Three Rivers Petroglyph Site

While in NM we visited the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. I have been here many times and always enjoyed it! This site allows you VERY close access to the glyphs. You can walk up and touch them, really study them and get amazing pictures. Sadly this also means that stupid asses can scrape on them and scratch their own bullshit onto the rocks as well. Why are people such assholes? And although I find the desecration of these glyphs highly infuriating, we did notice one bit of "graffiti" that was left by someone dating 1903! Anyway, on the whole though, the site is amazing. The petroglyphs were made by the Jornada Mogollon peoples sometime between 900 and 1400 AD. This site was occupied for around 400 years, but by the time the Spanish entered NM in the 1500's these dwellings had been mysteriously abandoned, the people possibly retreating to pueblos farther north or taking up their ancestors nomadic, hunting and gathering lifestyle again. There are over 21,000 petroglyphs located at this site and it is truly an amazing thing to see. I am always fascinated that these things have been out in the open, in that harsh climate for over 600 years! And you can still see them and make out what many of them are! You would think they would have eroded over that period of time. Truly incredible! Not to mention the feeling you get at this place. Such an ancient place, a link to a civilization long gone. We were lucky to be there on a very slow day, so we were able to take in the sights, and hear very little but the wind wisping through the mesquites. Trying to decipher what these ancient people were commemorating, what stories they were telling, "reading" the legacies they left behind. I hope you enjoy these photos and if you are ever around the Lincoln National Forest area in NM, go a little out of your way to see this, you won't regret it! And please, click on the photos to get a better look! There are a few more to follow, see next entry!