AZ Petroglyphs

Petroglyphs are made by pecking or scraping off the dark layers of "desert varnish" that accumulate on rocks in dry climates exposing the lighter-colored underlying stone.


What do  petroglyphs mean? Some are obvious: a bighorn sheep with arrows in its side and a bunch of hunters running after it requires little explanation. Some pictures are interpreted by contemporary Native Americans as having spiritual or religious significance. But the fact is we don't have any idea what most of the pictures mean, and likely never will.