We've been studying these sites for 40 years. See videos at
"Golio Endeavors" on Youtube.
We've been studying these sites for 40 years. See videos at
"Golio Endeavors" on Youtube.
Links to Hilltop Site Categories: Rectangular Anchorite Mega Piled Rock Wall Expansion Glacis
From J Scott Wood, retired Tonto National Forest Archaeologist: "Ritual enclosures appear to have been a cultural phenomenon of the Hohokam-related Central Arizona Tradition. Based on ethnographic research with the Southern Tribes and Hopi, they appear to have been used for a particular set of ceremonial activities. Difficult to date because they rarely contain artifacts, they appear to have been built and used between about 850 and 1070 AD. They are found throughout central Arizona from Burro Creek in the west to San Carlos in the east and from Wupatki in the north to Gila Bend and Dudleyville in the South.
They are found in high, difficult to access places and usually consist of substantial rubble core walls enclosing empty space, though they occasionally have one or more small rooms associated with them. Sometimes, that empty enclosed space is divided in half by an interior wall, like Spanish Fort. They come in various shapes and sizes - round, rectangular, oval, and irregular and frequently merely take the form of the contour around the top of a hill. No two are exactly alike.
After these structures fell out of use around 1070 most do not appear to have ever been used again. However, many were located in what would later become strategic positions and were reoccupied in the mid 1100s or during the Great Drought (1275-1300) and rebuilt into fortified residences. Sears-Kay Ruin near Carefree is a classic example of such a re-occupation in the mid 1100s."
Mike and JJ Golio have been studying Hilltop Enclosures (precontact forts, ritual enclosures, and hilltop sites) for 40 years. Their work was originally presented at the 1991 Pecos Conference. This brought it to the attention of David Wilcox. About 4 years ago Mike started putting 3D and drone videos of Hilltop Enclosures on YouTube's "Golio Endeavors". A video, site report, and photos for each site are given to the archaeologists we are working with--Hoski Schraasfma, J Scott Wood, and Justin Mortensen. At the 2023 Pecos Conference, JJ and MIke's work was used for Hoski's presentation, "Decorative Architecture in the Transition Zone of Central Arizona" and Justin's poster, "Summits in the Central Highlands-Peaks and Places of Gathering". Mike Golio presented "Documenting Precontact Hilltop Enclosures" at the January 2024 meeting of the Verde Valley Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society. A general overview of hilltop enclosures from his presentation is in this video. Hoski presented "Shared Ideology in Precontact Central AZ: Reflections from the Hilltops" at the 2024 Sonoran Desert Symposium.
Below are some of the more interesting Hilltop Enclosures our group has found including 2 previously unknown eagle traps. All the drone videos can be found on YouTube under Golio Endeavors. Hilltop Enclosures with specific traits have been grouped on separate pages that can be selected from the menu at the top.
For even more fun see our Geology, Archaeology, and History Guide to Badger Springs Trail in Agua Fria National Monument
The knife edge entrance makes this appear defensive, but it could have served another purpose. This might be an anchorite site.
Promontory fort with band in wall. One of the sites on the Rectangular Enclosures Page has bands made from a different colored rock. (see menu at top)
Close up of wall with shorter rocks used to create band. Look at layer above loophole,
Crenulations in the wall were regular with clean edges indicating they were made this way on purpose.
This site had a pristine loophole with a wood lintel. It can be used for C14 dating.
Early in the pandemic, we found 2 previously unknown eagle trap sites. We told archaeologists about these sites who then told someone they thought they could trust. Now they're in his "My Original Work" presentation. The traps are fragile.
A one person rock shelter on the top has rock slabs across the top. Gaps in the slabs allow the person to reach through the slabs.
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