This is Picture Canyon in Arizona.
The canyon is covered in petroglyphs,
that are 800-1300 years old.
The oldest petroglyphs are geometric in nature.
Later rock art depicts animals, rivers, planets and human figures.
This is The Mojave Desert in the southwestern US,
and it is where Jim and I went hunting for hidden petroglyphs.
There is historical rock art all over the southwestern United States. Most thought to be 800 to 1000 years old. Much of it hidden and unpublicized. I even found some at The Holler.
Here is the blogger that led us here. I have no idea who he is, but, as we all know, bloggers are precious resources:
https://harryhelmsblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/petroglyphs-of-kelbaker-road-california.html?m=0
Below are some links to my prior posts about more amazing southwestern pictographs and petroglyphs, much of it quite older:
Cheers to you from The Talking Rocks of the Southwest~
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Really the Rock Talks . History is amazing.
It is. And people leaving messages to other people, a thousand years ago, leave messages to us! დ
Still there is a lots of message to de code for sure. So we can find different meanings on each drawings. Glad i can see all these through your web page. Thank you. Happy sunday
You are more than welcome. And yes, we get to decode these messages. What do they say to us? დ
Thank you. I appreciate your sharing.
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Reblogged this on GrannyMoon's Morning Feast.
Thank you very much my friend. Stay safe & well დდ
Wonderful Cindy… I find it interesting to see what was happening 1000 years ago in different parts of the world… history fascinates.
Yes. I do too. What strikes me is how much we have in common დ
Amazing messages from the past.
It is like we are connected and time doesn’t matter that much დ
When it comes down to it, it really doesn’t! Happy Sunday, Cindy.
Visa versa 2UX2 Jo.
So cool, Cindy! Hidden messages from the past. Thanks for the photos.
Thank you for caring about Those who came before Audrey დ
It is awesome to be in the presence of such ancient writings.
Yes, it is. But as you know, Africa shames us all, on so many different levels. You have rock art dating from 28,000 years ago. I never saw it. I was focused on your wildlife დ
What amazing finds, and even at the Holler! Years ago, I found some while on a weekend canoe trip. They were such an unexpected surprise. I never told anyone about them until years later.
That is so wonderful. Gives me goosebumps. Finding these, especially unpublicized sites, gives me goosebumps every time დ
It would be great to wander around and find some historic glyph’s never before seen. And in the first picture of the gorge with water running through, about half way through it there are some black plastic bags with something in them at the bottom, no grass growing around them and what looks to be a cross (or knife) in front of them. Somebody wanted to hide something because it doesn’t look accessible (unless during a drought), from either end so its been thrown over the edge. Probably just full of cash stashed from a robbery? 😂 🤣 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
I saw this when I was there. Amazing you spotted it! You have a good eye. To me it looked like a hidden single campsite but your explanation is interesting. I will look at it again. Hopefully it was not a looter, which I didn’t think of at the time დ
Actually it wasn’t my eye, it felt ‘wrong’, even the water…like it has run through something and had been contaminated. Even some of the weaker grasses have died along its course even though the stronger dark green reeds are fine. Sorry about that, it is a great picture of a lovely unique moment you’ve come across and shared ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
I like your perceptiveness. It is a strength.
Wonderful – Derrick
Thank you Derrick დ
Marvellous! They look a little vulnerable to vandalism though. Is it a problem, do you know?
Oh yes, it is significant problem. I don’t include photos of defacement, as I don’t want to give the defacers any air. Many of the more well known sites have people’s names scratched across the surface. I guess it makes them feel important in the way that people can feel important for doing stupid and destructive things.
And they will be forgotten, while those earlier sites will not.
Feels like ancient justice.
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Very fascinating!
You are a lovely person and friend Sharon. Stay safe & well დ
Fascinating and stunning photos as always Cindy
Your kindness is much appreciated Sheree დ
Those geometric symbols look so modern! As if they were made just yesterday! It’s breathtaking.
Have a fine sunday, and stay safe, dear Cindy.
Thank you, and yes. They look modern and universally symbolic at the same time. Like a shared language. Remarkable დ
These are amazing. I love rock art and petroglyphs.
Thank you Darlene. I do too დ
These petroglyphs are fascinating! I always wonder what the people who made them were communicating and to whom.
