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C onn ect i ng C u ltu r es T hrough F am i ly and F ood

was based on turquoise. That blue-green stone, mined from area canyons, was used in jewelry and other decorative objects, and acquired spiritual significance. In hard times, it was a reliable currency to trade for food or other basic necessities. Tradingwasn’t limited just to objects. TheHohokampeople, who lived inArizona, were skilled farmers. To copewith the dry deserts of the south- west, they developed sophisticated irrigation systems. They then shared this technology with other cultures, helping the spread of agriculture.

The Hohokam people used innovative farming techniques, including small dams to harness the available water in the desert.