Visiting Petroglyph National Monument, Jewel of the #Southwest (part 1)

The Dead Man’s Treasure has a scene set at Petroglyph National Monument. Rebecca and Sam track down one of the clues there. About the book:

Rebecca Westin is shocked to learn the grandfather she never knew has left her a bona fide buried treasure – but only if she can decipher a complex series of clues leading to it. 

Sam is determined to show Rebecca that a desert adventure can be sexy and fun. But there’s a treacherous wildcard in the mix, a man willing to do anything to get that treasure – and revenge. 

Action and romance combine in this lively Southwestern adventure, complete with riddles the reader is invited to solve to identify historical and cultural sites around New Mexico. See the “Books” page of my website for a printable list of the clues and recipes from the book.

About Petroglyph National Monument

Petroglyphs are not that unusual in the Southwest. I know of a couple of hikes near Socorro, in the middle of New Mexico, that lead to petroglyphs. These are not in any way identified are marked for tourists.

Stumbling on petroglyphs is a great surprise, but for maximum impact, it's worth visiting Petroglyph National Monument at the edge of Albuquerque. Archaeologists believe there may be over 25,000 petroglyphs within the Monument. Three trails each lead past several hundred petroglyphs.

The rock art shown here is from the Piedras Marcadas Canyon trail. In theory, the trail length is 1.5 miles, but I'm sure we wound up walking more than that. Be sure to grab a map, as the trail has a couple of loops and a final spur, which you won't want to miss.

This selection is of animal shapes we saw. 

The petroglyphs have spiritual significance for the Pueblo people, so they are not interpreted for outsiders.

Stop by next week for more photos from Petroglyph National Monument. 

Kris Bock  lives in New Mexico, where she enjoys hiking, watching the sunset from her patio, and hanging out with her husband and their ferrets. Kris writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. 

Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.