Understanding the Rock Art of Sedona

The Verde Valley hosts a unique and varied representation of prehistoric cultural sites. It is the host to two National Park Service National Monuments, three U.S. Forest Service Heritage Sites, five protected sites owned by the Archaeological Conservancy, the Yavapai-Apache Nation, and over 2,500 archaeological sites. There are over 450 recorded rock art sites in the Sedona/Verde Valley area. Many visitors express great interest in the rock art at the cultural heritage sites. The docents receive many questions about these images. Who made them? How have they lasted this long? What do they mean? This book is not a scientific monograph on rock art. It does not contain elaborate bibliographic sources, although some are quoted and referenced. This book is intended to be a useful and thought-provoking introduction to the vast, scattered and sometimes unpublished literature on rock art, with specific focus on images and styles found in the Sedona/Verde Valley area. It is hoped that it will promote reflection on and appreciation of the people who created the rock art. The mission of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center is to preserve archaeological sites and collections and to promote their educational, scientific and cultural use. We advocate for the preservation of the Verde Valley’s irreplaceable cultural resources that include significant structures, sites and artifacts. Through education and information, we provide leadership to the regional community on the critical issues of understanding and preserving our rich cultural heritage. The Center is dedicated to enhancing the knowledge of the prehistory and ethnology of inhabitants of the Verde Valley region. We promote a greater understanding of the diversity of cultures, past and present, for our guests and the citizens of the Verde Valley.