They are powerful cultural symbols that reflect the complex society and religion of the Pueblo peoples. Techniques for dating specific petroglyphs are being developed, but there is still much to be done before an easy, reliable method emerges. Often our best clues to the relative date of a petroglyph is by comparing the image itself with other artwork of a known date, pottery or kiva murals for example. We hope that you will enjoy your visit to Petroglyph National Monument and ask for your assistance in preserving this rich cultural landscape. Please do not touch the images, make tracings, or otherwise disturb the rock surfaces.
Petroglyphs are fragile, non-renewable cultural resources that, once damaged, can never be replaced.