Rock Art and Archaeology of Ventana Cave

Photo by Allen Dart of Ventana Cave, from the inside looking out.

Old Pueblo Archaeology Center is offering this early-morning carpool tour onto the Tohono O’odham Nation to visit the Ventana Cave National Historic Landmark site on Saturday February 20, 2016.  During the Arizona State Museum’s 1940s excavations in the cave, led by archaeologists Emil W. Haury and Julian Hayden, evidence was found for human occupation going back from historic times to around 10,000 years ago. The cave, which actually is a very large rockshelter, also contains pictographs, petroglyphs, and other archaeological features used by Native Americans for thousands of years. Tour leaves Tucson (Pima Community College, 401 N. Bonita Ave) at 6 a.m. to ensure the pictographs can be seen in the best morning light. Fees will benefit the Tohono O’odham Hickiwan District’s efforts to develop a caretaker-interpretive center at Ventana Cave, and the nonprofit Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s education programs. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fee $40 ($32 for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary members; no charge for members or employees of the Tohono O’odham Nation). Reservations required by Wednesday January 29: call 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org.