Ancient+Southwest+Literature

Rock art across the Southwest United States and Colorado Plateau is perhaps the oldest literature of the region. With thousands of documented rock art sites across the region many archeologists have attempted to interpret these ancient images. Two main types of rock art exist here in the southwest with several other sub types. These two include 1) Petroglyphs which are etched into the rock using a variety of methods including pecking and scratching with stone tools. 2) Pictographs are rock art images in which pigments are used to paint the image onto the surface of the rock.

In an interesting book entitled "The Rock Art of Arizona" author Ekkehart Moltki, a professor at NAU, determines that there are 6000-8000 rock art sites in the state of Arizona alone. He examines, and with the help of native Americans, interprets the images found across the state. Many of the images have been thought to document migration patterns, while other images cannot be explained.

These are petroglyphs. Notice how they are etched into the desert varnish on the surface of this rock. This panel is located in the state of Utah. Image from http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/175/native-petroglyphs_8935.jpg (Accessed Dec, 2,2009).

This is a Pictograph panel. Notice the painted pigments used to create the images. Image http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celebratebig.com/idaho-main-salmon-river/devils-toe-pictographs-main-salmon-river.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.celebratebig.com/idaho-main-salmon-river/index.htm&h=426&w=640&sz=160&tbnid=2DX1Q9t1gKt3qM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpictographs&hl=en&usg=__1rku3pt-w5r-6lcv75MTGn3YXtI=&ei=1-sXS4HJCIXYtgPxqLmcDg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=7&ct=image&ved=0CBwQ9QEwBg (Accessed Dec, 2,2009)