Petroglyph National Monument ⓘ

Petroglyphs are rock carvings (rock paintings are called pictographs) made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammerstone. When the desert varnish (or patina) on the surface of the rock was chipped off, the lighter rock underneath was exposed, creating the petroglyph. Archaeologists have estimated there may be over 25,000 petroglyph images along the 17 miles of escarpment within the monument boundary.

It is estimated 90% of the monument's petroglyphs were created by the ancestors of today's Pueblo people. Puebloans have lived in the Rio Grande Valley since before 500 A.D., but a population increase around 1300 A.D. resulted in numerous new settlements. It is believed that the majority of the petroglyphs were carved from about 1300 through the late 1680s.

The arrival of Spanish people in 1540 had a dramatic impact on the lifestyle of the pueblo people. In 1680 the Pueblo tribes rose up in revolt of Spanish rule, and drove the settlers out of the area and back to El Paso, Texas. In 1692 the Spanish resettled in the Albuquerque area. As a result of their return, there was a renewed influence of the Catholic religion, which discouraged participation by the Puebloans in many of their traditional ceremonial practices. As a consequence, many of these practices went underground, and much of the image making by the Puebloans decreased. A small percentage of the petroglyphs found within the park pre-date the Puebloan time period, perhaps reaching as far back as 2000 B.C. Other images date from historic periods starting in the 1700s, with petroglyphs carved by early Spanish settlers. Why were the petroglyphs made? To find out more, click here .

There were many reasons for creating the Petroglyphs, most of which are not well understood by modern society. Petroglyphs are more than just "rock art," picture writing, or an imitation of the natural world. They should not be confused with hieroglyphics, which are symbols used to represent words, nor thought of as ancient Indian graffiti. Petroglyphs are powerful cultural symbols that reflect the complex societies and religions of the surrounding tribes. Petroglyphs are central to the monument's sacred landscape where traditional ceremonies still take place. The context of each image is extremely important and integral to its meaning. Note each petroglyph's orientation to the horizon and surrounding images, as well as the landscape in which it sits. Today's native people have stated that the placement of each petroglyph image was not a casual or random decision. Some petroglyphs have meanings that are only known to the individuals who made them. Others represent tribal, clan, kiva or society markers. Some are religious entities and others show who came to the area and where they went. Petroglyphs still have contemporary meaning, while the meaning of others is no longer known but are respected for belonging to "those who came before." While viewing these petroglyph images, please consider their importance to both past and present cultures.

Petroglyphs are fragile, non-renewable cultural resources that, once damaged, can never be repaired nor replaced. We ask for your assistance in preserving this rich cultural landscape for future generations.

By remembering and following the rules listed here, you can help preserve these unique and fragile cultural resources that are part of our nation's heritage.

Avoid Touching the Petroglyphs Look and observe, BUT DO NOT TOUCH! Preserve petroglyphs by not touching them in any way. Even a small amount of the oils from our hands can darken petroglyphs making them impossible to see.

Stay on the Trails For your own safety and the preservation of the petroglyphs, stay on designated trails at all times. Climbing on the boulders can dislodge loose stones causing damage to the petroglyph boulders. Falling rocks can hurt people, or may scratch the carved and pecked images causing unintentional damage. Do not re-arrange the rocks or move/remove artifacts from where you find them. The petroglyphs are important individually and in relation to each other. In order to try and understand a petroglyph or pictograph it needs to be viewed in relation to its environment including the adjacent image(s), the entire basalt escarpment, and the surrounding landscape. For someone to fully appreciate a site, the petroglyphs and their surroundings should be left undisturbed.

Photography and Sketching is Allowed Do not introduce any foreign substance to enhance the carved and pecked images for photographic or drawing purposes. Altering, defacing, or damaging the petroglyphs is against the law -- even if the damage is unintentional.

Re-pecking or re-painting does not restore a petroglyph or pictograph, it destroys the original. DO NOT add your own marks to the images. The introduction of graffiti destroys the petroglyphs and is disrespectful to contemporary Native Americans and their ancestors.

