Lower Pecos River Rock Art

Lower Pecos River Rock Art in Seminole Canyon has many fine examples of prehistoric rock art. Most of the art originated about 4,000 years ago. Dating places it in the Middle Archaic period. Ancient artists prepared paints from minerals mixed with animal fats. Additionally the artists constructed brushes from leaves, sotol or yucca. Lower Pecos River Rock Art is widespread across the region. The Lower Pecos region centers on the lower parts of the Pecos and Devils rivers. Extending south to Rio Grande. Certainly the Pecos River Style pictographs are some of the most complex in the Southwest. The images below depict just two of the many sites in the region.

The best preserved record of archaic people in North America is The Lower Pecos . More than 250 rock shelters contain rock art. New sites continue to be discovered. The pictographic age ranges from about 4,000 years ago the historic period. The most abundant form of rock art found are pictographs.

Four major styles exist. Pecos River Style, Red Linear Style, Red Monochrome Style, and Historic Period.

Firstly the Pecos River Style show human-like figures, animals and designs. Large panels are typical in this style. The dates for this style ranges from 4200 to 2750 years ago.

Additionally the Red Linear Style portrays small figures of animals and people. Red Linear Style was common about 1,280 years ago.

The Red Monochrome Style shows people with bows, arrows and animals. This style dates to approximately 1050 years ago. There are relatively few known Red Monochrome sites.

Finally the Historic Period rock art includes images after European contact.

A Lower Pecos River Rock Art trip Report to Seminole Canyon State Park links here.

Collection from Rock Art Sites in the Lower Pecos River Area of Texas. Halo Shelter and the Black Cave in Presa Canyon are featured