Oasisamérica (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what Oasisamérica, its characteristics and main cultures that inhabited there is. In addition, its location, fauna, flora and more.

Oasisamerica — Oasisamérica was populated between 500 a. C. and 1500 d. C.

What is oasisamérica?

Oasisamérica was one cultural region that was inhabited between 500 a. C. and 1500 d. C. It covered parts of the current southwest of the United States and northern Mexico. His name comes from the conjunction of words oasis and Americawhich allude to the field of mountain ranges, both east and west, for large desert and oasis plains. It was part of an even broader pre -Columbian territory with little biodiversity called Aridoamérica, which limited south with the Mesoamerica region.

The main oasis American cultures were the Anasazi, the Mogollones and the Hohokam. They built settlements in the mountains of the mountains and used different irrigation techniques to take advantage of the low water in the region. From the 5th century d. C., they came into commercial contact with Mesoamerican cultures, of whom they took the construction of ceremonial mounds and the practice of the ball game.

Characteristics of oasisamérica

The main characteristics of oasisamérica are:

It is a hostile region, with a warm and dry climate, with rocky and aggregate terrain.
It is an area rich in turquoise.
In the pre -Columbian era, it was inhabited by nomadic tribes and sedentary cultures.
His main cultures were Anasazi, Hohokam and Mogollón.
From the 5th century d. C., Oasis American cultures traded with Mesoamerican cultures.
In it are the archaeological remains of Table Green, Paquimé and Canyon of the Chaco, among others

Oasisamérica Geography

Oasisamerica was part of a larger territory, called Aridoaméricawhich limited the south with the region of Mesoamerica. He understood part of the current states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Texas, in the United States, and part of the states of Sonora, Chihuahua and Baja California, in Mexico. Geographically, he covered Sonora’s desert and his encounter with the sea.

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The entire region today is practically a desert; It is characterized by the hostile, warm and dry climate. The rains are scarce, and occur in a concentrated and torrential way in a few months a year. Its land is rugged, made up of mountainous chains, arid plains and cracked soils. However, being west of the Sierra Madre Occidental, it allows to take advantage of the slopes of the Sierra and create spaces suitable for agriculture in areas of Piemonte and the coast.

On the other hand, Oasisamérica stood out for its numerous turquoise deposits, a light blue mineralwhich was inside the sedimentary, volcanic or sandy stones. The turquoise stone had a slight shine-opaco and a density of little hardness.

History of Oasisamérica

Throughout its history, the cultural occupation of the region was limited by the hostility of the climate and the shortage of water. However, There is evidence that the area was inhabited by nomadic tribes and for sedentary cultures that practiced agriculture.

The main sedentary cultures that inhabited this region had several traits in common. To take advantage of the natural resources of a especially arid region, The Anasazi, the Hohokam and the Mogollón developed crop irrigation techniques and built their homes with architectural techniques that allowed them to take refuge from heat and climate hostility. With their channels, terraces, dams and ridges they transformed the landscape they inhabited. In the valleys, the plateaus and the mountain cliffs built villages with multifamiliar housing of several floors.

Towards the sixth century d. C., contact with Mesoamerican civilizations through trade generated some changes in the patterns of settlement of Oasis American cultures: The first ceremonial use mounds appeared and some courts for the ball game. They also made constructions with another type of stone and developed a red ceramic style, characteristic of the area.

Oasis American cultures They obtained from the Mesoamericans different artisanal goodsas rattles made of copper and pyrite mosaics and change, they were sold turquoise, which were extracted from the mountainous areas of the north.

Oasisamérica cultures

Archaeologists distinguish the following cultures areas in Oasisamérica:

Anasazi (100 BC.-1450 AD). The Anasazi settled in a region known as “the four corners”, made up of the current states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. In principle, they built solitary houses, cubicly and with straw roofs, which served as a refuge and as a storage space. With demographic growth, villages appearing that came to house hundreds of inhabitants. Many of the villages were built in exceptional places, such as cliffs or mountain slopes. They used cooked brick, and wove cotton fibers, cassava and leather. Some specialists consider that towards the 10th century d. C., the Anasazi developed a non -egalitarian society; that is, there were differences of hierarchy between its members.
Hohokam (200-1450 d. C.). This culture was located in the regions of the deserts of Arizona and Sonora, between the Colorado and Gila rivers. Throughout their history, they developed higher levels of complexity in their settlements. They built channels to take advantage of river water and develop corn crops. Towards 500 d. C., Hohokam urban centers appeared with ceremonial mounds and ball games, under the influence of Mesoamerican cultures that connected through trade. Around 1450 d. C., a series of droughts (which hindered storage and agricultural production), added to continuous attacks of nomadic tribes led to the dispersion of Hohokam culture.
Mogollón (500 BC.-1500 AD). The Mogollones were established in the region of the Sierra Madre Occidental, south of New Mexico, Norte de Chihuahua and Northeast of Sonora. They inhabited the forests of the mountainous area and its open valleys. His culture was characterized by burying his dead with trousseau full of brown ceramics painted with red decorations. In addition, they made white bowls with black drawings, in which they represented scenes of the human world and the supernatural world: mythical characters, animals with masks, warriors and priests, hunting scenes, births and swimming episodes, among other images.
Pataya (500-1350 AD). This cultural area emerged around the Colorado River and covers the southeast of California, the West of Arizona, the north of Baja California and the northwest of Sonora. Its inhabitants were semi -adhes, so their settlements were small and sporadic. They were influenced by the Hohokam culture, which took agricultural practices, pottery, ball game and the cremation of the dead.
Fremont (400-1300 AD). This cultural tradition was located in the current territory of Utah, and was strongly linked to Anasazi culture. They were collecting hunters who began to settle in the region towards 400 d. C. dedicated themselves to the basketry and the extraction of turquoise, which traded in exchange for other manufactured goods. They painted petroglyphs, developed red ceramics, horticulture and built underground.

Archaeological sites of Oasisamérica

The main archaeological sites of Oasisamérica are:

Paquimé, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Trincheras, Sonora, Mexico.
Bat Cave, New Mexico.
Green table, Colorado, United States.
Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, United States.
Snaketown, Arizona, United States.

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Flora and Fauna of Oasisamérica

Oasisamerica fauna — In Oasisamérica abounded reptiles such as desert iguana.

The Oasis American Flora It was characterized by xerophyte vegetation (plants adapted to heat and drought), such as cactus, scrublands and agaves or succulents, capable of storing water in their own tissues.

However, the presence of the rivers that led to the Oasis allowed the existence of more leafy vegetation and high forests in the mountains.

Fauna was characterized by including animals capable of supporting arid land and hot climates with few rains, such as arachnids (among them, scorpion or scorpion), reptiles (such as desert iguana) and mammals (such as fox, buffalo or coyote).

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