Note: Photography for personal use does not require a permit. Commercial photography does require a permit.

Pets Where dogs are allowed, keep them on a leash and clean up after them. Animals may damage archeological sites (including petroglyph sites) by digging, urinating and defecating on them. Animals can destroy fragile cultural resources.

Artifacts If you happen to come across sherds (broken pottery) or lithics (flakes of stone tools), leave them where you see them. Once they are moved or removed, a piece of the past is forever lost.

All archaeological and historic sites within Petroglyph National Monument are protected by a number of laws and regulations including the Antiquities Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. These and other laws prohibit digging, removing artifacts, damaging and defacing archaeological resources in national parks, and provide felony and/or misdemeanor prosecution with imprisonment up to ten years and fines up to $100,000.

If you see people vandalizing or disturbing archeological sites or petroglyphs, please report it as soon as possible by calling Petroglyph National Monument Law Enforcement at 505-899-0205 .

While visiting the national monument consider yourself a guest in someone's home and behave appropriately. Native Americans today consider the entire national monument to be a sacred landscape. Like other places of worship throughout the world, the area demands respect and care.

We encourage you to respect the beliefs of the descendants of those who carved the images on the rocks. The petroglyphs within the park are sacred to many people living in the area today. Out of respect and consideration of present day peoples, we currently do not post any images on our website or place any images in our publications that display the human form. We would encourage you not to use the images for commercial purposes.

Thank you for your cooperation and we hope you enjoy your visit to Petroglyph National Monument.

The Spanish land tenure or land grant system was a practice brought from Spain to establish economic development and settlement in New Mexico. Prominent individuals requested large parcels of land and their ownership was granted by a Spanish official or by the king of Spain. The Rio Grande and its surrounding valley were lush with native vegetation therefore Spanish settlers considered this land ideal for settlement, agricultural and grazing purposes. The Coronado expedition of 1540, led by Captain Hernando de Alvarado, marked the earliest sightings of what would later become known as the Valle de Atrisco in the present Albuquerque area.

Spanish history of the Valle de Atrisco begins in 1598 with the arrival of Don Juan de Oñate of Spain who entered the northern frontier of New Mexico via El Camino Real for purposes of claiming the territory on behalf of the king of Spain. In the early 1600s a number of Spanish estancias (farms) and ranches dotted the area of the Rio Grande Valley between Sandia Pueblo to the north and Isleta Pueblo to the south. By 1632 the first Spanish settlement in Albuquerque was on the site of present day Old Town.

Spanish settlement came to a halt in 1680 with the outbreak of the Pueblo Revolt. The revolt was the result of forced labor and religion imposed on the Pueblo Indians by Spanish colonists and missionaries. Twelve years later, Don Diego de Vargas succeeded in reoccupying New Mexico.

Within the ranks of de Vargas' volunteer army was a native New Mexican, Don Fernando Duran y Chaves II. In 1692, De Vargas awarded Don Fernando an 82,000-acre grant on the lands where his father, Don Pedro, once lived on the west side of the Rio Grande. This land became known as the Atrisco Land Grant.

The oldest, most historic road in the United States is El Camino Real, also known as "The King's Highway" or "The Royal Road." In 1598 Oñate's first expedition into New Mexico walked along El Camino Real naming areas of the land as they journeyed north. Many of the names declared by Oñates' expedition are still used today such as Belen, Bernalillo, and Isleta. Since the late 16th century Spanish explorers, soldiers, colonists, missionaries, and merchants traveled north from Chihuahua, Mexico to Santa Fe, New Mexico via El Camino Real. Except for the 12 year Pueblo Revolt period when the Spanish forbade travel on the highway, El Camino Real was in constant use until 1881 when the Santa Fe Railroad completed laying the tracks between Albuquerque, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

For over four centuries this course-whether you call it El Camino Real as the Spanish, or El Camino Constitucional (Constitutional Highway) as the Mexican's, or Interstate 25 as the Americans-served and continues to be the route of choice connecting people, cultures, and commerce throughout the western United States. Its historical significance has been acknowledged by Congress who designated El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (The Royal Road of Interior Land) a National Historical Trail in October of 2000.

