Three Rivers Petroglyphs
In early July 2018 I went to the San Agustin plains in western New Mexico to visit the Very Large Array radio telescope installation. This is captured in my short video “Very Large Array and Astronomical Museum” so please check it out. My path back to Tucson looped through Magdalena, Socorro, across the 44-mile long Malpais lava field to Carrizozo, south on US Route 54 to Three Rivers, Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and then on I-10 it was a straight shot home. This stretch of Route 54 is remote, wide open high desert with views of distant thunderheads draining their precious water onto the plain. Three Rivers is barely a “wide spot in the road”. But 3 Rivers Road that heads east toward the Sacramento mountains and the not-quite-12,000-foot peak of Sierra Blanca is the way to the amazing Three Rivers Petroglyph Site.
I’m really fascinated by petroglyphs. I love the ancient, weathered rock canvases and the inventive geometric patterns and depictions of wildlife now disappeared from the landscape. Pictographs are similar, but lack the rough, rich texture most common to petroglyphs. And the time taken to execute the designs with a simple stone on stone must be appreciated. I also enjoy the mystery of their purpose as it attracts all kinds of ideas of what and why they are. The rich conglomeration of petroglyphs at Three Rivers Site has a wider range of images than I’m used to seeing in Arizona. One thing that struck me in particular was the number of life-like images of human faces. I did not traverse to entire ridge, but managed to capture some nice images before a rapidly approaching thunderstorm (with dangerously close lightning) sent me running for cover in my vehicle as the refreshing rain began to pour down. Below are a few pictures taken along the way.
Very Large Array not far from Magdalena, NM
Another craft at the station where I gassed up in Socorro, NM.
Malpais Nature Trail through the lava field.
This sad Porsche 928’s life ended in Carrizozo, NM.
Still standing in old downtown Carrizozo, NM.
Signs of artistic activity infusing new life into the town of Carrizozo, NM.
Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site with the visitor center in background.
Fantastical lifeform shapes.
A striking lone, frightening face.
Beautiful bird, simple face, and bump in rock incorporated into a design.
Startled figure and wonderful geometric pattern.
Sacramento Mountains info panel looking east.
Tularosa Basin info panel looking west.
Dramatic depiction of antelope struck with three arrows.
3D rock surface feature as nose in another face.
Another face possibly with earrings.
More figures and a fully-pecked bird.
Very unusual checkerboard pattern.
The approaching storm will cut short my hike along the ridge.
The rustic shelter atop the ridge.
Wonderful geometrics and vivid lichens.
Thunderbirds, a hiding lizard, and the 6-fingered hand.
More wonderful geometrics as the storm closes in.
A bird, and cubist snake, and swirl.
Graceful interlocking curvilinear forms.
Busy pattern, small creature, demonic figure. Was foot done while someone sat atop the rock?
More animal figures and two piercing eye-like dots in upper quadrants above.
Intricate fish-shaped pattern, another foot, hand, and pleasing circular design.
Three Rivers rainstorm from inside of vehicle with musical notion accompaniment:
