Petroglyphs

Wednesday, Feb 8…

Slow start this morning but finally headed out to Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, home of the Jornada Mogollon (MuggyOWN) peoples from roughly 900-1400 A.D (these tribes populated much of southern Arizona and New Mexico). According to DesertUSA.com, “more than 21,000 glyphs of birds, humans, animals, fish, insects and plants, as well as numerous geometric and abstract designs are scattered over 50 acres of New Mexico's northern Chihuahuan Desert. Most of the petroglyphs here decorate a long, basalt ridge rising from the upper Tularosa Basin at the base of the Sacramento Mountains.” We were on that basalt ridge. Archaeologists have never come to a definitive explanation of exactly how the symbols should be interpreted (stories, personal records, warnings…?). What was amazing to us was a) how many drawings there are, and b) what good shape they’re in.  Here are some of our pics:

Kinda like a robot peeking out from behind the bush. 

1000 years old

Sacramento Mountain Range

Our fave (we miss our Lady)

Looking for lunch after this little excursion, and seeing far more abandoned shops than open ones, we finally pulled up to Loredo’s Panaderia & Restaurante in Tularosa (red reed). Technically the place had closed ten minutes earlier, but they fixed shredded brisket tacos for us anyway –  excelente! (Yes, the shells were still a tad drippy w/ oil, but maybe that’s why they were so good!) We also bought a couple pastries and enjoyed those after dinner. The remainder of my evening was spent assembling and addressing valentines for 20 grandkids. 😃

BlogThoughts… For weeks, here and in Death Valley and Arizona we have been immersed in sites and stories related to early native American cultures. I am impressed on many levels – not only with the sophistication of these early civilizations, but also with the tremendous pride the current descendants have in their heritage and their desire to preserve as much of it as possible. Needless to say, I can’t help also feeling guilty for the treatment they have received (about which I can do nothing) and also my own ignorance (which I can change).

Trains. I mentioned these a couple weeks ago and need to again. There’s a LOT of commercial transport by rail. Our current location is near some tracks, and we see/ hear many trains (really, really long trains!) day and night. Most of the “cars” are containers, single and stacked; others are tankers or flatbed. (Haven’t seen hide nor hair of an Amtrak train!) One other train observation: a couple days ago Greg noticed a train graveyard – tracks & sidetracks with miles of old engines, tankers, bottom-drop bulk carriers, etc.  Some were obviously beyond service. What, we wondered, eventually happens to these?

Lights on, but nobody inside.

(same place - I loved all the color)

We saw this cute little gallery on the way to the petroglyphs and thought we’d check it out. (We were also hoping for a snack.) No luck on either count.