Settlers began to move to the village of Atrisco in 1703. In 1706 the Villa de Albuquerque was established. Settlers in the Atrisco valley built their haciendas (homes) along the Rio Grande. The villagers were highly reliant upon the resources of the land for their survival. The native grasses that grew in the canyons and rincons (corners) were critical for grazing sheep and cattle. Lands were cultivated and irrigated and used to grow corn, chile, wheat, squash, alfalfa, and beans. The land grant settlers relied on grazing sheep and other livestock for food and clothing. By 1760, over 200 people had settled in Atrisco, and the valley was becoming crowded. As a result in, 1768, the Atrisco Land Grant expanded to include the mesa top grasslands.

Other land grants included the Alameda grant to the north, the Elena Gallegos and Carnuel grants to the east, the Parajito grant to the south and many others up and down the Rio Grande Valley and throughout New Mexico.

In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, and New Mexico officially became part of the United States. The treaty honored existing land grants. For the people of Atrisco, this secured the land grant and provided increased economic opportunity.

In 1967 the Atrisco Land Grant was incorporated into Westland Development Company Inc., which manages approximately 56,000 acres of Atrisco's land holdings. Of the monument's 7,236 acres, nearly 2,000 acres in the southern area called Mesa Prieta were once part of the Atrisco Land Grant. Among the volcanic rocks that form the canyons within the Atrisco grant, a considerable number of historic petroglyphs include Christian crosses, livestock brands, and Spanish initials.

For over 400 years, the Atrisqueños (Atrisco land grantees) have witnessed a number of economic and political changes, from the Pueblo Revolt to New Mexico's independence from Spain, and New Mexico's inclusion as a territory of the United States in 1846. Today, Atrisco remains one of the oldest existing land grants in the United States and one of very few Spanish Colonial grants still presently owned by the heirs of the original Spanish settlers. The Atrisco Land Grant continues to be a proud part of Spanish heritage in New Mexico.

Sierra de Sandia: Located in the eastern elevations of Albuquerque at 10,678 ft. above sea level, the mountains are comprised of granite, white limestone, and a variety of vegetation. The name derives from its historical association with Sandia Pueblo.

Río Puerco: Spanish meaning hints more at "muddy river," as it is seasonally full. Located 16 miles west of the Río Grande from Albuquerque, the east bank of the Río Puerco formed the westernmost boundary of the Atrisco Land Grant in 1768 when the grant was expanded beyond the Ceja del Río Puerco, or the horizon formed by the ridge south of Albuquerque's west mesa.

Villa de Alburquerque: Believed to be the Spanish derivation of the Latin term albaquercus. Founded in 1706, the Villa de San Felipe de Neri de Alburquerque was named in part for Viceroy Francisco Fernández de la Cueva Enríquez, Duke of Alburquerque, and partly in honor of King Felipe V's coronation. San Felipe de Neri was his patron saint. In modern times, the extra "r" has been dropped. The word Albuquerque is believed to have been corrupted by English speaking arrivals to New Mexico in the 19th century.

Ceja: Spanish meaning brow or ridge. This word refers to the Ceja del Río Puerco of the Atrisco Land Grant. The Ceja del Río Puerco is the western horizon of the city south of the west mesa. From the Río Puerco looking eastward toward Albuquerque, one can see the horizon formed from that viewpoint. The cumbre or ridge is the ceja.

Mesa: Spanish for plateau in southwestern United States. Much of Albuquerque's west mesa is included in Petroglyph National Monument.

Río Grande del Norte: Spanish for "large river of the north," originates in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. It flows southward through the middle of New Mexico and empties into the Gulf of America.

