Petroglyph Nat Monument

Petroglyph National Monument is located on the west side of Albuquerque, easy accessible from either Interstate 40 or 25. It’s open all year round.

Petroglyph National Monument offers a wealth of information about culture, history, nature and science. It protects a variety of resources including volcanoes, archeological sites and an estimated 20,000 carved images. Many of the images are recognizable as animals, people, brands and crosses; others are more complex. These images are inseparable from the cultural landscape, the spirits of the people who created, and who appreciate them.

Petroglyph National Monument has much more to offer than the cultural resources for which it is so well known. Various types of wildlife utilize this narrow corridor, some in transit during migration, others for their entire lifespan. Plants, birds, insects, animals, all are part of the ecosystem that Petroglyph holds in this tiny strip of land.

The bird on the left, below, is the state bird..a Roadrunner!

What exactly are Petroglyphs? Petroglyphs are rock carvings made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammerstone.

It is estimated 90% of the monument's petroglyphs were created by the ancestors of today's Pueblo Indians and that the majority of the petroglyphs were carved from about 1300 through the late 1680s.

There were many reasons for creating the Petroglyphs, most of which are not well understood by non-Indians. Petroglyphs are more than just "rock art," picture writing, or an imitation of the natural world. Petroglyphs are powerful cultural symbols that reflect the complex societies and religions of the surrounding tribes. Petroglyphs are central to the monument's sacred landscape where traditional ceremonies still take place. Each petroglyph's orientation to the horizon and surrounding images, as well as the landscape in which it sits is extremely important. Today's native people have stated that the placement of each petroglyph image was not a casual or random decision. Some petroglyphs have meanings that are only known to the individuals who made them. Others represent tribal, clan, kiva or society markers. Some are religious entities and others show who came to the area and where they went. One thing is sure: Petroglyphs are important to both past and present cultures. And they can be found not just at Petroglyphs National Monument but also in many different locations in northern New Mexico, for example we have encountered them on our hike of Sierra Negra, close to our home.

Visit the Petroglyph National Monument’s website for more information:

http://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm

Photos By:
http://www.sfbaywalk.com/

Also See:

Vista de Pedernal