|
PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT Somewhere between one and two hundred thousand years ago, not too far west of Albuquerque and along the Rio Grande Rift Zone, fissures opened up in the earth and spewed out molten lava. This lava flowed east toward the Rio Grande River and covered fifty square miles of land, forming what today is called the West Mesa. Over two thousand years ago, ancestors of today's Pueblo people lived below the West Mesa and began to cultivate corn. During this time, from 800 B.C. to 400 A.D., called the En Medio phase, archeologists believe some of the earliest petroglyphs were chiseled into the volcanic rocks. From that time forward for hundreds of years, over 15,000 petroglyphs have been formed by native people on the West Mesa, making it one of the largest collections of native rock art in the country. And since the volcanic rock is extremely hard and resistant to erosion, this work has been preserved by time so that it can be enjoyed and studied today. Our half day tour will take us on a two mile hike through Piedras Marcadas Canyon, which we believe has the richest and most interesting collection of petroglyphs in the park. In this mysterious canyon we'll see hundreds of ancient petroglyphs, including depictions of human faces and figures, animals, hand prints, Zia symbols, kokopellis and much, much more. We'll also see lots of wildlife here, including rabbits, jackrabbits and ground squirrels, as hawks and ravens circle overhead, and occasionally coyotes, roadrunners and quail. From the top of the West Mesa we'll have a beautiful view looking down on the city of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley, with the Sandia and Manzano Mountains beyond. From here we can also see the 12 and 13 thousand foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains 70 and 80 miles away, as well as the 11 thousand foot peaks of the Jemez Mountains. This half day tour is a must see for everyone who visits Albuquerque! Best time: Year round Price: $30.00 per adult For our children's price policy see the Home Page. |
PETROGLYPHS IN PIEDRAS MARCADAS CANYON
|
