Located on the Mesa Verde plateau, near the Colorado-Utah border, the Castle Rock Pueblo archaeological site is renowned for its dwellings nestled within cliff alcoves and for ancient rock art dating back millennia.
A contingent of researchers affiliated with Jagiellonian University in Poland has disseminated preliminary findings from recent investigations in this locale. These disclosures encompass a range of previously undocumented petroglyphs that extend across an approximate expanse of 4 kilometers (roughly 2.5 miles).
Given the extensive historical scholarly attention directed towards this geographical sector, the emergence of these novel carvings represents a remarkable and significant discovery. Such findings possess the potential to substantially alter our comprehension of societal dynamics and daily existence in the region, dating back as far as 3,000 years ago.
“My prior assumption was that this area had been exhaustively studied through comprehensive excavations, geophysical surveys, and digital documentation,” states Radosław Palonka, an archaeologist associated with Jagiellonian University.
“However, I received indications from elder members of the indigenous community suggesting that additional discoveries might be present in the higher, more inaccessible reaches of the canyons.”
Indeed, at an altitude of approximately 800 meters (2,625 feet) above the well-known settlements, the research team identified a diverse array of linear patterns, spiraling motifs, and other designs incised into the rock faces. Among these engravings are spiral forms measuring up to one meter (nearly 40 inches) in diameter, which are hypothesized to have functioned as calendrical devices for marking significant dates and facilitating astronomical observations.
According to Palonka, these discoveries “fundamentally alter” the established perspectives on the area, particularly concerning the period designated as the Basketmaker Era, which dates to the 3rd century CE. During this epoch, the Pueblo peoples are understood to have inhabited semi-subterranean dwellings enclosed by palisades, actively participating in pursuits such as agriculture and the creation of woven mats and baskets.
“The agrarian Pueblo societies fostered one of the most sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations on the North American continent,” observes Palonka. “They achieved mastery in the construction of multi-story stone edifices, evocative of medieval urban dwellings or even later apartment blocks.”
“Furthermore, the Pueblo people were distinguished by their remarkable rock art, their ornately crafted jewelry, and their distinctive ceramics, often adorned with intricate patterns rendered in black pigment against a white backdrop.”
The researchers posit, based on the recently unearthed calendrical systems and other graphic representations, that the population density in this region during the 13th century may have been considerably higher than previously estimated. This revelation prompts contemplation on how future generations might interpret the remnants of contemporary societies millennia from now.
Current efforts are concentrated on meticulously mapping the area with enhanced precision. The application of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, capable of achieving resolutions as fine as 5-10 centimeters (2-3.9 inches), is anticipated to facilitate the identification of additional petroglyphic sites.
“We eagerly await the conclusive outcomes of this technological endeavor, with the hope of discerning new, hitherto unrecognized, locations, particularly those pertaining to earlier temporal periods,” indicates Palonka.
