Hopi History at the Homol’ovi Settlement Cluster, Northeastern Arizona

The Homol’ovi Settlement Cluster comprises seven villages arrayed along a 20-mile stretch of the Little Colorado River. These villages were variously occupied between AD 1260-1400 and figure prominently in Hopi migration stories. Hopi villages today are only 60 miles north. During its peak occupation in the late 1300s, the Cluster was home to nearly 2000 people and figured prominently in regional trade networks focused around farming cotton along the river. In particular, yellow-firing pottery produced at Hopi Mesa villages was exchanged for Homol’ovi cotton. Katsina religion also grew to prominence during this period. This talk will describe the 150-year history of the Cluster, its role in the history of the region, and its continuing relationship to the Hopi people.