Sue and I took a day trip to the Palatki Heritage site, which is located a few miles west of Sedona. This is a Red Rock Pass site, and reservations are required.
Note that the trail to the ruin was closed in July 2010 because of a crack forming in the arch above the ruin. Refer to the official site above for any updates.
-Cascade Bill Mooseker
Date(s): 05/04/2010. Album by Cascade Bill. 1 - 34 of 34 Total. 613 Visits.
enlarge 242KB, 800x600 1 After a brief visit in the Visitor Center/Ranger station, Sue and I hiked up a short trail west of the center to view an alcove with many petroglyphs and pictographs.
This is a view from the trail back towards the alcove with the Palatki ruins. (If you view the picture at original size, you can just make out the ruin above the trees.
enlarge 194KB, 800x600 2 There is a ranger/docent in the alcove, who explains the possible origins and history of the art displayed on the walls.
enlarge 176KB, 800x600 3 Some "Abstract" pictographs. (View at Original Size for details).
enlarge 204KB, 800x600 4 This panel includes what is supposed to represent the sun rising to the east at the midwinter solstice.
enlarge 190KB, 800x600 5 Close up of sun rising over the the peaks east of the site.
enlarge 197KB, 800x600 6 Another Panel.
enlarge 212KB, 800x600 7 Details of the previous photo: this panel if very rich with several animal representations and also abstract symbols.
View this photo at Original Size to see the details. Note that some of the figures/symbols were painted over.
enlarge 184KB, 800x600 8 Another view. I'm intrigued by the wavy patterns that remind me of a "flower basket".
Again, view at "original size" to see the most detail.
enlarge 169KB, 800x600 9 An interesting abstract painting best viewed at original size.
Note also at the top left of the photo are "vertical scratches" thought to be the earliest type of art/graffiti found at the site.
enlarge 213KB, 800x600 10 Another example of the very old petroglyphs - . View at Original size to see details. Note string of "diamonds" below white "tooth" at top left.
enlarge 184KB, 800x600 11 A clearer view of the "diamonds", which appear to be red outlined in white.
enlarge 212KB, 800x600 12 Interesting design here, similar to one at the Jailhouse Ruin in Bullet Canyon, Cedar Mesa, Utah. See Jailhouse Pictograph.
enlarge 201KB, 800x600 13 Some animal representations.
enlarge 185KB, 800x600 14 Another view.
enlarge 186KB, 800x600 15 Human figure with Hopi like hairstyle. Note interesting abstract patterns at the right.
enlarge 223KB, 800x600 16 More animal representations.
enlarge 180KB, 800x600 17 Another view.
enlarge 250KB, 800x600 18 These animal figures have been blackened by fires.
enlarge 198KB, 800x600 19 Very interesting "butterfly" designs featuring two colors.
enlarge 192KB, 800x600 20 Stylized cross. Enlarge to see modern day defacement at top, where a faint "9 - 20 -31(?)" appears.
enlarge 213KB, 600x800 21 very interesting panel with a lot of vertical and horizontal wavy lines. The black "basket" like design at the right is similar to ones I've seen at panels in Grand Gulch, Utah.
Note white pattern overlaying older vertical "scratches" at the bottom center.
enlarge 213KB, 800x600 22 Closer view.
enlarge 188KB, 800x600 23 Abstract patterns, animal figures, and one stylized human (red at bottom).
enlarge 238KB, 600x800 24 This looks like an ancient ruin, but it is from historic times and was built by the rancher that homesteaded the site.
enlarge 226KB, 800x600 25 After viewing the rock art, I left Sue at the visitor center and I went off to view the ruins, which are located in the alcove at the center of the photo.
enlarge 289KB, 800x600 26 A closer view shows the ruins just above the trees.
Note: According to the official Palatki web site the trail to the ruin was closed in July 2010 due to the formation of cracks in the arch above the ruin.
enlarge 225KB, 800x600 27 View of the ruin at the west side of the alcove.
enlarge 278KB, 800x600 28 The larger ruin is on the east side of the alcove.
enlarge 292KB, 800x600 29 View of the multi-story ruin.
enlarge 285KB, 800x600 30 View of doorway into ruin.
enlarge 273KB, 800x600 31 Use of wood lintels to frame the opening in the wall.
enlarge 238KB, 800x600 32 Pictograph above the ruin.
enlarge 298KB, 600x800 33 Another view showing the ruin and the pictograph above it.
enlarge 208KB, 800x600 34 Looking back towards the alcove containing the rock art from the ruin site.
