Native Americans and Hot Springs

Native Americans have a long relationship with hot springs.

There is evidence that many of the major hot springs in the Americas were visited and used by local native peoples. There are artifacts near some of these hot springs that support a history of human activity that extends back thousands of years. Native Americans revered hot springs as a sacred healing place.[1]

The natural hot springs in Tonopah, Arizona are a prime example. The name "Tonopah" derives from the Western Apache name Tú Nohwá, meaning "Water For Us" or "Water For You", Though there are no ruins or evidence of dwellings in the immediate vicinity of the hot springs, the prevalence of grain-grinding mortar holes, pottery shards, and other man-made objects in the area suggest that this site was frequented for many years by native peoples such as the Hohokam. The hundreds of very high quality arrowheads found near existing springs in Tonopah attest to its popularity as a hunting ground.

Reference: wikipedia

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Bathing in hot springs is a cool way to relax and soak up those tired muscles. The Native Americans must have found out the health benefits of bathing in hot springs, that's why they bathe there.

Shanae Buckner