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Homolovi Chapter Az Archaeological Society
November 8, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
NEXT MEETING, November 8th – “Migration in Stone: Cup and Channel Petroglyphs and Ancestral Puebloan Migration,” a presentation by Michael Terlep.
The age, origin, and function of the enigmatic cup and channel petroglyphs of the Arizona Strip have fascinated archaeologists for decades. The petroglyphs’ size (up to 2 meters long), as well as placement on horizontal surfaces at prominent locations, contributes to the intrigue of the glyphs. Previous hypotheses for the age and function of the petroglyphs include prehistoric navigational markers to water sources, solstice markers, historic tar burners, and ceremonial water channels. Hundreds of cup and channel petroglyphs are reported within a narrow 100 mile radius within southwest Utah and northwest Arizona. Little known evidence beyond this spatially confined distribution exists. The recent documentation of cup and channel petroglyphs at Wupatki, Homol’ovi, Woodruff Butte, and Awat’ovi in eastern Arizona expands this distribution and contributes new insight into temporal, spatial, and stylistic variation of cup and channel petroglyphs. This presentation offers inference into the newly documented glyphs’ connection to the Arizona Strip Region. The data suggest cup and channel petroglyphs are signs of Virgin Puebloan migration to the Hopi Mesas.
Michael has 11 years experience as an archaeologist and has worked on a wide range of projects throughout the American Southwest, Great Basin, Great Plains and Pacific Islands. He received his B.A. from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 2007, his M.A. from Northern Arizona University in 2012 and currently works for Logan Simpson.
All regular HAS meetings are the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (Historic Lorenzo Hubbell Trading Post), 523 W. Second St in Winslow. You can also join us and the speaker(s) for dinner at 5 p.m. at the Historic La Posada Turquoise Room (on your own tab).
Arizona Strip petroglyphs with groove and cupule, photo by Sky Roshay.