, beans, and squash.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did the Mogollon culture influence or connect with other cultures in the region?
The Mogollon culture, which existed from approximately 200 to 1450 CE in present-day southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, was influenced by and connected to other cultures in the region.

The culture is believed to have evolved from the earlier Cochise culture, with additional influences from elsewhere. During the Mogollon 3 period (650–850 CE), the appearance of kivas, separate ceremonial pit structures, suggests the influence of the Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi). In the Mogollon 4 period, pit homes were increasingly constructed of stone masonry, again suggesting Ancestral Pueblo influence. During the Mogollon 5 period, traits such as adobe and masonry apartment houses were likely introduced by the Ancestral Pueblo. There is also evidence from this period that Ancestral Pueblo and Mogollon individuals lived peacefully in the same villages. After 1200 CE, Hohokam culture exhibited Ancestral Pueblo and Mexican influences.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Mogollon culture, prehistoric North American Indian peoples who, from approximately ad 200–1450, lived in the mostly mountainous region of what are now southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Their name derives from the Mogollon Mountains in New Mexico. The culture is presumed to have developed out of the earlier Cochise culture, with additional influences from elsewhere. The first pottery in the Southwest was made by the Mogollon, and it was well made from the beginning, suggesting that the craft may have been imported from Mexico.

The Mogollon culture has been divided into various developmental periods, though consensus is lacking because of incomplete evidence and because of the different rates of development across the immense geographic area these people inhabited. In speaking about Mogollon culture generally, however, scholars frequently make reference to five developmental periods: Mogollon 1 and 2, approximately ad 200–650; Mogollon 3, 650–850; Mogollon 4, 850–1000; and Mogollon 5, 1000–1450, which includes the Classic Mimbres phase, 1050–1200.

During the Mogollon 1 period, the people lived in small villages of circular wattle-and-daub pit houses, the floors of which were from 10 to 40 inches (25 to 100 cm) below ground level; entrance was usually through tunnels. They obtained food principally by foraging wild seeds, roots, and nuts, though agriculture was apparently incipient at this time. It is thought that hunting in this period focused on small prey, such as rabbits and lizards, that could be caught in nets or snares. Pottery, as already noted, was being made and differed in type from that which would be developed by neighboring groups. The same basic pattern continued in the Mogollon 2, except that more varieties of pottery appeared and corn (maize) cultivation and the hunting of larger game such as deer assumed predominance.

A dancer in a bright pink shawl with fringe, wearing traditional regalia adorned with blue and black accents, performs at an outdoor cultural event.

Mogollon culture

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