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swimswithtrout 
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 11:00 pm |
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I was finally able to cross off one on my bucket life list, by getting to see Native American petroglyphs in the desert of AZ.
It wasn't in the most remote setting, but even for Black Friday, there were still a few spots at the TH, and what the other hikers on the trail were doing, I have no clue.
They were all just running/up down the trail as fast as they could, and only a few even stopped to ask me what I was looking at.
This is what I was looking for, and it was like an Easter Egg hunt for a grown -up. They were hidden everywhere ! Some in open sight, but many took a bit of off trail meandering to find.
(Images are links to a larger image)
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Want to see The Wind River Range in widescreen 1080p ?
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| Post Number: 2
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desert dweller
Greetings
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Posts: 8945
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 11:02 pm |
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Very neat! Reminds me of Three Rivers site in New Mexico.
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Seek Higher Ground
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| Post Number: 3
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21962
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 11:43 pm |
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Thanks! That is indeed a fabulous site. The incredible density of glyphs on a handful of surfaces stands in marked contrast to their absence in so many similar places nearby.
What does it all mean? That's the huge and controversial question. Hopefully some of the other Southwest Cultures afficionados will chime in, too, because it's more than I can bite off by myself. The foremost recognized experts are very circumspect about hypothesized interpretations, in part because of sensitivity to the surviving cultures to whom they have religious significance, since there isn't much to go on apart from those echoes of the more distant past.
There are a few symbols that have somewhat commonly accepted interpretations, but there's so much cultural context lost that the obvious part is believed to be a small fraction their full meaning.
All that aside, there are undoubtedly calendar elements and important astronomical and geographical alignments at most of these sites. There are clan symbols, depictions of gods and people in ceremonial dress, I could blather on for quite a while ...
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| Post Number: 4
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hbfa
Group: Members
Posts: 7238
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 11:46 pm |
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It clearly reads:
The earth will cease to exist after 12/21/2012
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| Post Number: 5
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21962
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 13 2012, 11:53 pm |
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If you're interested in digging around, these mostly are from the Hohokam culture, and the type are known as the Gila Petroglyph Style (Anthropomorhic, Zoomorphic, or Abstract, as the case may be). There are older ones mixed in there. These are mostly 800-1000 years old, but the oldest rock art around there is up to 5000 years old.
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| Post Number: 7
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big_load
Group: Members
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Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 12:17 am |
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That might be a foot, which isn't as popular as the hand, but still popular. It also could be a bear print, but I'm going with foot.
Anyway, one of the interpretations of the handprint is that it represents a prayer in itself, or may designate nearby glyphs as a prayer. Handprints were sometimes added periodically near clan symbols on possible ritual visits, or near depictions of figures in ceremonial dress.
I'm at a complete loss on the abstract figures.
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| Post Number: 8
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21962
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 12:33 am |
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The two best references I know of are:
"Indian Rock Art of the Southwest" by Polly Schaafsma
"Legacy on Stone" by Sally J. Cole
The emphasis is on correlating graphical styles with culture/time/area of occupation.
My favorite synopsis of the relationship between the major cultures and the current state of the academic debate on their evolution is:
"A History of the Ancient Southwest" by Stephen H. Lekson
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| Post Number: 9
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hikerjer
Group: Members
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Joined: Apr. 2002
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 12:44 am |
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Very cool.
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"Too often I have met men who boast only of how many miles they've traveled and not of what they've seen." - Louis L'Amour
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| Post Number: 10
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| Post Number: 11
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double cabin
Group: Members
Posts: 15549
Joined: Nov. 2005
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 9:52 am |
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I don't know if you're able to to ride your bike at Wild Rivers in New Mexico, but you just might be able to. It's a great place North of Taos, not sure if it is what DD is talking about or not. 3 sided shelters in an 800' deep Gorge of the Rio Grande. Great rim car camping too.
If you can down the road hit Natural Bridges on Cedar Mesa. rocky Mountain High shot some of those Petroglyphs a couple of years ago on our way back from the Big Ditch.
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We have nothing to fear but an industry of fear...and man skirts.
http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=129511480442251
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| Post Number: 12
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wycanislatrans
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Joined: Nov. 2005
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 11:21 am |
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May I highly recommend:
http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Site/SiteInfo.aspx?siteID=34
Very significant site, possibly as old as 11,000 years. Let me know if you are that way and I would be glad to meet you there and give a personal tour.
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| Post Number: 13
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mtngrl
Group: Members
Posts: 3516
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 11:59 am |
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Beautiful.
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“He who knows the most, he who knows what sweets and virtues are in the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens and how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal man” -- from Nature, by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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| Post Number: 14
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City Man
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Posts: 6491
Joined: Dec. 2007
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 12:30 pm |
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Sometimes it is so obvious on what they were telling us, like this one is obviously telling us to get ourselves some cheap sunglasses and to turn up the rock and roll. 
Another – Party
Not sure what this one is telling us  
I truly enjoy walking around and looking at the glimpses left by people before us to ponder upon.
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It never hurts to do good – Eek the Cat
The quest for adventure is a never ending pursuit, an all consuming way to live life, it is a deep feeling that will never go away, embrace that feeling and have fun with your adventures.
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| Post Number: 15
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21962
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 14 2012, 1:17 pm |
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I think City Man's glyphs are Rio Grande Style (Anthropomorphic, Zoomorphic, Abstract).
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| Post Number: 16
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
