Cochise Culture
Cochise Culture refers to a prehistoric cultural group that developed in the arid southwestern United States, adapting to its challenging environment through innovative survival strategies. Initially, the Cochise people were hunters, likely preying on large game such as mammoths, but over time, they transitioned to a diet that incorporated more vegetation and small animals. Their deep understanding of local flora for food and medicinal purposes laid the groundwork for subsequent cultures in the region. Seasonal migrations in search of ground nuts and seeds characterized their lifestyle during the summer and fall months.
Archaeological research has categorized the Cochise into three distinct periods: Sulphur Springs, Chiricahua, and San Pedro, each marked by advancements in dietary practices and technology. Notably, the San Pedro period is recognized for the introduction of specialized milling stones that enhanced food preparation techniques. The eventual adoption of agriculture and pottery, alongside the development of permanent dwellings like pit houses, significantly transformed Cochise Culture. This evolution not only impacted their way of life but also influenced neighboring cultures, such as the Hohokam and Mogollon peoples.
Cochise Culture
Related civilizations: Hohokam, Mogollon.
Date: 8000-1 b.c.e.
Locale: Southern Arizona and New Mexico
Cochise Culture
Following the basic pattern of Paleo and Archaic peoples in the Southwest, the Cochise (ko-CHEEZ) culture adapted to the demands of the arid southwest by building temporary camps along lakes and streams. The earliest Cochise most likely killed large game such as the mammoth for food, and later peoples relied on vegetation and small animals for sustenance. The Cochise had a sophisticated knowledge of plants for food and medicinal uses, which was passed on to subsequent cultural groups in the Southwest. Because of their reliance on a diet of ground nuts and seeds, the Cochise migrated in the summer and fall to procure these foods.
Archaeologists have divided the Cochise into Sulphur Springs, Chiricahua, and San Pedro periods, named for the archaeological sites where artifacts depicting stages of dietary and technological progress have been found. One example of this development is the specialized milling stones that aided in food preparation, which are associated with the San Pedro period.
The introduction of agriculture, pottery (both introduced from central Mexico), and finally permanent dwellings, in the form of pit houses, altered the Cochise culture, which spawned the cultural flowering of both the Hohokam people and the Mogollon people.
Bibliography
Dick, Herbert W. Bat Cave. Santa Fe, N.Mex.: School of American Research, 1965.
Sayles, E. R. The Cochise Cultural Sequence in Southeastern Arizona. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1983.