Three Rivers Petroglyph National Recreation Site

We traveled through the Lincoln National Forest crossing over hills of dwarfed pines, oak scrub and cactus. We headed north on Highway 54 running parallel to the White Sands Missile Range.  We kept our heads ducked and did not run into any errant missiles.  In many places, you could see the band of white sand next to the Jornado Del Muerto (mountains) range.  We arrived at the National Recreational Site in the early afternoon and had plenty of time to explore.

More than 21,000 glyphs of birds, humans, animals, fish, insects and plants, as well as numerous geometric and abstract designs are scattered over the northern Chihuahuan Desert. The petroglyphs at Three Rivers, dating back to between about 900 and 1400 AD, were created by Jornada Mogollon people who used stone tools to remove the dark patina on the exterior of the rock. A small pueblo ruin is nearby .  Anthropologists believe that this location was a crossroads for tribes that would leave messages for each other and tell stories with the petroglyphs.

The road was straight, straight and straight.

Valley view from the campground.  White Sands is near the mountains in the distance.

We chose to follow the no dogs on the trails rule.

Is this an older version of the cuts of meat diagram in many cookbooks?

Man with beer belly.

In several places people have chipped away the petroglyphs.

Vana of the petroglyphs!

An obvious eagle.

When studying children's art in college, I learned that all children go through a progression of objects before people and then the same progress with people.  This circle with a cross in it is one of the shapes drawn by children before they draw people.

Roadrunner?

Reconstructed footprint of an older home.

This house is a little newer.

This is the newest type of house found on site.

The campground had only two RV sites and a few unoccupied tent sites.  The evening was warm and we were able to enjoy a long and dramatic sunset.  After dark, the stars were just as spectacular.  And it was soooo very quiet!