Anasazi Rock Art USA
I photographed quite a few petrographs on my Southwest journey. I got the idea to show both an Anasazi petrograph and one from Kyrgyzstan.
The Anasazi petrograph, seen on the top photo, was scratched onto sandstone and almost looks painted. It was nearly invisible, but I brought it to life in Photoshop. I like this little deer or gazelle. The artist has given the deer some interesting ‘motion’ lines…those curved lines behind the deer. I think they show the leaping motion of a deer in flight.
Petrographs at Cholpon Ata
This Central Asian petrograph, dating from 800B.C. , may not look as pretty as the Anasazi one, but that is due to the type of rock it is carved on. I think this must be limestone. It’s grainy and the rock is covered in lichen. This stone represents reindeer and is thought to be either a prayer for a successful hunt or a prayer in thanks for a good hunt. The carvings were worked on rocks oriented toward the sunrise or sunset.
Almost all the rocks in the field behind the reindeer are decorated with sketches of animals or hunters shooting animals with bows and arrows. It rained the day I was here, a prelude to snow. What with being cold and wanting to protect my camera from the moisture, I didn’t do justice to the rock art.
The Anasazi petrograph was shot in Monument Valley and the Kyrgyz petrograph was shot at Cholpon Ata, on the north shore of Issyk Kul Lake.
FYI. You can use the word petrograph and petroglyph interchangeably. I looked that up. I’d always thought one meant painted and one meant etched.
Helpful guides to help you plan your own trip:
For Kyrgyzstan contact: Penelope at www.uzbekjourneys.com
For Utah hikes and backpacking to Anasazi sites contact: Vaughn at http://faroutexpeditions.net/
For Monument Valley Photo Tours:contact Clifford at http://blacksmonumentvalleytours.com/