Yes. I wonder the same. I wonder if they were also aware they were sending messages through time. It would take quite a lot of time and effort to scratch these deep and intricate patterns into rock. Surely they must have known they would last for a long time დ
The petroglyphs were their written language?
It is a type of symbolic language linked to the origins of more formal language. It is the earliest writing in the western hemisphere. It is impossible when you see them to not try and interpret them.
Fascinating! That’s a rabbit hole I could find myself going down.
Yes! I relate. But it is not like Lewis Carrol. No drugs involved. A purely natural mind bend.
😀
Outstanding Cindy. I don’t think here in Ontario we have anything like that.
I am happy you found it interesting Chris & thank you for letting me know დ
Whenever I encounter ancient art, I try to picture the people making it. What must their lives have been like? These are amazing photos. Thanks, Cindy. ♥.
You are so welcome Niki. I am impressed you take the time to ponder them დ
These make me feel humbled. Thank you, Cindy!
Such a wonderful way to feel and be Jennie დ
I think you’re right.
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Fun title Cindy. I’m glad you and Jim are enjoying your search for hidden gems in the SW and you continue to share the beauty and wisdom from your travels. You Rock! 😋
Smiling. You rock, and roll, Brad! Cheers my friend დ
I’m glad you enjoyed my pun. 🙂
Always.
Gorgeous and unique history 😍
Thank you Chaymaa & cheers to you დ
Have a nice day 😊 🌻
You too. Stay safe & well.
To my eyes anyway, the geometric patterns are similar to those on some Native American pottery.
Oh. How interesting. I hadn’t thought of that დ
Pictographs are SO cool. The last stick figure of a human looks like a man in a space suit. I love seeing artifacts, going to museums and such. 🙂
It is fascinating isn’t it დ
These are really cool. Let’s hope they are not defaced!
Some are defaced. Nick & Vicky scratched their names on top of some petroglyphs here. I wonder if it make them feel important…
Wow! Messages from the ancestors. Very interesting petroglyphs to ponder.
Yes, I wonder when they carved petroglyphs into stone, did they intend for the messages to last დ
Near my house there are carved concentric circles, The Ballochmyle Rings. They were done in the stone age and no one really knows what they mean. The same rings however show up in eg Malta and Australia.
How fascinating and goosebump inducing. The oldest rock art found to date is 45,000 years old in Indonesia. Hawaii has rock art quite similar to that found in The American Southwest დ
I’m always amazed of petroglyphs. Mary and I saw some near Albuquerque a few years ago.
They really are hiding in plain sight all over the southwest დ
The petroglyphs look intriguing. Even during that old age, people had good sense of geographic shapes and symmetries. Amazing.
Remarkable isn’t it დ
It’s hard to believe the rock drawings could last so long.
Yes. Some is quite faded. Sometimes I have difficulty discerning the difference between very faded rock art and striation patterns in rock. Some rock art is much, much older დ
What came to mind as I view your marvelous photos was from Ulysses by Tennyson:
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’
Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
So beautiful and accordant. Gives me goosebumps. Thank you Rebecca დ
The rocks talk and we listen. Your fascinating blog makes it possible.
People who are willing to listen, like yourself, make sure their messages are heard. Thank you & be well დ
Aren’t they fascinating?
Yes very much so. They made this art and communication to last which is fascinating heart text emoji დ
Petroglyphs are incredible in so many ways! Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos of them (and linking to other blog posts related to the topic). 🤎 I will soon be writing a middle grade book about communication…it’d be great if I can work in the topic petroglyphs. 🙂
That would be wonderful. I asked my three year old grandsons what much of the rock art was. They were fluent in ancient rock art! They identified turtles, deer, the sun, spears, people, on and on. Children may be better than adults at reading rock art დ
What a delightful idea! I recently was introduced to Robert Greene’s ideas about creativity which he says is a combination of discipline/deep knowledge and a child-like spirit. I wonder how much of our child-like wonder we lose when we become entrenched in the discipline of a single “alphabet” and struggle with reading “rock art”? 🙂
“I wonder how much of our child-like wonder we lose when we become entrenched in the discipline of a single “alphabet” and struggle with reading “rock art”?
