Three Rivers Petroglyph Site facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Three Rivers Petroglyph site
Location

The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site in New Mexico is a special place. It has more than 21,000 petroglyphs, which are ancient rock carvings. These amazing carvings are found on rocks between the towns of Tularosa and Carrizozo in Otero County. You can easily see many of them from a walking trail that goes for about one mile through the rocks.

These petroglyphs were made by the Jornada Mogollon people. They lived in this area between the years 1000 and 1400 AD. Today, the site is looked after by the Bureau of Land Management, which helps protect these important historical artworks.

What are Petroglyphs?

Petroglyphs are images carved into rock. The word "petroglyph" comes from two Greek words. "Petros" means stone, and "glyphein" means to carve. Ancient people made these carvings by removing part of the rock surface. They often used a harder stone to chip away at the dark outer layer of rocks. This revealed the lighter rock underneath.

Why Did People Make Petroglyphs?

We don't know for sure why ancient people made petroglyphs. They might have been telling stories about their lives. Some could be about hunting or important events. Others might have been part of religious ceremonies. They could also have been ways to mark territory. Each carving is like a message from the past.

Exploring the Three Rivers Site

The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is one of the largest in the Southwest. It covers a large area with many different rock carvings. The trail makes it easy for visitors to see a lot of the petroglyphs up close. You can see many different kinds of images. There are animals, people, and strange shapes.

What Can You See?

At the site, you can find many types of petroglyphs. Some show animals like bighorn sheep and birds. Others look like human figures or faces. There are also many geometric designs. These include circles, spirals, and zigzags. Each carving is unique and tells its own story.

Who Made These Rock Carvings?

The people who made these petroglyphs were part of the Jornada Mogollon culture. They were an ancient group of people who lived in the American Southwest. They were known for their pottery and their rock art. The Mogollon people lived in villages and farmed the land. They also hunted and gathered food.

Life of the Jornada Mogollon

The Jornada Mogollon people lived in this region for many centuries. They built homes and developed complex societies. Their art, like the petroglyphs, gives us clues about their beliefs. It also shows us their daily lives. They left behind a rich history carved into the rocks.

Studying the Petroglyphs

Experts have spent a lot of time studying the petroglyphs at Three Rivers. The Archaeological Society of New Mexico helped record all the carvings. This project took six years to complete. They took photos and made detailed notes about each petroglyph.

Preserving History

All the information gathered is kept safe. It is stored at the Bureau of Land Management's office in Las Cruces. This helps researchers learn more about the ancient people. It also helps protect the site for future generations. It's important to keep these ancient artworks safe.

Gallery

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  A petroglyph depicting a bighorn sheep; arrows or spears protrude from its body.

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  One of many circle and dot motifs at the site.

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  A petroglyph depicting a face or mask.

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  A geometric glyph

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  Anthropomorphic figure decorated with abstract designs.

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  A glyph depicting an animal—possibly a sheep.