PETROGLYPHS AND PICTOGRAPHS Petroglyphs can be found on rocks throughout the world. There are thousands of unique, fascinating, and sometimes mysterious images that leave a cultural legacy about which to wonder. In some, people pecked the petroglyphs in to rocks using hard hammerstones. They used sharp-edged stones for cutting and scratching. Sometimes a smooth stone was rubbed sideways against the rock surface. They also used sharp objects to drill small holes. Paints used were made by grinding up minerals and mixing them with plant or animal oils, eggs, or blood.

Chaco Canyon 1054 On A.D. July 4, 1054, inhabitants of earth noticed a bright object in the sky, easily visible even in daylight. This was the supernova which created the Crab Nebula. At that time the moon was a small crescent. Archaeologists believe the Puebloans in Chaco Canyon recorded the supernova event with this rock art panel.

The All-American Man This life-sized Puebloan shield figure is in a small grotto which has protected it from the weather. Early archaeologists would take chalk and outline rock art images so they would show up better in photographs of their time. On this figure they not only outlined the body but also embellished the neck area and the eyes as well, so this figure is now a multicultural work of art. I'm told that present-day archaeologist have analyzed the blue pigment and believe it is charcoal that has turned blue over time.

Puebloan Flute Players These flute player petroglyphs, in the Abajo-La Sal style, are found relatively close to the Ute Newspaper Rock panel. The large figures are about three feet high. Some seem to think every rock art flute player is "Kokopelli," but these images may just represent musicians.

Puebloan Anthropomorphs Four Puebloan Anthropomorphs and painted handprints.

Grand Gulch, Utah Sally J. Cole in Legacy On Stone writes, "The painting probably represents a whole face and hair scalp decorated by bands of paint...". This life-sized Puebloan painting sits about 30 feet up on the cliff wall and is known as The Green Mask.

Basketmaker Figures Paint has eroded away from this panel leaving the two Basketmaker figures on the left without heads.

Puebloan Duckhead Figures The Puebloan Duck Head figure, which is common for the Basketmaker culture, may represent spiritual flight. The hanging feet seen on these two larger images is thought to show an altered state of consciousness. The figure on the far left could be a caterpillar signifying the coming change to butterfly and future flight. Note the bird feet on the smaller duck-head figure.

Rochester Creek Panel The Barrier Canyon Style is known for its galleries of painted, human-like figures but this panel is pecked and crowded, full of bizarre creatures, and yet considered to be mostly Barrier Canyon in style, or at least Archaic. It is believed by some that sections of this panel represent the evening sky, with the "rainbow" being the Milky Way and other figures representing constellations. This panel faces east. The rainbow is about four feet high. Going up from the left there is a spider, snake, two elk, an anthropomorph, a footprint, and, at the top, some odd creatures.

Thompson Wash Rock Art Barrier Canyon Style images often seem to be from another world, which the artists may have intended. The artist may have been the local shaman and these rock art sites could have been the site of spiritual ceremonies. Archaeologically, not a lot is known about this archaic hunter-gatherer culture so the art stands alone to some extent. And it is quite spectacular art, so much so that a fair number of Southwestern rock art admirers devote themselves mainly to viewing Barrier Canyon Style rock art panels.

Barrier Canyon Style Dragonfly Painting The big dragonfly has two small dragonfly spirit figures on each side of it and an impish figure pulls the tail of one. All the anthropomorphic figures are interesting, with fine but weathered detail. On the far right another dragonfly flies off with something and a tiny bird flies above him heading the other direction.

Interpretation Symbolism To Tell a Story To Record an Event Advertisement Memory Aid Graffiti Rock images can give us insights into what the people thought and how they expressed their ideas to themselves. However, many of their meanings are mysterious and unknown. While Native Americans of today have provided interpretations, they have said that they don’t know for sure. Some seem to be clan symbols, records of important events during migrations, records of clan migrations, or other early records.

3 2 1 4 Modern Day Hopi Indians gave an interpretation of this elaborate rock art located at Mesa Verde. These interpretation may or may not have been the interpretations meant by the original rock artists: The place at which the Pueblo people emerged from the earth. Eagle Clan symbol indicating a separation of that clan from the other people and settlement near their point of origin. Mountain Sheep Clan symbol denoting that clan’s separation from other migrating people and their settlement some distance from the others’ travel route. Parrot Clan symbol telling of that group taking up residence some distance from the Mountain Sheep Clan.