This panel, tucked under the roof of a small overhang (maybe 15 feet up) is found overlooking a prominent river in Central Arizona. Many ancient sites are found in the area, but this is credited to the Apaches, suggesting a more recent date than other rock art; probably up to 500 years. Decades ago (as … Read more "Apache Lunar Calendar ..read more

It is widely thought to be…(drumroll please) a bear! The nearby (what appear to be) bear paw glyphs add weight to this interpretation. Bear paw glyphs could also indicate a bear or bears in the area, or a rival tribe known by the bear motif. It’s hard to discern what’s happening in this panel. Michael … Read more "Do You See A Cougar Or A Bear ..read more

The American Southwest is replete with the tales and mysteries of an ancient people, as told through their enigmatic rock-writing, also known as, the petroglyph. From these ancient peoples, one culture differentiates itself from its prehistoric brethren in a number of ways; one of these being their motifs, such as the somewhat unsettling, “pipette.” Pipettes, … Read more "The Hohokam Pipette and Possible Mesoamerican Connection ..read more

One of the most common rock art motifs, found here and across the world, is the spiral. While it has long existed and spans many cultures and all continents (except Antarctica), there is much debate over the meaning of spiral imagery. Some interpret it to be a coiled snake or a whirlwind. Others say it … Read more "The Spiral ..read more

For anyone interested, I just finished my design for Ancient Arizona: Ruins, Rock Art, and Relics, photo book! Sorry it took so long. I wanted the designs to be perfect. 20 pages / 26 photos. I’m hoping to knock out Amazing Arizona: Wilderness, Waterfalls, and Wildlife, by Wednesday—so they’re available for Christmas. #athew 2021 Calendars … Read more "NEW! Ancient Arizona Photo Book ..read more

This panel has several glyphs. The most interesting are the waterbird, a sun, and some type of zigzag. I’m not sure who created them but several tribes occupied the area at different times. The image known as the “waterbird” could be a crane, or a great blue heron. Interesting to note, the crane is a … Read more "Picture Canyon Petroglyphs ..read more

While pictograph hunting in Sedona with a friend and his kids, we found a number of incredibly beautiful panels. When we split into two different directions, I headed left and over some large rocks when I heard a flutter of movement along the alcove wall! I looked immediately in the direction of the noise and … Read more "Red Rock Danger Noodle (Blacktail Rattlesnake), Sedona ..read more

If you follow me on Social Media, these hand pictographs might look familiar to you. Not too long ago I shared a similar photo of a number of red hand graphs, but in Sedona (seen below). More than coincidence, these 2 sites are likely connected by the same tribe—the Sinagua. Different tribes often used different … Read more "Sinagua Hand Pictographs, Flagstaff ..read more

I’ve had a few people ask me what the difference is between a Petroglyph and a Pictograph, so I’ll explain that here (with pictures, yay!). Petroglyphs are carved into stone (picture left) while pictographs are painted onto it (picture right). Easy, right? But wait, there’s more! Glyphs are far more common than graphs. One obvious … Read more "Petroglyphs and Pictographs, What’s The Difference ..read more

A snake petroglyph or pictograph can have many meanings (such as reincarnation, a snake shedding its skin). A snake appearing to leave a crack in the wall (such as the first panel), or sometimes entering one, likely marks a water source in the same spot, coming from the top of the cliff, somewhere, then into … Read more "The Snake Motif ..read more