I couldn’t possibly write, or think this better.
If, one loses the child in them, that part of them that is endlessly open to wonder, the discipline will lack creativity
Thank you, Cindy. I’m glad I have a kindred spirit in you! One of my all time favorite quotes, from an early age, was “We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.” Let’s never lose that sense of wonder.
Exactly. I know the best person I ever was, was when I was a child. I see this in my 3 year old twin grandsons.
May I ask why you think that about yourself? Don’t forget, you’re currently spreading joy to a world that desperately needs it!
You touch my heart. Thank you sincerely and be well.
I think I’ve been to this site or maybe another one. We used to enjoy searching for petroglyphs too.
Well that’s exciting დ
Wow!
I feel the exact same way დ
Ancient street art! I love it. Looks like you are on a great adventure, Cindy!
You never fail to amaze and please. Thank you! ❦
Exactly. Art and communication. A form of symbolic writing. დ
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Fascinating!
Happy you enjoyed Rosaliene & thank you დ
How wonderful…messages from the past.
I wonder if they purposely created lasting messages. It took time to carve these deeply into rock დ
Like hunting for treasure!
But less stressful!! დ
Awe-inspiring, Cindy. Thank you for this.
You are most welcome Tracy. I am happy you enjoyed დ
I’m speechless! Incredible.
Thank you Marlene & cheers my friend დ
Loving messages saying IAM here❤️ sending love x
Love back 2UX2 Barbara დ
I heard the name Mojave desert and now I see it in your shots. Thank you for sharing this unique place. 🙂
I am so glad you traveled here with me. I very much hope you stay safe & well my friend დ
This is very interesting, Cindy, and I thank you for sharing it. I suppose Man has always had a need to communicate, to preserve some of what he has seen, and to leave his mark.
So sensitve an elquent Debbie დ
Mind boggling, Cindy. Thank you so much for posting!
Love to you and yours Sheila დ
Oh wow!
Imagine. Luckily they had no broadcast managers. And they are creating stuff, carved into rock, with tons of effort. (It is hard to carve stuff into rock that will last for 1000 years, plus.) I wonder if they knew it would last. დ
If those rocks could talk! Some look like there may be hieroglyphics engraved 🙂 <3
I love the fact that the real first Americans left messages we can’t erase. How prescient is that? დ
Awe-inspiring. I can imagine the emotion one feels at seeing this in person.
Yes. Thank you. Especially when it is hidden and you have to hunt for it დ
What an interesting treasure hunt you’ve been on! Thanks for sharing the Rock Talks–so amazing
I need to tell you. I so wish my 3-year-old twin grandsons could take art classes with you. They would just love every second. Take good care my friend დ
The rock art is amazing. Like you, I loathe those who graffiti/spray paint over petroglyphs. It is the ultimate disrespect. If you remember from a previous thread about the dino tracks and petroglyphs in the Purgatorie River Valley in the PCMS training site. When the Army was conducting their survey, they found a good portion of the glyphs were graffitied. Private landowners had said when the Army took over, the glyphs and the tracks were “certain to disappear.” The graffiti on the glyphs happened to belong to the kids of those landowners. One of the glyphs was spray painted over quite heavily. The experts the Army brought in weren’t sure that particular glyph could be cleaned and restored. The Army contracted with one, but they could not guarantee the outcome. They were able to remove most of the spray paint. Anymore, it would destroy the glyph. At least it no longer reads *blank loves blank.*
The defacers seem to me like people who want to feel important by doing stupid and destructive things. I see this frequently. I saw it in Venice. I photographed dino tracks in Utah. So amazing. Military bases conserve/preserve lots of things. There is a herd of around 90 buffalo at Camp Pendleton. The San Diego Zoo gifted them to the base as a conservation effort in 1973. Since then, the herd has grown to around 90. I’ve seen them. Awesome. Pendleton also preserves many, many miles of prime and pristine California Coastline and has at least five resident mountain lions. There are thriving resident foxes at Naval Base Point Loma. I’ve seen them many times at night. China Lake Naval Base is doing a wonderful job preserving and controlling access to their on site petroglyphs. The restictive nature of the bases, and sensitive management, can aid in the conservation of critical resourses, and often does დ