Whimsical Petroglyph Panel

by Kathleen Bishop

Title

Whimsical Petroglyph Panel

Artist

Kathleen Bishop

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

This is among my favorite of the Basketmaker Anasazi petroglyph panels along Chaco Wash, due to its whimsical nature. Maybe “whimsy” was the farthest thing from the artist’s intent but that panel never fails to bring a smile when I visit.

What do the glyphs symbolize? I’ve no clue. Yes, there’s clearly an anthropomorphic figure and a zoomorphic quadruped. Perhaps they carried a message that wasn’t cryptic at the time but I put no weight on any contemporary theories despite whatever credentials that “authority” on rock art bandies about.

There’s also an interesting geometric design below those figures. It’s somewhat reminiscent of blanket designs found throughout the southwest but I’m leaning toward the possibility that it may be a representation of Tlaloc.

Mesoamerican influence is strong in Chaco so it’s not a stretch for Tlaloc to make an appearance here. And since drought hit Chaco Canyon during a time when ancestral Puebloans farmed the canyon, it’s not surprising to think that they might invoke Tlaloc during crisis.

Unlike most of the panels in Chaco Canyon that appear low on canyon walls, the artist placed these figures 35 feet up the sheer cliff where there’s no handy ledge on which to stand. Perhaps there was an important reason to view them from a greater distance than panels carved closer to the desert floor? Or not.

All products carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.
©Kathleen Bishop. kathleen-bishop.pixels.com. All Rights Reserved.

Uploaded

October 18th, 2018

Statistics

Viewed 1,216 Times  -  Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/19/2024 at 2:42 PM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags