Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Thousands of centuries-old petroglyphs silently greet visitors to the three trail areas of Petroglyph National Monument in western Albuquerque. Native peoples made most of the 20,000 images etched on volcanic basalt boulders throughout the monument area. Other petroglyphs may have been the work of Spanish colonists. Unfortunately, more modern artists' work is also reflected on the dark stone faces of the rocks.

The photos within this site were captured along the sandy 2.5-mile trail that follows the base of Petroglyph National Monument's Rinconada Canyon. The canyon's many petroglyphs vary from geometric designs to apparent animal and figurative images. Although historic and artistic theories abound, researchers continue to ponder the full meanings of the primitive rock art.

Petroglyph National Monument, which also offers trails at its Boca Negra and Piedras Marcadas Canyons, is administered by the U.S. National Park Service and managed in part by the city of Albuquerque. The facility is open daily. For more information, visit the NPS website at http://www.nps.gov/petr or telephone 505-899-0205.

Site contents copyright 2004, David A. Wolfe.