Taylor Ranch in Albuquerque in Bernalillo County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Macaw Trail
Boca Negra Canyon
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021
1. Macaw Trail Marker
Boca Negra Canyon
Macaw Trail
The majority of these petroglyphs were made by the ancestors of modern Pueblo people. The Ancestral Puebloans made petroglyphs by carefully removing the desert varnish with hand-held stone tools which exposed the lighter color of the basalt's interior. After centuries of exposure, older images oxidize and this darkening confirms their authenticity and great age. Please do not touch the petroglyph images as human body oils cause them to darken sooner than they do naturally.
Archeologists refer to these images as being made in the Rio Grande style. This style developed rather suddenly around A.D. 1300, coinciding with a dramatic increase in the local population and the construction of many pueblo villages along the Rio Grande. Elements frequently seen in Rio Grande style petroglyphs include human figures, animals (such as this bird), and geometric designs.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1300.
Location. 35° 9.742′ N, 106° 43.088′ W. Marker is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Bernalillo County. It is in Taylor Ranch. Marker is on Macaw Trail east of Atrisco Drive
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Macaw Trail (a few steps from this marker); Petroglyph National Monument (a few steps from this marker); Formation of Boca Negra Canyon - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Petroglyph Orientation - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Reasons for Petroglyphs - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Estimating Petroglyph Age - Cliff Base Trail (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Formation of Basalt - Cliff Base Trail (about 300 feet away); Petroglyph Meanings - Cliff Base Trail (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albuquerque.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021
2. Macaw Trail Marker
The marker is near the macaw petroglyph from which the trail takes its name.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021
3. Macaw Petroglyph
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 29, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
