Picacho Petroglyphs 5 - Solar Signs

A simple, solitary sun image. [12 rays]

Similar sun glyph, with an extra ring inside. [12 rays]

Two suns. Possibly a centipede glyph at the bottom as well. [7 rays]

Sun image alongside a geometric design. The sun glyph has been repecked. [7 rays]*

*A faint 8th ray is visible, but could have been moved during the repecking.

Sun image encased in a circle overlooking an array of strange designs. [7 rays]

Another sun design to the lower right of the panel - again mostly encased by a circle but with the addition of a central circle and extended beams. [12 rays]

All of the sun petroglyphs pictured have either seven or twelve distinct rays.  These are of course significant calendrical numbers to modern humans, but even if these numbers were important to prehistoric cultures I doubt it would be for the same reasons.  A more exhaustive study of sun designs would be needed to make any claim of significance to this, but I think it's worth pointing out all the same.

Picacho Petroglyphs 4 - Geometrics

 

Geometric glyphs are often (but not always) attributed to the Archaic Period that predates the Hohokam. Here is a dot pattern and lattice, along with an ambiguous squiggle.

A geometric/abstract panel with squiggles and rough circles. Note the possible figure just up and left of center; it has a circle head with a single dot in the center, a body, and legs.

Petroglyphs that must be older than most of the others, based on the level of repatination.

Picacho Petroglyphs 3 - Quadrupeds

Isolated glyph of a four-legged, horned beast with a tail, perhaps a deer. Also pictured are two possible anthropomorphs amidst a geometric scribble.

Similar depiction on an isolated rock face.

A more basic rendering of a four-legged animal.

Quadruped pecked into the steep face of a large boulder above an overhang.

Picacho Petroglyphs 2 - Lizard Men

Lizard Man.

This Lizard Man has an extra set of back legs for some reason. Note the possible human-like figure to the lower left.

Round belly, long tail - Lizard Man. With associated small human figure to the left.

This Lizard Man has three-toed feet associated with salamanders and frogs. Small human figures are present bottom left and right along with a serpent glyph.

Picacho Petroglyphs 1 - Anthropomorphs

While a rounded belly is diagnostic of reptilian glyphs, this figure appears rather simian.

This one looks to have a bit of a penis, and happy about it.

Possibly a birth scene, even if metaphorical; a large, head dressed figure with a round belly appears to give life to the smaller figure below. The serpent design, often associated with water, lends credence to this interpretation. 

Esoterizona Stones 22

Fluorescent Minerals

All three of these specimens were found during a daylight visit to a secluded little mine near Picacho. It was a pleasant surprise to find that under shortwave UV their fluorescence ranges from bright yellow to starlight white. Probably powellite. Will have to revisit this location at night for more of this and whatever else might be out there.

6"x4"x3"

3"x3"x2"

5"x3"x2"

Along with the bright yellow, this piece also exhibits streaks of green. 4"x3"x2"

Not Dead Yet

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) perched overlooking a prehistoric petroglyph site. The entrance to an ancient rock shelter is visible below the large boulder in the foreground.

He eyeballed me pretty good as I worked my way around the base of the mountain ...

... and followed as I made my way up and over the top.

Buzzard's eye view. The white stains on the rocks are droppings.

A closer look into the rock shelter. Easily 15° cooler inside.