Casa Grande Ruins
click photo to enlarge
click photo to enlarge
click photo to enlarge
Casa Grande Ruins
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The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, located in Coolidge, Arizona, preserves the remains of an ancient structure built by the Hohokam people around the early 14th century. The centerpiece of the site is a massive four-story adobe building known as "Casa Grande," which means "Great House" in Spanish. This impressive structure likely served as a central gathering place or ceremonial site and reflects the Hohokam’s advanced knowledge of architecture and engineering, including the use of caliche—a natural cement-like material found in the desert. |
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Surrounded by a compound wall and additional smaller buildings, the site offers insight into the complex social and agricultural society of the Hohokam, who developed sophisticated irrigation systems to support their communities in the harsh desert environment. The Park Service has built a metal structure over it to protect it from the elements. |
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