Prehistoric Bajada "hanging" canals of southeastern Arizona were constructed after c. 1250 and remained in use until c. 1450. The presence of irrigation and domestic water supply canals in the bajada of the Pinaleño Mountains of Safford Basin expands the knowledge of prehistoric water management and agricultural intensification in the American Southwest. In contrast to the lowland riverine floodplain canals, such as those of the Hohokam culture in the Phoenix Basin, an extensive network of canal systems exists in the undulating piedmont landscape of southeastern Arizona. These canal systems are seen as an adaptive technology to mitigate the arid topography and climate, and greatly expand the settlement and agricultural potential of the area.