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petroglyph park new mexico
In the 1990s, controversial plans to develop roads and trails in the area inspired
governors of five pueblos (Cochiti, Jemez, Sandia, Santa Ana, and Zia) to publish an
article in an Albuquerque newspaper, informing the public of Pueblo views. These are
some of their words:
Our ancestors chose the petroglyph area to be a sacred site because it was born with
Mother Earth's great labor and power. If you walk around the petroglyphs, you can see the
unique features that our ancestors saw - five volcanoes in a straight line, their
once-open vents communicating with the world beneath and the lava which they sit on.
The
petroglyph area is where messages to the spirit world are communicated. It is here that
our Pueblo ancestors "wrote" down the visions and experiences they felt. This
special place is central to the great protector mountains of Sandia, Mount Taylor, Jemez,
Manzano, and Santa Fe. It is the center of great spiritual powers! ....
We consider each of
these petroglyphs to be a record of visions written here of some spiritual being, event or
expressions attesting to and/or guarding a person's sacrifice or offering. ....Our
ancestors identified all sacred places in a special way so that other people passing
through would know that this is a spiritual place and should not be disturbed...
The
Petroglyph National Monument should be a place of reverence and prayer and used in this
manner....
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