Oasis America Is a cultural superstore belonging to pre-Columbian North America, stretching from Utah to Mexico. It is a term that is usually used by researchers, mainly Mexican anthropologists.
It also spanned from the coast of the Gulf of California in Sonora, Mexico, to the Rio Bravo valley. Oasis America was the last cultural area that was formed in that territory.
Its origin is around 500 BC, which means that it existed 2000 years after the separation of Mesoamerica and Arid America. These three pre-Hispanic cultural zones had different climates and therefore had different vegetation and fauna.
This area is defined as an intermediate territory between the cultures of nomadic hunter-gatherers located in the northern desert and highlands Mesoamerican cultures .
Although they were born in different times, the people of Oasis America had great contact with those of Mesoamerica. This is due to the population movements that occurred in the year 200.
On the other hand, with the growth of the Mesoamerican population, it decided to migrate north. This was how they managed to strengthen trade in different areas.
Top 10 features of Oasis America
1- Location
Today the world is divided into what we know as continents, each with their respective countries. But in pre-Columbian times, these regions were no more than areas occupied by different peoples.
Oasis America was one of the many cultural surpasses that were known in the past. It was located in the region that today is known as the southwest of the United States and northeastern Mexico.
Specifically, Oasis America covered the state of Utah, part of the state of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. This is about the United States. As for the Mexican part, it occupied part of the State of Sonora and Chihuahua. However, the area also included some stretches of California, Baja California and Texas.
2- Type of territory
Oasis America has been described as a green spot in the desert. And it is that the whole area of this region was formed by arid and semi-arid lands. This area was basically a rugged territory characterized by the presence of rocky mountains and the so-called Sierra Madre Occidental.
In addition to the enormous mountain ranges, this area also extended large arid plains pertaining to the deserts of the three zones that conformed the area: Sonora, Chihuahua and Arizona. The landscape of Oasis America was characterized by the rugged terrain. And it was not only high mountains but also cracked soils.
3- Turquoise deposits
The region of Oasis America was rich in turquoise deposits. This blue-green mineral was one of the materials most appreciated by the cultures of the time. The exchange of this precious stone was what allowed the establishment of a relationship between the Mesoamerican region and the American oasis.
Turquoise is an opaque stone with a light and waxy sheen, and of little hardness (resembling glass). This mineral is located in deposits within sedimentary, volcanic or sandy stones.
4- Agriculture
Although the land of Oasis America was a semi-arid territory, with a hot and dry climate and few rains, it had some fertile land for the practice of agriculture. This thanks to the presence of oasis.
Unlike their desert neighbors, oasesamericanos became farmers, although due to the weather conditions mentioned above, this was not as efficient as would have been expected. For this reason, they often had to resort to hunting and gathering to survive.
The environmental conditions made the process of introduction of agriculture in the area gradual and dilated. Members of the OAS-American culture gradually acquired agricultural knowledge. On the other hand, it is believed that it was the Mesoamerican who carried the agricultural technology to the oasisamericanos.
5- Hydraulic development
The culture of Oasis America was also highlighted by hydraulic development. Because the area had a dry, almost desert climate vegetation Scarce, one of the requirements to devote to agriculture was the channeling of surface water flows, as well as the storage of rainwater.
In order to maintain the crops, the villagers took advantage of the rivers in the first instance and then dedicated themselves to creating complex hydraulic systems.
6- Three great cultures
Anasazi Ruins
In the oasisamericano territory three great cultures were developed. These were the anasazi, the hohokam and the mogollón. The first flourished at the confluence of the states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
It is considered as one of the most complex societies that were seen in the oasisamericano territory and it was a territory populated with juniper forests. The ancient settlers knew how to make the most of these plant resources since they were dedicated to harvesting.
On the other hand, the towns belonging to the Hohokam culture settled in the territories formed by the deserts of Arizona and Sonora. This area was surrounded by two large streams: the Colorado River and the Gila River.
This was one of the Ecosystems With more difficult conditions for agriculture and even for human life. This was due to the high temperatures and the low rainfall.
La Mogollón was a cultural oasisamericana area that was located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental (part of the present territory of the states of Arizona and New Mexico in the United States).
The people of this culture enjoyed a geographical environment characterized by the presence of pine forests, as well as steep mountains and ravines.
7- Ceramics
The manufacture of ceramics was one of the elements that marked the end of the time of hunting and gathering of the oasisamericanos towns.
The production of ceramics marked the beginning of sedentarism in this population. The three cultures of Oasis America were dedicated to this activity, although in different periods.
The Anasazi, for example, had a first moment known as the cestero period. In it they dedicated to a mixed economy and only wove baskets. But at the second moment, known as the village period, began the production of ceramics. It was a moment of maximum artistic expression.
They created a very detailed pottery of wicker, using the colors red, black and white. In addition they not only designed geometric figures, but also animals and stylized people.
The hohokam produced a type of ceramic other than the anasazi. In their first period, known as pioneer, they had a monochromatic gray or cafesosa ceramics for domestic use. But already for its third period, the sedentary, the pottery reached a better quality and a great variety of styles, designs and colors.
Like the two cultures of the area, the mogollones also produced ceramic pieces, which were of great quality and beauty.
During its first phase, called Georgetown, the pottery was simple, had no decorations and its color was brown. Its forms were only bowls and jars. However, for its second phase (San Francisco), the first ceramics appeared that were decorated with red on coffee.
8- Architectural works
In the oasis-American culture, specifically that of the Anasazi, there was a period of maximum architectural expression. During the so-called village period large multi-storey multi-storey houses appeared. Many of them were staggered and some were erected on cliffs.
In the Hohokam culture, for its part, the architecture was simpler. In this group, the semi-underground rooms predominated, which were covered with mesquite trunks and leaves.
Many times they were covered with mud. In the case of the mogollones rectangular plants were added to the previous architectural forms. And as for the ceremonial enclosures were constructed walls that were slightly curved.
9- Loincloths and ornaments
The dress of all the inhabitants of this area was almost the same as in other pre-Columbian cultures. His clothing was composed of loincloths, sandals and a band that was placed on the forehead.
Women used to wear layers, shirts, head tangs and a sort of apron or pelvic skirt when they had menstruation. They also used to use different ornaments. Among them necklaces, bracelets, pectorals, etc. These elements were also indicators of a certain social position.
10- Cult of divinities
The different groups that were part of the culture of Oasis America had very varied beliefs.
However, these people shared the cult of divinities that were associated with nature and fertility.
Some cultures of the Southwest of the United States worshiped to the kachinas, that were entities with a similar aspect to the mesoamericano God Tláloc. These supernatural beings were associated with hunting, rain, and crops.
References
- Dominguez, H; Carrillo, R. (2008). The farming peoples of Oasis America. Recovered from portalacademico.cch.unam.mx.
- Cultural super-areas. Overview of ancient Mexico. Retrieved from sgpwe.izt.uam.mx.
- Braniff, B. (2001). The Great Chichi of Mecca. Mexican Archeology. Editorial Raíces - National Institute of Anthropology and History. Recovered from ecured.cu.
- Cano, O. (2001). Paquimé and the cliff houses. Mexican Archeology. Editorial Raíces - National Institute of Anthropology and History. Recovered from ecured.cu.