Home > HyperLocal News > Attractions
Deer Valley Rock Art CenterThe Deer Valley Rock Art Center is a museum, nature preserve and archaeological site with the largest concentration of Native American rock art in the Phoenix. Loaded with trails where visitors can explore boulder markings from ancient people comprised of symbols called petroglyphs. In 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sponsored archaeological fieldwork to record the petroglyphs and to develop a plan for protecting the site. The center thus became the first public education and curation facility established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The center is also home to the American Rock Art Research Association’s library and archives. Today, the Deer Valley Rock Art Center is overseen by Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change. Located in the Northwest Valley, the center exceeds more than forty-seven acres of desert and boulders covered in more than 1,500 ancient petroglyphs, an ethnobotanical garden, a museum and native wildlife. There are also outdoor picnic tables and an amphitheater area for picnicking. Visitors can explore evidence of past human activity and learn about its connection to life in the 20th century. The center offers a ¼ mile trail where you can explore a variety of desert plants while checking out the petroglyphs. You may also see roadrunners, quail, rock squirrels, ground squirrels, cottontails, jackrabbits, javelina, hummingbirds, great horned owls, Harris hawks and red-tailed hawks. Signage on the petroglyph trail informs visitors of the archaeology of the site and identifies plant species. Upon arrival, you will receive a trail guide and map that offers additional information. To ensure that your visit to the center is a comfortable experience, be sure to wear closed-toe walking shoes, sunscreen and hats. Also, bring plenty of water. There is a gift shop at the center which sells an array of art, souvenirs, jewelry, home décor, books, paintings, pottery, baskets and much more. - by Jennifer Pruett, Phoenix Reporter for HelloMetro (Click to leave a message)  Jennifer PruettA self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.
"We employ our own
Local professional journalists
(not bloggers) to give you an
accurate hyperlocal story"
|
Sponsored Results Click Images To Enlarge
The Dear Valley Rock Art Center is loaded with trails where visitors can explore boulder markings from ancient people comprised of symbols called petroglyphs.
The center offers a ¼ mile trail where you can explore a variety of desert plants while checking out the petroglyphs.
For thousands of years people have been making rock art. In North America and Mexico, some rock art might be as much as 10,000 years old.
Along the trail, you may also see roadrunners, quail, rock squirrels, and ground squirrels.
|
