Archaeological investigation in the vicinity of Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, an oasis and crossroads settlement on the south bank of the Sonoyta River, a spring-fed desert stream that parallels the Arizona-Sonora boundary for some miles, discloses plentiful evidence of a lengthy and probably continuous occupation of the area by a toolusing agricultural people. The location and general environment of Sonoyta is shown in Fig. 3a.

During the last thirty years, several tons of polished stone artifacts, mostly metates, manos, and hammers, have been found in the Sonoyta Valley within easy walking distance of the townsite. Many of these, particularly metates and manos, have been salvaged by local Indians, and are still in use.