Petroglyphs and Lava Flows, Southern New Mexico

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Millie is checking the interpretive sign near the THree Rivers Petroglyph Site trailhead. After a brief walk around the parking lot, she had to wait in the car, as no dogs are permitted on the trail to the petroglyphs.

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Sue thinks this may be a representation of a thunder storm.

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Did I mention it was cold? About 40°, windy, cloudy and periodic chilly rain falling.

Three Rivers Dotted Circle

These dotted circles are fairly common among the the petroglyphs here.

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This face was drawn to take advantage of the 3 dimensional shape of the boulder.

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In some areas, the density of petroglyphs was very high.

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Design for a rug?

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The skies remained quite dark, and you could tell it was snowing at higher elevations.

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Sue took this photo of yours truly in action. This gives an idea of the size of some of the petroglyphs (seen in the next photo).

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Another geometric pattern, perhaps 3-4 ft tall.

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Toad?

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This one is reminiscent of Mayan hieroglyphics.

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Looking across the valley to the Southeast, with the Sacramento Mountains shrouded by clouds.

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Another Bighorn Sheep, with a wavy coat. Note the legs bent, to show motion.

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Looks like Big Foot was here, too.

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Apparently a fish, perhaps rippling the water around it.

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Another large ensemble of glyphs.

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Maybe a turkey track in the dotted circle.

Three Rivers Big Horn Sheep with Arrows

Probably the most famous petroglyph at this site, a Bighorn Sheep with three arrows in it, including one in the chest, perhaps commemorating a hunt or a desirable hunt outcome. The body of the sheep has a Mimbres type geometric design.

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Close up of the Big Horn.

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This face-or mask-appears to be sticking out its tongue!

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Yup, another dotted circle.

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A bird, in the style of a thunderbird. Perhaps symbolic of rain.

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A lizard?

Three Rivers Petroglyph

A quadruped, with geometric pattern on the body, similar to designs found on Mimbres black-on-white pottery.

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This cluster of large boulders features multiple drawings.

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Thunderbird

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Perhaps an eagle on the upper left?

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Multiple panels on this rock outcropping, maybe 10 ft tall.

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On a clear day, you would see Sierra Blanca (12,000 ft) to the east. Today, just low clouds.

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After hiking the Three Rivers area, we warmed up with a bowl of soup at Carrizozo, then stopped at nearby Valley of Fires Recreation Area. This is lava flow about 2 miles wide and 20 miles long, part of which flowed from Little Black Peak, just visible on the horizon in this photo.

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The lava here is as recent about 5000 years ago and has numerous desert type plants such as yucca growing among the flows.

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Prickly pear cactus growing from a crack in the lava flow.

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There are excellent examples of pahoehoe, or rope-like lava here.

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Lots of sotol sticking up from the "malpais" as the lava badlands is known.

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Someone must have tossed the white rocks onto the pahoehoe here; they certainly didn't appear to be natural!

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When I see lava flows, I always think of those in the Central Oregon area. But I had never seen a flow with so many sharp-edged plants growing in it! I would love to come back when the cacti bloom in the spring. It's like a rock garden.

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Note the crack in the pahoehoe here; also note the ocotillo growing on it.

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More ropey lava.

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Another tissue in the flow.

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A collapse feature in the flow; perhaps where a lava tube once existed. The more jagged lava is "aa"

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Leaving Valley of the Fires, the dark clouds began to lift a bit. Our luck, the next day would be perfectly clear!