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Tucked into the red rock canyons near Sedona, Arizona are the archaeological remains of native cultures that have inhabited the Verde Valley for at least the past 6000 years. Found here are cliff dwellings constructed by the Southern Sinagua people, who inhabited the area from about 650 A.D. to around 1300 A.D.. Palatki (Hopi for "red house") is home to one of these dwellings, sheltered in a Supai sandstone overhang. But this area is better known as one of the most outstanding pictograph sites in the area, with walls displaying art from Archaic cultures (extending back over 6000 years) to the work of the Sinagua, and finally paintings done by the Yavapai and Apache in historical times. |
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The rock art is located in several alcoves approximately 1/2 mile west of the cliff dwelling, known collectively as "Red Cliffs". The overhanging rock has shielded the wall from the elements, preserving pictographs that might otherwise have worn away with the passing years. Using pigments made from kaolin clay (white), pulverized hematite (red), powdered limonite (yellow) or charcoal (black), mixed with organic binders such as blood or fruit juice, the residents of the area produced a wide variety of abstract symbols, as well as representations of themselves and the animals of the area. |
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There are vertical scratches on some of the panels that may pre-date even the Archaic drawings, but dating these scratches with certainty is impossible. The abstract symbols, as well as some of the more abstract human figures done in red, are believed to mainly be the work of the Archaic cultures, from 3000-6000 years ago, as are the many rakes, squiggles and dot patterns found here (believed by some to be representations of water reflections). The animal and human representations done in yellow are believed to be the work of the Sinagua, while the charcoal drawings were probably done in more recent times by the Yavapai or Apache, since some of them depict men on horseback, dating them to after the introduction of the horse to the New World by the Spanish. |