- This event has passed.
Winter Solstice Tour of Los Morteros and Picture Rocks Petroglyphs Archaeological Sites
December 21, 2019 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Photo by Tom Herrick of an equinox “sun dagger” phenomenon on a Hohokam petroglyph in Pima County, Arizona
On Saturday, December 21 from 8:00 to noon, join Old Pueblo Archaeology Center for the Winter Solstice tour of Los Morteros and Picture Rocks Petroglyphs archaeological sites. To celebrate the Winter Solstice, Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s executive director archaeologist Allen Dart will lead this tour to two of the Tucson area’s premier archaeological sites. The tour will meet at Los Morteros (Silverbell and Linda Vista in Marana) and caravan from there to Picture Rocks.
The 2019 winter solstice occurs on December 21 at 3:22 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (10:22 p.m. GMT). This tour will explore ancient people’s recognition of solstices and other calendrical events at Los Morteros, an ancient village site that includes a Hohokam ballcourt and bedrock mortars, and then at 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 A.D. 650 and 1450. Participants provide their own transportation and are advised to wear sturdy shoes and bring drinking water. A $25 donation per person is requested ($20 for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary members). LIMITED TO 32 PEOPLE. Reservations and donation prepayment required by 5 p.m. Thursday December 19: 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org.
20191221(v1)LosMorteros&PictureRocksWinterSolsticeTour – flyer