Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
Painted Rocks State Historic Site
Archaic through Hohokam 7500 BCE–1400 CE·Hohokam and Archaic–Patayan·🇺🇸 Arizona, United States
About
About Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
Major Hohokam and earlier rock-art concentration on basalt outcrop (7500 BCE–1400 CE) beside Gila River with >4,000 petroglyphs: Archaic scratched, Hohokam Gila Butte/Santa Cruz phases geometric, and historic Pima figures. Adjacent Hohokam village with ballcourt and irrigation. Solstice panels documented. Rock varnish dating and desert pavement context.
Why it mattersLargest petroglyph concentration in western Arizona linking Hohokam canal society to ritual landscape.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dating of earliest Archaic scratch panels
- 02Solstice alignment intentionality of gaming panels
Theories
- 01Trail shrine marking Gila River pilgrimage route
- 02Calendar observatory for Hohokam irrigation scheduling
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 7500 BCE–1400 CE (Archaic through Hohokam)
- Period
- Archaic through Hohokam 7500 BCE–1400 CE
- Culture
- Hohokam and Archaic–Patayan
- Builders
- Hohokam ancestors
- Purpose
- Ceremonial rock-art gallery, calendar and trail marker
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
7500 BCE–1400 CE (Archaic through Hohokam)
Initial construction
c. 1017 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
33.0217° N · 113.0456° W · 235 m · 2 mapped features
Painted Rock Petroglyph Site central feature
featureMain architectural feature
33.0217° N · 113.0456° WPainted Rock Petroglyph Site secondary sector
sectorSecondary sector
33.0227° N · 113.0446° W
Gallery