Agua Fria National Monument Nature and Culture

The Agua Fria National Monument contains more than 450 recorded archaeological sites, spanning some 2,000 years of human history. The first Native American settlers were Archaic people, moving seasonally to hunt game and gather wild plant foods. At about 700 CE (Common Era), Hohokam farmers established small villages on the mesa tops and along the Agua Fria River. After 1100 CE, many families left their lowland settlements in central Arizona to establish new villages in upland areas. These uplands included Perry Mesa and Black Mesa, separated by the river's deep canyon. 

Archaeologists call the late prehistoric people who lived on the mesas between 1250 and 1450 CE, the Perry Mesa Tradition people. It is estimated that at least 3,000 people inhabited settlements in areas now visited only occasionally by ranchers, hunters and hikers. Remnants of stone pueblos, some containing more than 100 rooms, represent a system of communities with economic and social ties. Pueblo la Plata, a large settlement of approximately 100 rooms, attracts many visitors. 

The people of the Perry Mesa Tradition abandoned their villages by 1500, possibly retreating from a drought. Early Spanish explorers encountered Yavapai Indians living in the area, but their relationship to the Perry Mesa Tradition is unclear. In the 1870s, the Yavapai were compelled by the U.S. Army to move to the San Carlos Reservation in eastern Arizona, from there eventually returning to their homeland. Today, Yavapai communities exist near Prescott and Camp Verde. 

The late 1800s brought homesteaders, ranchers, and miners to the Agua Fria River and before long, legal disputes erupted over water rights. Cattle, sheep, and goats raised by ranchers supported the growth of Prescott. While very little mining occurred during the last half of the 20th century, livestock ranching communities continue even today. There are portions of ten ranch allotments within the national monument's boundaries. Grazing practices must conform to federal standards and guidelines to protect and sustain native grassland and riparian zones. Many of the national monument's archaeological sites are in remote and inaccessible areas. Pueblo la Plata is recommended for exploration by visitors, as well as a rock art site at the confluence of Badger Springs Wash and the Agua Fria River. Sadly, many sites have sustained damage from looting and vandalism, however they still provide scientific, educational, and cultural values. Please help protect these prehistoric and historic sites as an important part of the nation's heritage.  Visit cultural sites with respect.