New Mexico History The Mogollon Culture

Location The Mogollon culture of southwestern North America existed from AD 200 to about The homeland of the Mogollon Indians was the mountainous region of what are now southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Their territory also extended southward into Mexico. Their name comes from the Mogollon mountains in New Mexico.

Mogollon Occupation Mogollon Indians lived in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.

Housing The people lived in small villages of circular pit houses whose floors were 10 to 40 inches below the ground level. The entrances were usually through tunnels.

Pit House Pit houses were under ground.

Housing Continued Eventually the pit houses were replaced by adobe and masonry apartment houses that were built at ground level and were one to two stories high. These pueblo villages sometimes contained 40 t0 50 rooms arranged around a plaza.

Pueblo Village These villages were several stories high.

Food Sources They obtained food principally by foraging wild seeds, roots, and nuts. Hunting focused on small prey, such as rabbits and lizards. Eventually, they began planting crops and hunting deer.

Food Sources

Cooking and Storage The Mogollon people developed pottery which they used not only to cook in but also to store things in.

Cooking and Storage

Culture Ends The Mogollon culture ended for unknown reasons in the 15 th century. The people abandoned their villages and may have joined other village groups.