Grand Canyon is rich in archaeological history. Evidence of ancient Native American people who once inhabited this vast area can be found throughout Grand Canyon National Park. Not much is known about these people, but clues left behind tell us part of their story. Canyon walls and boulders scattered throughout the Canyon act as canvases for rock art.
There are two kinds of rock art found in the Grand Canyon; pictographs and petroglyphs. Pictographs were constructed using a pigment made from plants. The pigment was used as paint and applied to the surface of rock. Petroglyphs are rock caving or etchings. They are produced by chipping away dark Desert Varnish to expose the lighter rock beneath. Desert varnish is a thin layer of black that covers the surface of many rocks found in the desert southwest.
There are many different interpretations of this art and hypotheses to their meaning. Some pictures are easy to decipher, while others are more abstract. No matter what we are told, it is up to the individual to draw their own meaning from the rock art.
You will be able to see these wonders of ancient peoples when you raft the Colorado River with Grand Canyon Whitewater. Our Grand Canyon raft trips will take you places you’ve never imagined, see things you never knew existed. Grand Canyon – an everchanging, majestic, indescribable treasure!
To book your Grand Canyon adventure, call Grand Canyon Whitewater at 1-800-343-3121, or email us at info@grandcanyonww.com