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Ancient Tribes & Spanish Settlers Carved 24,000+ Messages on These Black Volcanic Canvas in New Mexico


Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico

Drive west from Albuquerque and you’ll hit volcanic rock covered in thousands of ancient drawings.

Centuries of ancient farmers, shamans, hunters, and Spanish settlers made their mark here, eventually creating one of the biggest rock art sites in North America.

We still don’t know what most of them mean, but here’s a bit about how they got there.

A Volcanic Beginning

Petroglyph National Monument covers 7,236 acres west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Around 156,000 years ago, six volcanic eruptions spewed molten lava across the landscape.

Cooling lava formed basalt layers between 5 and 50 feet thick. You could see five cinder cones named Butte, Bond, Vulcan, Black, and JA from miles away.

The Perfect Writing Surface

Wind and water eventually cracked the hardened lava into thousands of boulders that tumbled down the escarpment’s edge.

These were covered with desert varnish, a black coating created by the minerals in the volcanic basalt.

This proved to be an excellent surface for sketching petroglyphs.

How The Petroglyphs Were Made

Ancient artists chipped away desert varnish using a stone chisel and hammerstone. Each strike removed the dark coating, revealing lighter rock underneath.

The Ancient Pueblo Artists

Over 90% of the petroglyphs found at the monument were carved by Ancestral Puebloans. Their communities lived in the Rio Grande Valley since before 500 CE, farming corn and building stone villages.

The Oldest Rock Art

Archaeologists dated some Boca Negra Canyon carvings to 3,000 years ago. These ancient markings show different styles than later Puebloan work. Some researchers believe certain images might date back to 2000 BCE, revealing human creativity spanning four millennia.

Spanish Colonial Additions to the Petroglyphs

Spanish explorers arrived in 1540, disrupting Pueblo life patterns. Pueblo tribes united in 1680 and drove Spanish settlers back to El Paso during a coordinated revolt.

Don Diego de Vargas led Spanish forces back in 1692, reestablishing colonial control.

Spanish authorities granted Don Fernando Duran y Chaves II over 80,000 acres west of the Rio Grande. These colonial settlers added their own petroglyphs, carving crosses, livestock brands, and Catholic symbols into the rocks.

The Meaning Behind The Petroglyphs

These carvings show geometric patterns, human figures, animals, handprints, and astronomical symbols. Complex scenes depict hunting, ceremonies, clan symbols, and spiritual beliefs.

Living Memories of the Past

Nineteen modern Pueblos in New Mexico and Hopi in Arizona maintain connections to these ancient images. Herman Agoyo, All-Indian Pueblo Council Chairman, emphasized in 1988: petroglyphs belong to a living culture, not a dead civilization.

Tribal members visit the site for prayer, reflection, and continuation of traditional practices, and ceremonies still occur within monument boundaries.

Staff work with tribal representatives to balance public access with protection of sacred sites.

The Boca Negra Canyon Trails

Three interconnected paths at Boca Negra Canyon showcase 100 petroglyphs within a mile of walking. Mesa Point Trail climbs 0.2 miles up a steep ridge to an overlook with city views.

Macaw Trail extends another 0.2 miles across a flat area with easily accessible carvings, while Cliff Base Trail adds 0.3 miles of walking past additional petroglyphs.

City managers charge $1 weekday/$2 weekend parking fees for this developed area with restrooms and water fountains.

Rinconada Canyon

A 2.2-mile loop trail winds past 300 petroglyphs along the canyon’s north wall. Sandy paths cross desert scrubland filled with native plants and occasional wildlife, and roadrunners, lizards, and jackrabbits sometimes appear during cooler hours.

Piedras Marcadas Canyon

Piedras Marcadas Canyon holds 400 petroglyphs along a 1.8-mile round-trip path. Located 10 minutes north of the main visitor center, this less-crowded area is great for exploring the petroglyphs while enjoying some peace and quiet.

The most impressive rock art panels cluster near the end of the trail, rewarding those who complete the walk. North Rim Trail adds extra distance for a 2.5-mile combined hike with valley views.

Unlike other areas, leashed pets can join their owners on this sandy trail through the northern section.

Visiting Petroglyph National Monument

Find the visitor center at 6001 Unser Boulevard NW, three miles north of I-40 in Albuquerque. Park staff provide maps and orientation daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The three separate petroglyph viewing areas require driving between locations.

Dogs are allowed only at Piedras Marcadas Canyon on leash.

Read More from This Brand:

  • Ancient Puebloans Hand-Carved Homes, Petroglyphs & Steps Into These Volcanic Canyons
  • Ancestral Puebloans Built This Towering Sky City Long Before Columbus Was Even Born
  • Ancestral Puebloans Built This Massive Stone Community That Later Became a Civil War Turning Point

The post Ancient Tribes & Spanish Settlers Carved 24,000+ Messages on These Black Volcanic Canvas in New Mexico appeared first on When In Your State.



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