The Structure and Organization of Hohokam Shell Exchange

Abstract
This paper summarizes what is currently known about Hohokam shell exchange in the U.S. Southwest and attempts to interpret the role of this trade in Hohokam prehistory. Data gathered in the 1970s and 1980s and the application of quantitative methods in exchange analysis form the basis for this new synthesis. This synthesis treats Hohokam shell exchange in terms of regional specialization within a bounded exchange network. We further consider how Hohokam shell exchange changed between the Sedentary and Classic periods and examine the importance of these changes for our interpretations of Hohokam prehistory. Our synthesis is integrated by a social theory that incorporates productive relations, exchange relations, and the social meaning of shell.