This was a really interesting hike that Cathy and I went on some
time ago out at the Spur Cross Conservation Area. After hiking up to one of the mesa
compounds, we saw what was left of a prehistoric Hohokam dwelling. It was about a 2 ½ mile hike with plenty of
uphill climbing, so we got a nice workout.
A short ways into the hike, we went off the trail to look at
some petroglyphs on what is called Apprentice Rock. Kevin explained to us that the basaltic rock
is actually a light grey in color, but appeared to be brown due to what is
referred to as “desert varnish” covering it.
I first heard of this while on the moonlight hike out at the White
Tanks. Through the years, dirt and
sediment are “baked” onto the rocks, giving them their brown appearance. To “draw” their petroglyphs, the Hohokam’s
would pick through this desert varnish.
He told us the difference between petroglyphs, which are images made by
removing part of the rock surface by chiseling or pecking, and pictographs,
which are images drawn or painted on a rock surface. We also learned the difference between direct
percussion, which creates “fuzzy looking” petroglyphs by using a stone, and
indirect percussion, which creates a more clear petroglyph by using a chisel. What are mostly seen in Spur Cross are
petroglyphs made using the indirect percussion method.
The rock we were looking at is called Apprentice Rock
because it is thought that a man and his daughter were working on it
together. We also saw a large rock with
holes in it while by the Apprentice Rock.
It is thought that the holes were possibly used to hold some sort of
dye. We also saw some prickly pear and
buckhorn cholla cactus in this area.
We then entered the creek – it was dry this time of year –
where we saw some sunflowers as well as other wildflowers. We talked a little bit about flash floods and
how quickly they can happen.
A little bit after coming out of the creek, we came upon the
site of the barn and corral that was once part of the old Spur Cross
Ranch. We also saw a feeding trough and
the Spur Cross brand in the concrete. At
the top of the Tortuga Trail, a bit after coming to the intersection with the
Spur Cross trail, we saw some teddy bear and chain-fruit cholla.
We had to go off the trail a bit to get to the ruins. It was kind of eerie standing there knowing
that people once lived there over eight hundred years ago. There isn’t much left of the dwellings, but
one is able to make out where the rooms once were. There were approximately twenty-five rooms,
and the walls were four or five feet high.
The Hohokam’s lived in a series of compounds. Kevin told us about the fortress on Elephant Mountain and how the lookouts would warn
each other from one hill to the next of intruders. It was a really interesting hike and I got a
nice workout too.
Petroglyphs on Apprentice Rock
It is thought that the holes in this rock were possibly used to hold some sort of
dye.
This cactus is blooming.
This is what remains of a feeding trough that was on the old Spur Cross Ranch.
It's a little tough to see, but there is the Spur Cross brand in the concrete.
The
site of the barn and corral that was once part of the old Spur Cross
Ranch.
This is the area where the dwellings are.
There isn't much left of the dwellings, but once up there one can see where the rooms once were.
More pictures from this hike can be found here.
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