The V-Bar-V Heritage site is one of the largest petroglyph sites in the Verde Valley of central Arizona, USA and one of the best preserved. The petroglyphs were made by the Sinagua who entered this area about AD 650.

The rock art site consists of 1,032 petroglyphs in 13 panels. Only one rock art style is present here, the Beaver Creek Style. In comparison, at Palatki, you see Sinagua, Archaic, Yavapai, Apache and historic rock art. The petroglyphs are sharp and clear with very little overlap. Animals, birds and snakes are prominently featured and many figures occur in pairs.

Most of the foot and paw print figures have circular depressions pecked into them. Perhaps these depressions were made to encourage rain or enhance fertility. Female figures are here too, characterized by knobs on each side of their heads (hair whorls) which suggest the historical hairstyle of unmarried Hopi women.

Some elements are associated with the practice of shamanism which experts believe was part of Sinagua religious beliefs. These include figures emerging from cracks in the rock, diving and upside-down figures and human figures with large hands or feet or with hands raised upward.

- Source: Side Canyon Southwestern Tours ( http://sidecanyon.com/attraction/arizs.htm )

This is one of the few sites in North America depicting a yearly calendar. The Sinagua Indians apparently used it to determine the growing and hunting seasons and mark other important days of their calendar year.

Artist: Steve Davidson
Email: azleader@yahoo.com
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