A series of prehistoric cultures flourished in this region between the end of the last Ice Age and the beginning of Spanish Colonial activities in the late 1600s. These prehistoric peoples were the area’s original farmers and created the first canals, pottery, and villages in the Southwest. This valley has been part of the territory of the Tohono O’odham (People of the Desert) since prehistoric times, and groups of the Yaqui (Yoeme) tribe of western Mexico arrived here in several waves beginning in the early 1800s.

In and around Tucson, artifacts and exhibits about prehistoric cultures of the Santa Cruz Valley can be found at the Arizona State Museum and the Arizona Historical Society Museum. Like many regions of the western U.S., the Santa Cruz Valley has vibrant Native American communities with deep roots in the region. Celebration of their cultural contributions to the Santa Cruz Valley are integral to the area’s identity.

Learn more about Native American Lifeways here.