The three prehistoric cultures that developed in the Southwestern United States, known for their agricultural communities and distinctive housing, basketry, and pottery, are:
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Ancestral Puebloans (formerly known as the Anasazi): This culture is well known for its cliff dwellings, intricate pottery, and basketry. They lived in the Four Corners region (where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet) and were skilled in agriculture, growing crops such as corn, beans, and squash.
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Hohokam: Located primarily in what is now Arizona, the Hohokam are recognized for their advanced irrigation systems and distinctive red-on-buff pottery. They developed agricultural communities that relied heavily on farming in the desert landscape.
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Mogollon: This group inhabited parts of southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. The Mogollon culture is characterized by its unique pottery styles, cliff dwellings, and early agricultural practices, including the cultivation of maize.
These cultures contributed significantly to the history and development of the region's social and artistic traditions.
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