Rock Art, Three Rivers

Three Rivers The Three Rivers site is located along a low ridge in the Tularosa Basin a bit closer to the Sacramento Mountains to the east than to the San Andres range to the west. Jornada-Mogollon petroglyphs are found there on the smooth black boulders that top the ridge in great profusion – there are said to be over 20,000 images. Nearly every design attributed to the culture is found at Three Rivers, but many like this great jaguar figure are also unique in their scale and boldness. rock art index page

I was reluctant for a long time to visit the Three Rivers site because I knew the parking lot, picnic shelters and beaten trails would deprive the experience of the sense of connection to the ancient culture which characterizes the remote wilderness sites I am familiar with. Luckily, I was at Three Rivers early enough in the day to avoid seeing many other visitors. And, as I proceeded up along the ridge it became easier to ignore the intrusions of civilization and focus on the panorama of snow-topped mountains and broad plains that so inspired the orginal inhabitants. rock art index page

Winged figures are a common Mogollon theme; this one is nearly identical to another at the Rincon site, seventy miles to the southwest. Perhaps these were inspired by the hawks and ravens one hears and sees often at such places. The sound and buoyant movement of the birds certainly evokes the feeling of an exprience shared with the ancient artists whose communication still moves us to wonder. rock art index page

Unusual physical attributes were often thought to convey magical powers. The hunch-backed flute player is more common to the north, but is found occasionally further south. Was there a story of a six-fingered shaman who could lift rattlers by the the tail? rock art index page

Human figures and faces appear all along the ridge at Three Rivers. The faces may represent masks worn in dance ceremonies. At this site most of the masks are bisected at the midpoint by a horizontal line. Are the vertical pupils those of the sheep, or the jaguar? rock art index page