Saturday, May 23, 2026

Question: What ancient people built extensive irrigation canals in the Phoenix basin more than 1,000 years ago?

Answer: The Hohokam people

Flourishing in southern Arizona from roughly AD 300 to 1450, the Hohokam engineered hundreds—possibly thousands—of miles of canals drawing water from the Salt and Gila Rivers. This system transformed desert valleys into fertile agricultural centers capable of supporting tens of thousands of people, and it is considered the largest known prehistoric canal system in North America. Modern Arizona’s canal infrastructure, including much of the Salt River Project network, still follows many of the original Hohokam paths today.