Ristras are the strings of chile you see hanging along fences, on patios and on portals all over New Mexico. In the Fall, you can buy ristras at farmer's markets and roadside stands. Ristras are sometimes used for decoration, and are said to bring good health and good luck. More often, they are hung up to dry for later cooking and eating.

Chiles are in the genus Capsicum, and the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which includes other New World plants, such as the tomato, potato, eggplant, tobacco and the petunia. While we sometimes refer to chiles as "peppers," they are not related to Piper nigrum, the source of black pepper.

Chiles range from the sweet bell pepper to the fiery hot habenero. They are considered a vegetable when green, and a spice when dried. Botanically, chile fruits are considered berries.

The word "chile" is a variation of "chil" derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) dialect. The "e" ending is the correct Hispanic spelling of the word. English speakers have changed the "e" to an "i" and made the word refer most often to the state dish of Texas, a combination of meat, beans, and chile pepper, called "chili."

Originally, chile was found only in the Americas where it has been domesticated for 7,000 years. The wild ancestral form probably originated in the area of Bolivia and Peru. When Columbus landed in the New World, while searching for a shorter route to the East Indies and its prized spices, he found a variety of small red chile which was similar in pungency to the black pepper with which he was familiar. He called this variety "red pepper" and took it home to Europe.

Prehistorically, distribution of Capsicum extended from the southernmost border of the United States to the temperate area of South America. Spanish explorers in the late 1500s reported that the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico were growing a mild variant form of chile. Chile is often considered an annual, however, in suitable climates it becomes a small perennial shrub that can live for a decade or more.

Since the introduction of chile to Europe by Columbus, it has spread rapidly along the spice trade routes to Africa and Asia, where it has become a major crop. Today, a quarter of the population of the world eats hot chile every day.

New Mexicans consume more chile per capita than any other group in the United States. It is an essential ingredient of "Mexican or Southwestern food," the fastest growing food sector in the United States.

New Mexico has an optimum climate for growing pungent chile with low annual precipitation, irrigation is essential and increases pungency. Too much water, however, can encourage diseases and the fruit will be less pungent. The high desert climate provides a high intensity of sunlight, warm days, cool nights and daily breezes, which help to dry the plants after a rain or morning dew. Several hundred varieties of chiles are grown in New Mexico, including New Mexican (green and red), cayenne, and jalapeño.

It is believed that the Chile evolved pungency to discourage mammals from eating the fruits because their digestive systems destroy the seeds, preventing the spread of the plant. Birds, the natural agents of dispersal of chiles, do not feel the heat, and thus disseminate the seeds.

Chile seeds are not the source of the pungency. The "heat" is produced by alkaloid compounds call capsaicinoids, which are located in glands along the fruit's inner wall, or placenta. If you cut the fruit open you can tell how hot a chile will be. If the placenta is a bright orange, the fruit will be hot. If the color is very pale, the fruit will be on the mild side.

The pungency is affected by the genetic makeup of the variety, the weather, growing conditions, and age of the fruit. Plant breeders can select for desired ranges of pungency, but any stress to the plant such as a few hot days or less precipitation, can increase the capsaicinoid content and cause the pungency to increase.

Chile spiciness is measured in terms of Scoville Heat Units. Heat is felt as a result of the irritation of the pain and temperature receptors in the mouth, nose, and stomach by the capsaicinoids. The physical reactions of vasodilatation, sweating and flushing, result , and the brain causes the release of endorphins which give the body a sense of pleasure. This can cause people to become "addicted" to chiles.

Some claim that plain water is best, while others claim that sugar, beer, bread, citrus fruits, tomato juice and oil can also help. Scientific research says that milk or milk based products which contain casein are the most helpful. Casein is a protein that unbinds the capsaicin from the nerve receptors on the taste buds, and puts out the fire!

Red and green fruit represent two developmental stages of the same chile fruit. The plant produces green fruit, which turns red if the pods are left on the plant. The red fruit is usually dried and ground into chile powder. Green chile is roasted and peeled for fresh consumption, canning or freezing.

