Sunday, November 23, 2008

Anasazi Rock Art

One of the wonderful things about moving to Southern Utah has been investigating the nearby sites. We love to hike and see the beautiful scenery that is so close to our home. About a 5 minute car ride from our house is "Land Hill" home to hundreds of Anasazi petrogyphs. Some of this rock art is possibly 5,ooo years old. Amazing that in today's world we can walk right up to the area and view these ancient Indian creations.
We like to take friends who visit our area to this ridge and show them the spectacular scenery. The site isn't marked, so you kind of have to know where you are going. When we go, we rarely find any other people along the trail. It's south of Hwy. 91, (the old route to Las Vegas) , with 6,500 acres of public land called the Santa Clara Reserve. This site is also called "Anasazi Ridge" and you can view the Santa Clara River below.

In 2006 a team from Brigham Young University uncovered possible Anasazi pueblo walls along the top of the ridge.

Most of the petroglyphs are carved into the dark brown sandstone.

Carving of an Indian blanket. Do you think they had quilters in their group?

Solid body figures

Bear paws. We were wondering if the way the feet point was a signal to follow in a certain direction.

At one point I'd like to make a hooked rug with some of these figures. Plus I have many quilt ideas in my head. So many possibilities.

4 comments:

Eric Skopec said...

Very nicely described.
With your permission, I would like to quote you in a new book about the Anasazi. And, are there other notes I should add?
TIA,
Eric
www.anasaziadventure.com

Gayle said...

Nedra - I think a hooked rug using these designs would be an AWESOME idea! I've thought of doing on similar to that for Barry - I like the figures shown at Newspaper Rock. Happy Thanksgiving!

amy smart said...

Wow. How cool to live so close to something that amazing.

tanya said...

Wow, you never cease to amaze me. In your relatively short time here you have discovered so much! Nedra, oh wise one, you ROCK!