The research area of prehispanic Southwest focuses on studying the cultural, social, and political developments of indigenous peoples in the southwestern region of the United States prior to European contact. This includes examining the civilizations of the Ancestral Puebloans, Hohokam, Mogollon, and other Native American groups who inhabited the area, as well as their architectural achievements, cultural practices, agricultural techniques, trade networks, and interactions with neighboring societies. Researchers in this field use a variety of archaeological, anthropological, and historical methods to reconstruct and analyze the history of these ancient societies and understand the complexities of their lifeways.