Petroglyph Wash

Continuing from last weeks "sneak preview", here is the main event!

 

Petroglyph Wash is my name for today's amazing hike (the real name might give away its location), but it's a pretty accurate nickname. Right from the beginning, at the mouth of the wash where our hike starts, the petroglyphs begin. And they continue on and off for as far as we hiked today. There are far more petroglyphs in this wash than any other location I've seen, and I'm certain there are many I missed. And I'll take a moment to apologize for such a long post, but there are so many incredible petroglyphs. And trust me, there are many I didn't share. 

 

It's impossible to know what the ancients were communicating with these glyphs, but I get the sense they were in part directional. They seem more common at the start of the wash and in branches of the wash, as if to reassure the traveler that they are still on the right track.

  

I have a theory, and it's only a guess, but long ago I think there was a reliable water source somewhere up this wash. Native Americans knew it was there and used it during their travels. Water is life in the desert, and without it, they couldn't survive. This area may have also been used as a seasonal habitation site. If so, I would expect to find pottery sherds, grinding rocks, stone flakes, and/or other signs that they used this location as a seasonal home.

 

So sit back, relax, and let your mind wander and ponder over the meaning and significance of these ancient markings!

The hills adjacent to the wash are boulder-covered. This is very close to where we parked the car and started hiking, and there are already visible petroglyphs. Can you see the glyphs on the boulder in the center of the photo? As if to say "follow this wash!"
 

This one reminds me of a dragonfly! Look a little further up the hill and you can spot additional glyphs. If you were to take the time to climb up this hill, I'm sure you would find more. How many you might find is only limited by your climbing ability and energy level!
 

Closer view of dragonfly petroglyph.

 

The interlinking chain motif (above) looks very old to me, with desert varnish re-covering and partially obscuring the original glyph. Some of the glyphs are high up in the boulders in seemingly impossible to get to places, others you are literally stepping over. Most are somewhere in between. Thankfully I have my telephoto lens and I can get decent photos without the need for death defying climbs!

  

 

 

 

Interesting that some of the glyphs look newer (lighter) than others, making me think that multiple generations have passed up and down this wash, adding new glyphs to old.

 

Some are faded and easy to miss.

 

 

The more carefully you look, the more you find!

 

 

A favorite.

 

 

Another favorite in a place impossible to climb to!

 

Something (or someone) seems to be missing an arm and a leg!

 

 

 

Snakes!

 

 

 

Distinctive and unusual!

 

 

 

Badly faded.

 

We stop to rest in the shade of this big boulder. As my eyes adjust to the shade, I notice yet another petroglyph. Can you see it? The number and variety of glyphs in this wash is truly amazing!

 

I'm really pleased to find these petroglyphs (photo above and below). J.P., my hiking partner, is very familiar with this area, but these are two he's never seen before!

 

 

Up ahead, the wash narrows and becomes more canyon-like.

 

These squiggly, parallel lines remind me of a glyph seen earlier...

Yes, the two glyphs are definitely similar. I wonder if they depict the same thing??

 

Yet another favorite. Amazing!

 

You would be forgiven for walking right by this boulder, but you would really be missing out. Take a closer look...

Pictographs!! The only ones we come across. Petroglyphs totally dominate this area.

 

I'm using D-stretch to help visualize the faded pictographs. There are actually multiple pictographs here!

 

You would also be forgiven for missing this interesting petroglyph. It's on the back side of "pictograph rock" and had I not taken the time to climb over some rocks to check out the back of the boulder, I would have totally missed it.

 

I would have also missed this interesting mortero. Finding this makes me think Native Americans may have used this area as a season hunting/gathering site (vs. just passing through), so it's a significant find.

 

The light is poor, making visibility difficult, but check out the upside down rainbow petroglyph on the boulder (upper left). There's are more glyphs on this same boulder, but not visible in this photo. This is looking back down the wash we've been hiking up.

 

Another upside down rainbow.

 

The glyphs at the top of this boulder are hard to see, but look at those indentations in the rock. Human made?? It would have been very difficult to make these glyphs without the steps.

 

Not much blooming during this hike, so nice to see these yellow flowers. Check out the indentations in the rock face about the flowers.

Morteros!! Three really deep ones. People think that the deeper they are, the more they were used, and therefore the older they are. My extended hand easily fits all the way inside!

 

About the time you think you've seen everything there is to see, up pops another petroglyph pannel!

 

This is where we decide to turn back. The boulders are getting more challenging and we're running low on energy.

 

This is the view coming back down the wash. We're going to try to get up to those hills to the left of the tree (see my last post). To get there, we decide to go further down the wash and then circle around, rather than try to make the daunting climb up those rocks. Good idea!

 

As we descend the wash, there are quite a few dead or dying trees that are asking to be photographed. Of course I can't say no!

 

 

 

If you've stuck with me to the end, THANK YOU!!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.