You are now at Stop 3 along the Petroglyph Viewing Trail in Piedras Marcadas Canyon, and have hiked.37 miles, or.6 kilometers.
There are many complex and dynamic reasons why the Ancestral Puebloans made petroglyphs along this volcanic escarpment. Some possible reasons are based on cultural and spiritual beliefs, like that volcanic landscapes are sacred spaces. Other reasons may include marking trade routes, recording a specific event, or simply communicating through imagery. The Ancestral Puebloans did not use a written language, so it is likely that some of these petroglyphs were used as symbols for communication.
Many who visit this landscape wonder what these petroglyphs mean or are supposed to represent. Learn more at Stop 4 approximately one tenth of a mile from here along this trail.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service