Gatlin Site, Archaeological site in Gila Bend, Arizona, US.
The Gatlin Site is an archaeological settlement along the Gila River containing residential buildings, platform mounds, and two ceremonial ball courts from an ancient community. The grounds spread across a large area and reveal the remains of a complex, organized society.
The settlement was inhabited between 800 and 1200 and was rediscovered through excavations in 1959, revealing that hundreds of people lived there. This discovery helped archaeologists better understand the early societies of the region.
The location served as a central meeting point where people traded goods from distant places, as shown by copper bells, marine shells, and colorful feathers discovered in the ruins.
The site is not freely accessible and undergoes ongoing restoration, so visitors must arrange a visit in advance. It is important to contact local authorities beforehand to obtain permission for entry.
The site contains one of the earliest known platform mounds built by the Hohokam in the Sonoran Desert, marking an important phase in how this ancient civilization developed. This early building form later spread widely in the region and helped archaeologists trace how complex societies emerged.
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