El Presidio in Tucson in Pima County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Presidio Wall & Pithouse
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, January 1, 2010
1. Presidio Wall & Pithouse Marker
Inscription.
Presidio Wall and Pithouse. . This marker locates the northeast corner of the adobe wall which surrounded the Royal Spanish Presidio San Agustin del Tucson. It is thought that a bastion, used as a lookout and as a defensive position, stood here. The site was excavated in 1954 by archaeologists who discovered beneath the wall a prehistoric Hohokam Indian dwelling, part of a village which existed here about 800 A.D. This pithouse, so named because the floor is below the level of the ground, provides evidence that Tucson is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in America., [Spanish marker] , Muralla Presidial y Casa-en-Hoyo , Este marcador señala la esquina noreste de la muralla de adobe que rodeaba el real presidio español de San Agustín del Tucsón. Uno de los cuatro baluartes de vigilancia y defensa del presidio estaba aquí. Arqueólogos, escarbando aquí, descubrieron bajo la muralla una vivienda prehistórica de un pueblo de indios Hóhokam que existía aquí c. A.D. 800. Esta casa-en-hoyo, así llamada por su piso bajo nivel de tierra, es evidencia que Tucsón es una de la ciudades más antiguamente y continuamente pobladas de Norte América.
This marker locates the northeast corner of the adobe wall which surrounded the Royal Spanish Presidio San Agustin del Tucson. It is thought that a bastion, used as a lookout and as a defensive position, stood here. The site was excavated in 1954 by archaeologists who discovered beneath the wall a prehistoric Hohokam Indian dwelling, part of a village which existed here about 800 A.D. This pithouse, so named because the floor is below the level of the ground, provides evidence that Tucson is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in America.
[Spanish marker]
Muralla Presidial y Casa-en-Hoyo
Este marcador señala la esquina noreste de la muralla de adobe que rodeaba el real presidio español de San Agustín del Tucsón. Uno de los cuatro baluartes de vigilancia y defensa del presidio estaba aquí. Arqueólogos, escarbando aquí, descubrieron bajo la muralla una vivienda prehistórica de un pueblo de indios Hóhokam que existía aquí c. A.D. 800. Esta casa-en-hoyo, así llamada por su piso bajo nivel de tierra, es evidencia que Tucsón es una de la ciudades más antiguamente y continuamente pobladas de Norte América.
Erected by Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission and Arizona Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military
Location. 32° 13.478′ N, 110° 58.391′ W. Marker is in Tucson, Arizona, in Pima County. It is in El Presidio. Marker is at the intersection of North Church Avenue and West Washington Street, on the right when traveling south on North Church Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 260 N Church Ave, Tucson AZ 85701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, January 1, 2010
2. Presidio Wall & Pithouse Marker
Spanish translation of marker text.
Photographed By Richard Denney, September 13, 2010
3. Presidio del Tucson: A Modern Reconstruction
Marker on the wall of the Presidio describes the modern reconstruction guided by archaelogists and historians.
Photographed By Richard Denney, November 21, 2010
4. Pithouse Display and Marker
Marker reads: Pit House, A prehistoric Native American village was present in this area about 2,000 years ago. At that time, people lived in small, circular houses. Here you can see the floor of one such house. The holes around the edge held saplings that were bent over to created a domed roof. A small fire hearth was located in the center of the floor. A family of four may have taken shelter in this house during the winter months. Centuries later, the Spanish unknowingly built the east wall of the presidio over the edge of the pithouse.
Photographed By Richard Denney, November 21, 2010
5. Closeup of pithouse floor
This photo shows pithouse holes for saplings (around edge) and fire hearth (center).
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, January 1, 2010
6. Presidio Wall
Photographed By Richard Denney, September 13, 2010
7. Photo of Marker in Context
Marker visible across intersection next to the outside part of the Presidio's reconstructed wall.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,486 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on May 13, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3. submitted on October 21, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 4, 5. submitted on November 25, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 6. submitted on January 6, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 7. submitted on October 21, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.