Near the western entrance of Valley of Fire State Park we find dark red Aztec sandstone. In the red rock nooks and crannies campsites are available and at this outcropping’s northern end is Atlatl Rock. Home to petroglyphs about 4,000 years old carved by unknown ancient tribes. Yes, these peoples lived sometime around 2,000 B.C. and we can only imagine their thoughts through their art. Let’s go!
First, if you are like me, you are tripping over the pronunciation of Atlatl. I asked a park ranger to help me out and she said I’m not alone in this quandary: at-LAT-ul. So what does it mean? An at-LAT-ul is a spear thrower, a device which can double the distance of a spear thrown by hand. They have a fascinating history which includes people groups around the world. Even more surprising? Atlatls are still used today. For a quick look, watch this.
So let’s head up the stairs. Oh my they are steep. Hmmmm . . . I’ll just walk slowly and meet you up top.
Some petroglyph’s meaning seem pretty clear, but some, especially those linked, could be telling a story hard to decipher. The word petroglyph is derived from two Greek words, petros meaning “stone,” and glyphein meaning “to carve.” In archeology glyphs are symbols, some they have defined yet others are still a mystery.
At the very top, that looks like a Desert Bighorn Sheep, found all across the southwest desert. Could it be right below the sheep an atlatl? Then a spear? Then a human holding the spear and its throwing device–the atlatl? Archeologists dig very deep of course, but encourage us to see petroglyphs representing spiritual beliefs; hunting, gathering, and cultivating tasks; and everyday and domestic activities. If you would like a deeper dive, dive in here.
Can you image a story looking at the glyphs?
How can these drawing last for thousands of years!? There are many petroglyphs in the southwest desert areas and they are all carved in desert varnish. Varnish is a thin red-to-black coating of minerals, but mostly manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe). See it on the sheer rock area at center and the black areas all around the center?
Varnish is often the result of surface runoff and atmospheric dust, but wind plays no part in the coating. It could be the petroglyphs carved into varnish are the only ones to have lasted for thousands of years.
Well, time to head down the stairs. Yikes! Did I mention I have a pretty bad fear of heights? Started when I was about two years old and unable to let go of the edges of a slide–up top and frozen solid–until my Dad came and “rescued” me? Well, here’s a solution I learned from a thoughtful classmate on a trip up to (and down) the roof of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone with LOTS of very high places and old, steep stairs. Maybe you need the secret too?
Have someone walk down one stair ahead of you so you cannot see down, just watch their head or back. Go slow as a team and suddenly you are at the bottom and not dizzy or worse! Works every time.
So happily at the bottom, just enjoying the scenery, and another surprise. A bird you only see in the Southwest, a Phainopepla. OK, another “how-the-heck-do-I-say-that” word! Phainopepla — fay-no-PEP-la.
This is a female and yes, they have bright red eyes and a feather crest. They are smaller than a robin, larger than a sparrow.
The name Phainopepla comes from Greek meaning “shining robe”, which is a good description of the male’s shiny black plumage. Imagine all the female’s gray as shiny black, or look here then read Cool Facts a bit further down the page. They are fascinating desert birds.
Well, made it down alive, know how to pronounce two new words, and ready to explore more of this amazing rock outcropping south of Atlatl Rock. Let’s keep going . . . so keep watching.
Until then . . .
