Coronado National Memorial
30 mi. SW of Bisbee, Bisbee, AZThe nine Cochise Culture sites of the Coronado National Memorial Multiple Resource District are significant because they can provide information and comparative studies of Cochise settlement patterns, social organization, and resource utilization in a specific ecological area. The sites as a group may be assigned to National Park Service Theme la4 (The Earliest Americans - Archaic Indian Horizon) and lfl (Aboriginal Technology - Hunting Techniques). Although Coronado National Memorial, as a historic area of the National Parks System, has been National Register property since 1966, the Cochise Culture sites within the memorial are significant in their own right. The significance of the memorial is national and relates to its historical and scenic properties. The significance of the Cochise sites is regional and confined to their ability to enlarge our knowledge of a specific prehistoric period.
All prehistoric remains located within the memorial and adjacent surveyed areas are assignable to the Cochise Culture, a variety of the Desert Culture localized in southeast Arizona. The majority of the sites were of the Chiricahua Phase (3500 - 1500 B.C.), although one appears also to have been occupied during the later San Pedro Phase (1500-200 B.C.). Surface indications consist of low-density scatters of both chipped and ground lithics, and indications of hearths. The extent of subsurface remains is unknown, but excavations of similar sites within the nearby San Pedro River drainage suggest the possibility of storage pits, ramadas or shelters, and work areas. Both base camps and smaller work camps are represented in this group of sites. Perhaps the most significant factor uniting the sites is their location. All are near a permanent water source, at an altitude of 5000-5500 feet, and in oak. woodland ecotonal areas.
As much as the integrity of these lithic scatters depends upon the location and relationship of surface artifacts, relic collecting constitutes the major potential for a disturbance at the present time. Thus, the establishment of any visitor facilities or access nearby would produce an adverse indirect impact on these resources. Cattle grazing can also displace artifacts and churn the ground surface. In areas such as Yaqui Springs, every effort should be made to a fence or otherwise protect the sites from cattle and humans.
Although Cochise sites have been recorded and excavated in other areas of southeast Arizona, these studies have been concentrated in the lower elevations and along major drainages. The sites in the Coronado National Memorial are located at an elevation and in an ecological situation that has not previously been investigated. The primary significance of the prehistoric archeological resources of the memorial lies in their potential to provide information on past environments and their use by the Cochise Culture. The precise nature of post-glacial climatic change in southeast Arizona is still in dispute. Comparisons of contemporary pollen with that recovered from subsurface archeological features such as hearths, storage pits or the grinding surfaces of milling stones may help resolve this problem. Further information on past environmental conditions can be obtained through flotation and faunal studies.
It has been postulated that the cultivation of maize was introduced in Mexico in the Chiricahua Stage. Incipient agriculture would be limited to regions of open woodland with little or no sod cover at higher elevations due to the type of maize available at that time. The location of Cochise sites within the memorial conforms to these conditions. The possibility for discovering evidence of incipient agriculture is heightened by the presence of Tripsicum, an ancestor of maize currently found growing in small draws within the memorial. Thus, the sites have great potential for adding to our knowledge of the spread and development of maize cultivation. in the Southwest.
Detailed analysis of the distribution of features and artifact types within individual sites may give indications of the sexual division of labor and activity patterns. Edge wear analysis of chipped lithic artifacts, along with factor or cluster analysis of associated tool groups, will enable tool kits or assemblages to be isolated and specific site activities to be determined. The sites present significant opportunities for dating hear this by thermoluminescent analysis of burned limestone, or if feasible, by archaeomagnetic dating of burned adobe. This would aid in determining the frequency and length of occupation. Previous studies have indicated a more intense occupation of montane sites than of those at lower elevations. Comparisons of settlement patterns, occupational density, and frequency, seasonality, and site-specific. activities with comparable data from lower elevations would give a more complete picture of Cochise Culture in general. Furthermore, such analysis would aid in determining whether one group utilized a wide range of resources or whether groups were more selective, each restricted to a distinct ecological territory.
Local significance of the structure:
All prehistoric remains located within the memorial and adjacent surveyed areas are assignable to the Cochise Culture, a variety of the Desert Culture localized in southeast Arizona. The majority of the sites were of the Chiricahua Phase (3500 - 1500 B.C.), although one appears also to have been occupied during the later San Pedro Phase (1500-200 B.C.). Surface indications consist of low-density scatters of both chipped and ground lithics, and indications of hearths. The extent of subsurface remains is unknown, but excavations of similar sites within the nearby San Pedro River drainage suggest the possibility of storage pits, ramadas or shelters, and work areas. Both base camps and smaller work camps are represented in this group of sites. Perhaps the most significant factor uniting the sites is their location. All are near a permanent water source, at an altitude of 5000-5500 feet, and in oak. woodland ecotonal areas.
As much as the integrity of these lithic scatters depends upon the location and relationship of surface artifacts, relic collecting constitutes the major potential for a disturbance at the present time. Thus, the establishment of any visitor facilities or access nearby would produce an adverse indirect impact on these resources. Cattle grazing can also displace artifacts and churn the ground surface. In areas such as Yaqui Springs, every effort should be made to a fence or otherwise protect the sites from cattle and humans.
