They say that the petroglyphs at Petroglyph National Monument may be hard to see at certain times of the day because of the glare from the sun. But Pueblo elders believe it’s more than that. They believe the petroglyphs choose when and to whom they will reveal themselves.
Petroglyphs are designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish people from 400 to 700 years ago.
Archaeologists estimate there are over 25,000 petroglyph images along the 17 miles within the park. This makes the Petroglyph National Monument one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America.
Petroglyphs, Pictographs, or Hieroglyphics?
These drawings are now considered valuable art and hold profound spiritual significance for Native Americans and the world.
Petroglyphs are mysterious and still not very well understood today. For example, we know that hieroglyphics are symbols used to represent words, but Petroglyphs are not as easily readable.
These symbols are not paintings, but rock carvings (rock paintings are called pictographs – the more you know, am I right?) Petroglyphs are carved into the rock surface, revealing lighter stone underneath and leaving a visible symbol.
Visiting the Park
When visiting Petroglyph National Monument, GPS will take you to the visitor’s center, but there isn’t anything to see there. The center sits in between the two main areas of petroglyphs and is a place to gather information and maps only. Once you leave the visitor’s center, you will see two signs pointing toward either Boca Negra Canyon or Rinconada Canyon.
Boca Negra Canyon is about half a mile long. It has about 100 petroglyphs and a few short, well-developed trails or Rinconada Canyon, which is about two miles long as big and has between 200-300 petroglyphs in an undeveloped trail system. Nearby, there is also the Piedras Marcadas Canyon. It is 1.5 miles long and has about 300-500 petroglyphs in an undeveloped trail system.
Boca Negra Canyon
I visited the Boca Negra Canyon and spent about an hour exploring the area. Boca Negra means the “black mouth” and is considered the birthplace of the Petroglyph National Monument.
There are a few different short trails that you can take around and to the top of the canyon. If you didn’t know what you were looking at, you might think the carvings on the stone are more modern. Indeed, they look like they could have been made just months ago. They’re so well preserved.
These hikes are so short and you can have children or less able people manage them easily. Though the hike to the top of the canyon does have a steeper elevation gain, it has easy-to-manage steps.
A Place of Communication, Not Living
Even though the petroglyphs are concentrated in the area, the ancestral pueblo people did not live there. Petroglyphs were likely located at the place that traditional sacred ceremonies take place. There is evidence that ceremonies were performed here via wearing away of stones, but there is no sign of housing.
Researchers believe the petroglyphs were created by the ancestors of Pueblo people who lived in the nearby Rio Grande Valley before 500 A.D.
What is Revealed
It’s easy to see each of the petroglyphs because they all face the same direction – or at least it’s easy to see the ones that reveal themselves to you. Boca Negra is said to have about 100 petroglyphs, but I only spotted about 50.
The petroglyphs I saw were of stick people and animals, spiral symbols and angular shapes. Elders believe the shape, design and placement of each image is a key to its meaning, though nobody knows exactly what.
Likely they are of similar meaning as other ancient communication, representing tribal, clan, kiva or society markers. Some tell a story of great weather and renowned leaders.
Those that no meaning can be derived are respected for belonging to “those who came before.”
It is extraordinary to sit among the volcanic rocks next to these ancient writings and know that people long past are still communicating with you. Not knowing precisely what they are saying is hardly relevant. The magic comes from knowing that they were there and they're still speaking – perhaps that is all the petroglyphs are meant to convey.
Find the Petroglyph National Monument visitor’s center at Western Trail NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120.