We arrived in Flagstaff just after dark-in what felt like a running theme of the trip. Hey, listen...we had a lot to see, and we wasted no daylight. The next morning, we got up early and drive the 1.5 hours to Rock Art Ranch.
The ranch is located very near the petrified forest. They had so much petrified wood that they used it the same way we might use pavers-to mark off walkways and garden beds and parking areas.
From the internet:
Rock Art Ranch is a privately owned cattle ranch that is a true wonder of the Old West. The property has more than just cattle and bison: It features excavated Anasazi dwellings, a Navajo hogan and sweat lodge, and amazingly well-preserved examples of petroglyphs carved by American natives.
Archaeological records show that people have been passing through the area for 13,000 years. Hunting and gathering groups, semi nomadic farmers, and later sedentary farmers have left their mark on the land.
The area is still considered to be an active sacred site; over 3,000 petroglyphs have been found throughout the property, most of which are dated from between 5000 BC to 1400 AD. The petroglyphs, which were made by carving into the rock’s surface, line the walls of an accessible two-mile canyon. Images of animals, people, and unknown symbols are easy to spot. One particularly imposing and beautiful petroglyph is of the Mother Of Game, whose life-sized image graces one of the stone escarpments.
Brantley Baird, the owner and proprietor who has lived on the ranch since 1948, allows visitors to stop by and see the petroglyphs. Though not academically trained, Baird discovered many of the sites himself and believed it was important to share them with the public. He has a modest but fascinating museum on the grounds that offers American Indian artifacts found on site, as well as cowboy and pioneer items. Baird opens his ranch to academic archeologists that assist in the excavation and interpretation of the artifacts.
We were told as the sands shift from year to year they uncover new archeological sites. These were all the broken bits of pottery outside of one archeological dig sites on the property. And while LIDAR suggest there may be 200 more uncovered sites on the property, the owners are choosing to not excavate the sites to preserve them.
A sweat lodge used for local tribal ceremonies.
Next, we headed into the canyon to see the petroglyphs. The path to the canyon was definitely a surprise. I can't fathom how indigenous people managed to hike in and out of that canyon for thousands of years with heavy loads of water. A spring in the canyon provided a clean, fresh, year-round supply of water that made this area an attractive home.
The way down looks sketchy
This looks concerningly like an alien.
I wasn't sure I would make it back up. My trusty hiking shoes ensured I would live to see another day.
Winslow Arizona
