Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Winter Solstice Tour to Los Morteros and Picture Rocks Petroglyphs Archaeological Sites”

On Saturday, December 21, 2024, join Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Winter Solstice Tour to Los Morteros and Picture Rocks Petroglyphs Archaeological Sites” with archaeologist Allen Dart. This tour will depart from near Silverbell Road & Linda Vista Blvd. in Marana, Arizona at 8 am and will last until 12:00 noon. There is a requested donation of $35 ($28 for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and S’edav Va’aki Museum Foundation members), which helps cover Old Pueblo’s tour expenses and supports its education programs about archaeology and traditional cultures.

The 2024 winter solstice occurs on December 21 at 2:21 am Mountain Standard Time (9:21 am Greenwich Mean Time). To celebrate the winter solstice day (but not the exact time!) and explore ancient people’s recognition of solstices and other calendrical events, archaeologist Allen Dart (Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s executive director) leads this tour to Los Morteros, an ancient village site that includes a Hohokam ballcourt, bedrock mortars, and other archaeological features; and to Picture Rocks, where ancient petroglyphs include a solstice and equinox calendar marker, dancing human-like figures, whimsical animals, and other rock symbols made by Hohokam Indians between 800 and 1100 CE. Participants provide their own transportation.

Registration and prepayment are due 10 days after reservation request or by 5 pm Wednesday December 18, whichever is earlier: 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org.

Flyer: 20241221(v1)LosMorteros&PictureRocksWinterSolsticeTour

Caption: Photo of a complex petroglyph array at the Picture Rocks site courtesy of the Picture Rocks Redemptorist Renewal Center.