Growing Agave - A Remarkable Story of Ancient Tucson Farmers

115 N. Church Avenue,Tucson AZ 85701

19 November, 2021

Description

The Hohokam cultivated and processed agave primarily as a food source. Learn how this extraordinary plant has been used for centuries. The ancestral O’odham (Hohokam) of southern Arizona devised an ingenious system of simple stone planting devices with which farmers cultivated agave as a field crop at low elevations of desert basins too hot and dry for natural populations to prosper. Fields composed of such archaeological stone features are still well-preserved in undisturbed areas surrounding Tucson. They reveal the widespread cultivation of versatile agave crops that supplied a baked food and raw materials for fiber, as well as sweets and a fermentable base for beverages on special occasions. Experimental plantings by Suzanne and Paul Fish in Hohokam fields at Tumamoc Hill and near Marana since 1983 demonstrate productive potential and implications for climate change. Suzanne Fish, PhD, Professor, School of Anthropology and Curator, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona (retired). The Pima County Historic Courthouse is among Tucson’s most beloved landmarks. Designed by architect Roy Place, this iconic Spanish Colonial Revival-styled structure was built in 1929 and remained in service for an 86-year span during which time it served as the backdrop for numerous wedding proceedings and became home to several County departments.