Adventures in Rock Art: Colorado National Monument, CO

These pictographs are just high enough above a trail to make them difficult to spot (i.e. yay for unintentional protection!).  Pictographs are pecked directly onto rock, and in this case, directly onto a sandstone cliff face.  The rock art depicts two women and a figure riding a four-legged creature, potentially a horse.  There isn’t any readily available information on this panel, but I’m going to hazard a guess that it is proto-historic or historic Ute rock art based on the history/use of this area of Colorado and the style of the pictographs.  Figures riding horses are not uncommon motifs in Ute rock art.  Horses were introduced to the Ute during the early 1600s by the Spanish, which allowed for the expansion of Ute territory.  If you have more information about this rock art, please let me know.

*Please note: rock art is incredibly fragile.  Do not touch rock art, spray-paint it, or vandalize it in any way.  Not only is it ethically wrong, it is illegal.

For more information on rock art:

Rock Art and Cultures of the Colorado Plateau

https://www.historycolorado.org/ute-indian-museum

Archaeology #Inktober Prompt, Day 7: Interprets

Day 7 Prompt: Interprets

Potwisha Rock Art

These beautiful pictographs were created by the Monachee (Western Mono) people, particularly by the Potwisha tribe, who inhabited what is now the Potwisha campground Sequoia National Park, California.  The rock art was outlined with chalk back in the 1970s, which was a common practice when recording rock art elements.

*Please note: rock art is incredibly fragile.  Do not touch rock art, spray-paint it, or vandalize it in any way.  Not only is it ethically wrong, it is illegal.

 For More Information:

https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Colorful Rock Art and Cliff Dwellings: Palatki Heritage Site

Situated in the beautiful canyons of Sedona, AZ, Palatki Heritage Site is an archaeological site with cliff dwellings and beautiful rock art.  These Sinagua cliff dwellings date between 1150-1350 AD.  The rock art includes pictographs in a variety of symbols and shades.  The rock art is amazingly well preserved; I have rarely seen such a variety of colors incorporated.  The cliff dwelling is a little difficult to properly explore (you see it from a distance), but the rock art is highly visible.

*As ever, be respectful when visiting these fragile archaeological sites.  Never touch rock art, as that can destroy the images.  Be careful not to disturb the architecture and remember it is illegal to take artifacts.

Learn more about Palatki:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/ohv/recarea/?recid=55368&actid=119