The name of the culture (Trincheras, or “trenches”) comes from a nearby hill that was terraced hundreds of years ago by ancient inhabitants, apparently for agricultural or defensive purposes. The site of this settlement, known as the Pyramid of Sonora, is an interesting archaeological site to explore.

The Trincheras culture developed between 200 - 1450 CE and was located in Sonora, Mexico near the Conception River.

The small Sonoran pueblo of Trincheras is located near Mexico federal highway 15, between the towns of Santa Ana and Altar.

The people of this settlement lived very similar to the Hohokam and they built distinctive terracing that delineated work and living space on volcanic hills. Their brown and red pottery is decorated with purplish paint. Both the Patayan and Trincheras populations clearly interacted with groups in the Hohokam region.