Chiles are an important source of vitamins and many essential nutrients. A green chile pod can contain six times as much vitamin C as a Florida orange. The content diminishes about 30% with cooking and is almost completely absent in dried chile. As pods turn red, the vitamin A content increases until they contain twice the vitamin A of a carrot. Chile pods also contain high concentrations of vitamins E, P (bioflavonoids), B1 (thiamin) B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin).

Chile is eaten today as a fresh vegetable or in its dried form as a spice. It is often used in combination with tomatoes in salsas, and hot sauces, but it can also be found in many ethnic foods, meats, salad dressings, dairy products, beverages, candies, baked goods, snack foods, breading and batters. Paprika (the Hungarian words for chile), is used as coloring in sausages, cheeses, drugs and cosmetics. Cayenne (named for a city in French Guiana) is used in hot sauce, and jalapeños (named for Jalapa, Mexico), are preserved by canning or pickling. Chiles have antimicrobial effects, and help to retard food spoilage, an important benefit in warm climates.

Today, chiles are widely used as a natural remedy. Pharmaceutical companies use the capsaicin as a topical agent in creams and liniments for sore muscles or for chronic pain as with shingles, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Capsaicin is the active ingredient in anti-mugger (pepper spray) aerosols used by many police departments.

Ornamental chiles (which are edible) are grown in colors of the rainbow by many nursery greenhouses.

Traditionally, chile was sun-dried, the fruits being spread on roofs or on the ground. However, because of contamination by birds and rodents, people began to tie them together in strings or ristras and hang them on a wall. Commercial processors now use controlled artificial drying.

To make chile sauce, select 12 to 14 large pods to make one pint. Pick those without any mold, disease, insect infestation, or decay, and be sure that they have not been sprayed with a plastic or shellac for decorative purposes. Remove stems, seeds, and yellow veins from the pods (leave the veins if you want a sauce which is more pungent). Wash the pods in warm water, changing the water several times.

Place the washed pods in a warm water for 30 minutes to one hour to rehydrate them. Add water as needed. Then, simmer for 10 minutes. The pulp will become soft and thick and separate from the skin. Place the pods and some water in a blender and blend until smooth puree is obtained. Run the puree through a colander or sieve to remove bits of peeling.

In a sauce pan mix one cup of the chile puree, one cup of water, one minced garlic clove (optional), ½ teaspoon salt, two tablespoons vegetable oil, and simmer for ten minutes. Add ½ teaspoon crushed oregano leaves (optional) and simmer another five to seven minutes.

Do you wonder what a petroglyph is or why they were made ? We hope to answer these questions in this website or during your visit. Either way, you can help us protect and take care of the petroglyphs by following some simple rules.

New Mexico's history has led to a wondrous blending of cultures: from the Puebloan and other indigenous groups that have been here for thousands of years, through the Spanish and Mexican heritage moving in several centuries ago, to the more recent additions of Northern European descent during the last two centuries.

Each has provided customs and traditions that make New Mexico unique and a beloved a place to be. Of course the evidence of the early inhabitants is shown in the petroglyphs, but when you visit, you will also be surrounded by many of the other popular aspects of New Mexico. Chile ristras can be seen almost everywhere you look. Luminarias are utilized during the Christmas holiday season. Artistry influenced by all the cultures abounds.

Enjoy your visit to the park and to the wondrously diverse aspects of our cities and state.

Petroglyph National Monument has much more to offer than the cultural resources for which it is so well known. Various types of wildlife utilize this narrow corridor, some in transit during migration, others for their entire lifespan. Plants, birds, insects, animals, all are part of the ecosystem that Petroglyph holds in this tiny strip of land and all will eventually encounter the millipedes of Petroglyph NM .

Another less popular but well known resident of the monument is the rattlesnake. This landscape is home for several varieties, please be careful when you are visiting the monument. Follow this link for some guidelines about dealing with our legless friend, the snake .

