Tumamoc Hill

Tumamoc Hill is a butte located immediately west of "A" Mountain and downtown Tucson, Arizona. It is home to many radio, television, and public safety transmitters. The University of Arizona (UA) owns a 340acre preserve and leases another 509acre as a research and education facility. The Steward Observatory maintains a small astronomical observatory with a 20in telescope on the hill. Besides being a prominent landmark, Tumamoc Hill has a long and varied history, and is currently an important site for ecological and anthropological research as well as a refuge and a recreational option for the people of Tucson.Official Designations and Management National Environmental Study Site Arizona State Scientific and Natural Educational Area National Historic Landmark National Register of Historic PlacesHuman historyTumamoc, which is an O'odham word for "regal horned lizard", was a home to the ancient Hohokam people. It is the site of the earliest known trincheras village, consisting of 160 foundations of round stone structures, as well as large stone perimeter walls. Over 460 petroglyphs and a prehistoric garden beside the hill provide further evidence of Tumamoc’s importance to these mysterious people. Even after these ancient inhabitants moved away about 1,300 years ago, the site continued to provide resources to the Tohono O'odham, Akimel O'odham, and the Hopi. It has also been reported to be a burial site for the Apache and the O'odham.