Although Cochise sites have been recorded and excavated in other areas of southeast Arizona, these studies have been concentrated in the lower elevations and along major drainages. The sites in the Coronado National Memorial are located at an elevation and in an ecological situation that has not previously been investigated. The primary significance of the prehistoric archeological resources of the memorial lies in their potential to provide information on past environments and their use by the Cochise Culture. The precise nature of post-glacial climatic change in southeast Arizona is still in dispute. Comparisons of contemporary pollen with that recovered from subsurface archeological features such as hearths, storage pits or the grinding surfaces of milling stones may help resolve this problem. Further information on past environmental conditions can be obtained through flotation and faunal studies.
It has been postulated that the cultivation of maize was introduced in Mexico in the Chiricahua Stage. Incipient agriculture would be limited to regions of open woodland with little or no sod cover at higher elevations due to the type of maize available at that time. The location of Cochise sites within the memorial conforms to these conditions. The possibility for discovering evidence of incipient agriculture is heightened by the presence of Tripsicum, an ancestor of maize currently found growing in small draws within the memorial. Thus, the sites have great potential for adding to our knowledge of the spread and development of maize cultivation. in the Southwest.
Detailed analysis of the distribution of features and artifact types within individual sites may give indications of the sexual division of labor and activity patterns. Edge wear analysis of chipped lithic artifacts, along with factor or cluster analysis of associated tool groups, will enable tool kits or assemblages to be isolated and specific site activities to be determined. The sites present significant opportunities for dating hear this by thermoluminescent analysis of burned limestone, or if feasible, by archaeomagnetic dating of burned adobe. This would aid in determining the frequency and length of occupation. Previous studies have indicated a more intense occupation of montane sites than of those at lower elevations. Comparisons of settlement patterns, occupational density, and frequency, seasonality, and site-specific. activities with comparable data from lower elevations would give a more complete picture of Cochise Culture in general. Furthermore, such analysis would aid in determining whether one group utilized a wide range of resources or whether groups were more selective, each restricted to a distinct ecological territory.
Exploration/settlement; Hispanic
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The Grand Canyon was not always a national park: The Grand Canyon was first designated a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, and it was not until 1919 that it became a national park. Today, the Grand Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
About Cochise County
Cochise County Timeline
Cochise County, located in southeastern Arizona, has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally home to various indigenous populations, including the Apache, Hohokam, and Sobaipuri people. These native groups lived off the land, hunting and practicing agricultural techniques, leaving behind remarkable artifacts and heritage sites.
The arrival of European settlers in the late 17th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios, seeking to convert the native people to Christianity and assert control over the area. However, conflicts between the Apache and Spanish colonizers were frequent, as the Apache fiercely defended their territory and resisted colonization.
In the mid-19th century, tensions escalated in Cochise County as white settlers encroached upon Apache lands. One of the most notable figures of this time was Cochise, a prominent Apache chief who resisted the encroachment and fought against the US Army. Notorious conflicts such as the Battle of Apache Pass and the Apache Wars became synonymous with the region's history.
The establishment of mining towns in the late 19th century greatly influenced the development of Cochise County. Silver, gold, and copper mines attracted a wave of immigrants, creating bustling towns like Tombstone and Bisbee. These towns prospered for several decades, but by the early 20th century, the mining industry declined, leading to economic hardships for the county.
Today, Cochise County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. It continues to attract visitors with its historical sites, including Tombstone's historic district and the Chiricahua National Monument, while embracing its Native American roots and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the region.
The arrival of European settlers in the late 17th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios, seeking to convert the native people to Christianity and assert control over the area. However, conflicts between the Apache and Spanish colonizers were frequent, as the Apache fiercely defended their territory and resisted colonization.
In the mid-19th century, tensions escalated in Cochise County as white settlers encroached upon Apache lands. One of the most notable figures of this time was Cochise, a prominent Apache chief who resisted the encroachment and fought against the US Army. Notorious conflicts such as the Battle of Apache Pass and the Apache Wars became synonymous with the region's history.
The establishment of mining towns in the late 19th century greatly influenced the development of Cochise County. Silver, gold, and copper mines attracted a wave of immigrants, creating bustling towns like Tombstone and Bisbee. These towns prospered for several decades, but by the early 20th century, the mining industry declined, leading to economic hardships for the county.
Today, Cochise County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. It continues to attract visitors with its historical sites, including Tombstone's historic district and the Chiricahua National Monument, while embracing its Native American roots and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the region.
Cochise County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Cochise County, Arizona.
- 1850: Cochise County lands become part of the United States through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- 1860: The Butterfield Overland Mail establishes a stagecoach route through present-day Cochise County.
- 1861: Cochise County is officially established as a county in the Arizona Territory.
- 1877: Tombstone is founded and becomes one of the most prosperous mining towns in the region.
- 1881: The infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral takes place in Tombstone.
- 1886: Cochise County witnesses the surrender of Geronimo, marking the end of the Apache Wars.
- 1915: The Cochise County Courthouse in Bisbee is completed, reflecting the wealth and importance of the mining industry.
- 1961: The closure of the Bisbee copper mines leads to a decline in the county's economy.
- 2003: The border town of Douglas becomes a key entry point for drug smuggling from Mexico.