The northern frontier of Mesoamerica inhabited by the Chichimecs before they moved south. The Chichimecs were true hunters and gatherers who were mainly migrants. The term Chichimeca was also applied to agricultural but less civilized peoples (e.g. Otomí, central Mexico) and thus an unsophisticated, rustic lifestyle. Since the northwestern portion of Mesoamerica was occupied by such people, the legends of north-south migrations of invaders, probably refer to movements of agricultural rather than hunting and gathering peoples. The term is also used to refer to the southwestern US.