Snaketown, Archaeological site in Sacaton, United States.
Snaketown is an archaeological site near Sacaton covering a large area of desert land with remains of ancient dwellings and irrigation systems. The site sits close to the Gila River and displays the layout of a settlement that once thrived in this arid region.
The site was established around 300 BCE and became a major settlement for the Hohokam people over centuries. Archaeological work in the 1930s uncovered mounds, courts, and canal networks that revealed the scale of this ancient civilization.
The people who lived here developed farming through an extensive canal system that allowed them to grow crops in the desert. This approach shows how communities adapted to and shaped the landscape around them.
The site is closed to the public for preservation purposes, but you can see artifacts and learn about the settlement at the Arizona State Museum. Visiting the museum is the practical way to understand what archaeologists discovered here.
The residents built their homes by digging rectangular pits in the ground, then reinforcing them with branches and mud bricks. This construction method was practical and suited the desert environment.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.