Reasons for Petroglyphs - Cliff Base Trail

In Boca Negra Canyon along the Cliff Base Trail, the Ancestral Puebloans made petroglyphs for many complex and dynamic reasons. Some possible reasons were rooted in cultural and spiritual beliefs, as some Native Americans consider volcanic landscapes such as this volcanic escarpment to be sacred places. Other reasons were secular, including marking trade routes, recording a specific event, or communicating to others through imagery. Because the Ancestral Puebloans did not use a written language with developed letters, some of these petroglyphs likely served as symbols of communication.

Albuquerque, New Mexico · United States