Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park | Globe

Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park is a significant prehistoric site located in Globe, Arizona, representing one of the most important remnants of the Salado culture, which thrived in the American Southwest between approximately AD 1225 and AD 1450. The site is situated on a broad ridge overlooking Pinal Creek, providing strategic views and access to water, which was vital for the settlement.

The name "Besh-Ba-Gowah" is derived from an Apache phrase meaning "Place of Metal," alluding to the region's historic association with mining and metalwork, a legacy that stretches back centuries and connects to the Native American groups and later settlers.

The archaeological park encompasses the remains of a large pueblo complex that originally consisted of about 200 rooms arranged in clusters. These rooms were constructed primarily from unshaped granite cobbles held together with clay mortar, a method characteristic of Salado architecture. The structure is multi-storied in parts, with long corridors and plazas weaving through the complex. The rooms are organized around a central communal plaza, which would have been a focal point for social, ceremonial, and economic activities within the community.

Excavations at Besh-Ba-Gowah began in 1935 under the leadership of archaeologist Irene Vickrey, who played a pioneering role in uncovering the site’s significance. Between 1935 and 1940, her team systematically excavated approximately 200 rooms and identified over 350 burial sites. These excavations revealed a rich array of artifacts that illuminate the daily life, trade, and culture of the Salado people. Among the findings were intricately decorated pottery, stone tools, jewelry, textiles, and remnants of domesticated crops such as corn, beans, and squash. The presence of these items reflects the agricultural practices, craftsmanship, and extensive trade networks maintained by the inhabitants.

The Salado culture is distinguished by its synthesis of various cultural traits, including influences from neighboring Ancestral Puebloans and Hohokam peoples, creating a unique cultural expression evident in the material remains found at Besh-Ba-Gowah. The architecture, pottery styles, and artifacts collectively provide insight into the complex social organization and cultural interactions of the period.

The park today offers visitors the chance to explore partially reconstructed room blocks and ceremonial areas, allowing a tangible sense of the ancient community’s scale and design. Walkways and interpretive signage guide visitors through the site, explaining the significance of architectural features and artifact discoveries.

Adjacent to the archaeological ruins is the Besh-Ba-Gowah Museum, which houses nearly 600 artifacts recovered from the site. The museum’s exhibits showcase a wide range of material culture including pottery vessels adorned with intricate designs, stone implements, personal adornments like jewelry, and textile fragments. The displays offer a comprehensive understanding of the technological skills and artistic sensibilities of the Salado people. Dioramas and detailed models illustrate the original layout of the pueblo, recreating scenes of daily life and community activities.

The museum also emphasizes the environmental context of the Salado culture by featuring ethno-botanical gardens within the park. These gardens cultivate native plants that were utilized by the Salado inhabitants for food, medicine, and ceremonial purposes. A lower botanical garden highlights native flora that supports local wildlife and pollinators, underscoring the close relationship between the ancient people and their natural surroundings.

Besh-Ba-Gowah is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its critical role as a cultural and archaeological landmark. The site remains a vital resource for ongoing archaeological research and education, offering deep insights into the prehistoric peoples of the American Southwest. Its preservation and interpretation provide visitors and scholars alike with a window into the sophisticated societies that flourished in this region centuries before European contact.