The Native American artwork found at Canyon de Chelly National Monument, especially the handprints shown here, serve as vivid reminders of the people who have called the canyon home during the last 4,500 years.
artistic mark there, the greatest portion of this art is believed to be the work of the Puebloan people. Among the paintings and etchings
companies have specially equipped vehicles made for travel in the canyon, while others offer hiking and even horseback riding tours. It is also possible for visitors to have a guide ride along with them in their own vehicle if it is four-wheel-drive and has sufficient clearance.
One thing visitors on foot may see that those who only drive around the north and south rims probably won’t are examples of the rich artistic legacy the canyon’s various inhabitants have left behind throughout the ages. Paintings and etchings on the rock are among the bits of evidence that attest to the presence of people in Canyon de Chelly over the last four thousand years. Although each group that has occupied the canyon has left its
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in Canyon de Chelly, there are numerous depictions of animals (most likely animals hunted for food) as well as other more enigmatic images that are harder to fathom. In one group of images, there is a jagged line that could portray a snake or possibly symbolize a long journey. There are mysterious images that might repre- sent shamans or gods, and also, what is perhaps the most striking thing of all, human handprints. Some of these handprints were pressed onto the rock by palms covered in paint; others are the mere outlines of hands. It is believed that the outlines were most likely formed by artists putting the paint in their mouths and then blowing it on their hands, which were placed against the rock. What do these
handprints mean? No one really knows. Incredibly, the paint has stayed in place for centuries. Although it is probably not as well known as it should be, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a place well worth visiting. Whether a visitor decides to spend an afternoon there, admiring the canyon from its lofty rims, or chooses to devote a couple of days or more to exploring all that the area has to offer, it is an experience that will add immeasurably to one’s appreciation of the history of the southwestern United States. In the soft red-orange glow of the setting sun reflecting off of the beautiful rock formations of this natural wonder, one can more fully appreciate the lives, struggles, and accomplishments of those who occupied the land long before Europeans even thought of setting out in search of lands beyond their own. ■
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PHOTO: ©HAL BERAL/VISUALS UNLIMITED/CORBIS
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