These remnants of erupting volcanoes, which produced the basalt that became the canvas for people for thousands of years, stand starkly against the western horizon. A moderate hike will take you partway up some of these volcanic cones. Be sure to stay on the trails. It takes decades for this fragile volcanic landscape to recover from a single footstep.

As in all National Park and Monuments, it is prohibited to collect ANYTHING . Please leave all plants and flowers, rocks, artifacts and etc. for all our visitors to enjoy.

The edible fruits of this plant are called "tunas" and were one of the few sweets the native people enjoyed before the arrival of Europeans and the introduction of the common fruits we eat today.

These flowers are found widespread in New Mexico during the fall. A concoction of leaves and stems was used by native peoples as a stimulant, especially effective for women in labor. Tea from the ground plant was used to treat upset stomachs.

Native people ground and cooked the seeds of this plant as a cereal; the leaves were dried and mixed with other ingredients for flour. Ashes of burned saltbush were used as a leavening for breads.

This tall shrub (sometimes called Purple Sage) has many branches, and is characterized by leaves with only one leaflet, and intense purple flowers.

Cholla buds are high in calcium. Local native peoples ate the fruit raw, stewed or dried and ground into flour. The woody skeleton has been used for walking sticks or tied together to make fences.

This highly poisonous perennial plant has a history of ceremonial use by native peoples throughout the Southwest.

This aromatic plant has many medicinal uses. Boiled in water, the steam can be inhaled as a decongestant; as a tea it is believed to cure stomach disorders.

This plant has been used medicinally by local native peoples. The powdered root or leaves are mixed with water and rubbed on sprains, swellings and rashes.

Information Center at Petroglyph National Monument where visitors can get information and driving directions to petroglyph viewing trails which are located 1 to 6 miles from the information center. You must drive to a trail from the information center. No trails available at the Information Center. NPS/PETR The Information Center is open daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. The WNP Park Store is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Petroglyph is not like other National Park sites where visitors begin their adventure on trails that start and end at the visitor center. Petroglyph does not have any petroglyph viewing trails at the Information Center. This facility serves as an Information Center where you can expect to get a park brochure, trail maps, and general information. So, if you decide to go to the Information Center be prepared to get back in your car and drive to a trail system in order to see petroglyphs. Or, use Google maps to drive directly to a trail system.

The Information Center is located off Unser Blvd. NW at the Western Trail intersection, approximately 3 miles north of I-40. Or use GPS Lat: 35.139 Long: -106.711 Closed: Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. Also closed during severe weather conditions. The visitor center typically closes early on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve.

The Information Center is open daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. The WNP Park Store is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Petroglyph is not like other National Park sites where visitors begin their adventure on trails that start and end at the visitor center. Petroglyph does not have any petroglyph viewing trails at the Information Center. This facility serves as an Information Center where you can expect to get a park brochure, trail maps, and general information. So, if you decide to go to the Information Center be prepared to get back in your car and drive to a trail system in order to see petroglyphs. Or, use Google maps to drive directly to a trail system. There are no petroglyph viewing trails, there is not a museum, there is no food service, and there are no exhibits at the information center. If you are getting a ride to the monument using a Ride Share service, DO NOT let the driver drop you off at the information center. You must have your driver take you to a trail head. Click on Things To Do then Outdoor Activities for information one of the four (4) petroglyph viewing trail systems. The Information Center contains a Western National Parks ( WNP) Park Store and a staffed information kiosk outside on the patio. Visitors are encouraged to help themselves to the brochures then drive to a petroglyph viewing trail of their choice. Petroglyph does not sell The America the Beautiful Passes. However, the Access Pass, the Military Passes and the Every Kid Outdoors Passes are issued free of charge. The Information Center is located off Unser Blvd. NW at the Western Trail intersection, approximately 3 miles north of I-40. Or use GPS Lat: 35.139 Long: -106.711

505 899-0205 Educators who want to schedule an education program or field trip for students, call 505-238-1875.