1. Puebloan Societies: The majority of the population in the pre-Hispanic Southwest lived in sedentary agricultural communities known as pueblos, and they focused on farming and trade rather than large-scale raiding. Puebloan societies such as the Anasazi, Mogollon, and Hohokam tended to have relatively peaceful relationships with their neighbors and engaged in trade and exchange.
2. Limited Warfare: While there is evidence of warfare and defensive structures in the pre-Hispanic Southwest, it was often on a smaller scale and more localized. Puebloan communities might engage in raiding or warfare with neighboring groups over resources, land, or water rights, but these conflicts were usually limited and did not involve large-scale armies.
3. Athabascan-Speaking Groups: Some Athabascan-speaking groups, such as the Navajo and Apache, who arrived in the Southwest later in prehistory, had a reputation for raiding and warfare, particularly against Spanish and Mexican settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, their raiding practices developed primarily in response to colonial encroachment and the disruption of their traditional way of life.
4. Defensive Structures: The presence of defensive structures, such as watchtowers and fortified villages, suggests that there was a degree of concern about raiding and warfare in some areas. These defensive measures were often built in canyons, mesas, or other defensible locations.
5. Ethnohistorical Accounts: Some Spanish explorers and chroniclers, such as Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, reported encountering raiding parties and hostilities from certain Native American groups during their expeditions in the 16th century. However, these accounts may be biased or limited in scope.
Overall, while there is some evidence of raiding in the pre-Hispanic Southwest, it was not a pervasive practice and varied among different societies and geographic areas. Puebloan societies generally had a peaceful orientation, while conflicts and raiding increased with the arrival of Athabascan-speaking groups and European colonizers.