Visiting Petroglyph National Monument, Jewel of the #Southwest (part 3)

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 rock carvings, which are made by picking the rock surface with a stone chisel and a hammer stone. This chips away the desert varnish coating the rock, exposing the lighter service underneath. 

Most of the rock art at Petroglyph National Monument was carved by the ancestors of today's Pueblo people. They were most active here from about 1300 through the late 1680s. A few images may date back as far as 2000 BCE. Others may have been carved by the early Spanish settlers, starting in the 1700s. (A few scratchings are clearly modern graffiti.)

This selection is of human or humanoid shapes we saw. The petroglyphs have spiritual significance for the Pueblo people, so they are not interpreted for outsiders.

The rock art shown here is from the Piedras Marcadas Canyon trail. The trail has a couple of loops and a final spur, which you won't want to miss. Maps are available from the Visitors Center, or online. Learn more about petroglyphs from the National Park Service.

Finally, here's some modern artwork seen at a gallery in Albuquerque's old town. Can you see a connection to the petroglyphs?

Stop by next week for more photos from Petroglyph National Monument. Check out my earlier posts on petroglyphs as well.

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. Her BFA in photography is used mainly to show Facebook friends how lovely the Southwest is. Kris writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. 

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.