Workshops and Lectures
Upcoming Lectures
Ancestral O’Odham (Hohokam) Irrigation along the Lower Salt River and Broader Understanding of Ancient Irrigation
November 7th, 2025 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Irrigation has been the foundation of life in the Phoenix Basin for thousands of years. The Ancestral O’Odham, commonly known as the Hohokam, developed one of the most expansive and sophisticated irrigation systems in the ancient world. Contrary to popular beliefs, the Hohokam did not disappear, but live on through O’Odham communities today. In this talk, Chris Caseldine will discuss the history of irrigation along the lower Salt River through the present day. Chris Caseldine will highlight ways that an extremely large flood and highly interconnected irrigation canals contributed to the Hohokam Classic period. Further, and he will discuss how combining understandings of Ancestral O’Odham irrigation, historic traditional irrigators, and institutions provides insights into the management of irrigation systems in other ancient agrarian societies.
Christopher Caseldine is the Curator of Collections for the Center for Archaeology and Society Repository in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at ASU. Caseldine’s research interests focus on water management and governance among traditional irrigation societies, travel in the ancient world, and the archaeology of the Phoenix and Tonto basins in Arizona. He also focuses on NAGPRA compliance, repatriation, and curatorial management.