Several centuries ago Native Americans traveling through the area stopped and pecked designs onto the smooth faces of large boulders found on the east side of the gap. Over the years, many of the boulders have been covered with these chiseled figures known as petroglyphs. The petroglyphs here are thought to be the work of several cultural groups and represent a long period of use by Native cultures. What these designs mean is still unknown. Archaeologists debate that they represent concepts, ideas or actual happenings. Perhaps they were part of a religious activity or hunting ritual. The local Native Americans consider them to be an important part of their cultural history relating stories of their ancestor's lifeways.
This one looks like he has Micky Mouse ears on!
There are so many interesting petroglyphs here. I am sure there are even some that have not been discovered yet.
This was a small cave with some petroglyphs inside.
LOCUST!
Experts are always trying to figure out the meaning of the petroglyphs in this area. The below petroglyph, experts believe, is large calendar sometimes called the "zipper glyph". It faces the large basin to the east. This device is not just a glyph - it is a composite map, glyph, numerical calendar, and system of outer cairns. The glyph itself consists of a large "V" shaped line with a narrow neck and a lobe at the vertex. Along with the line are numerous tick marks thus giving it a zipper line appearance. Counting the tick marks on both sides of the line indicates that there are or very close to 180 marks. This is the number of days that it takes the sun to traverse the horizon between the solstices. The extended arms of the "V" represent the extremes of the sun's traverse, so figure makes perfect sense as an observational calendar. It combines the angle of solar traverse with the number of days it takes to make that traverse. (I really, really wish I understood what ANY of that means.)
This makes me crazy. There are people who drive all the way out here to deface these ancient carvings. I don't understand what kind of nit-wit would do that - this place is sacred and should be respected.
