ABSTRACT

The Southwest (Fig. 9.1) is primarily a desert region that encompasses most of Arizona and New Mexico, southern Colorado, southern Utah, and the states of Sonora and Chihuahua in northern Mexico. The Handbook of North American Indians includes Baja California within the Southwest, but for the purposes of this book, it is discussed with California (see Chapter 7). Most archaeological work in the Southwest has been conducted within the United States portion, often called the “American Southwest.” The term “Greater Southwest” is sometimes used to ensure the inclusion of northern Mexico. Recall that in the Southwest (and in this chapter) researchers commonly use the BC/AD dating system instead of the Before Present (BP) system.