SILVER CITY, NM - The Zuni Cultural Resource Advisory Team (CRAT) visited several "rock art" sites on the Gila National Forest July 21-22, 2015. Commonly known as "rock art," pictographs (pigment on rock) and petroglyphs (images pecked or incised into rock) are much more than art. They reflect the history and values of peoples who once lived here and are a tangible reminder of their connection to the landscape.

One goal of the visit was to discuss the Gila National Forest's plan to install interpretive signage at or near popular "rock art" sites. This project is in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966. These signs, and additional web-based materials, should enrich visitor experience by celebrating Native interpretations and providing valuable guidance on how to treat "rock art" so that it survives into the future. Multiple tribes and pueblos have been invited to participate in the project. Curtis Quam of the Zuni CRAT expressed, "(projects) like these and experiencing these places is really important...particularly sharing it with the kids."

Multiple sites were visited by the Zuni CRAT over the two-day visit. The Dragonfly site (primarily petroglyphs) along the Dragonfly Trail was one resource visited. Zuni CRAT members taught the field trip participants the Zuni word for dragonfly which is shumak €˜olo:wa. They also shared their interpretation of the images at Dragonfly with Silver City District Ranger Diane Taliaferro, Dr. Steve Nash from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and archaeologists from across the Forest.

The symbols at the Dragonfly site represent many kinds of water animals. The Zuni conveyed that these kinds of animals are thought of as protectors of or bringers of water and rain. In particular Octavius Seowtewa said, "[The Dragonflies] are the ones that are receiving the rain, so you see a lot of them when there is going to be moisture or where there is moisture, so it has a lot to do with rain, moisture, riparian areas... so if you see dragonflies you know there is some water somewhere." According to Zuni oral history, their people emerged from the water and traveled extensively before being led to their home by a water strider; images at the Dragonfly site also celebrate the story of emergence. Images associated with emergence were present at many sites.

Tribal representatives were interested to hear that Aldo Leopold students (working with Marilyn Markel, a Site Watch volunteer) serve as site stewards at Dragonfly. They were also impressed with the work accomplished by students from Aldo Leopold and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps on the trail system.

NHPA and other laws help build and maintain connections to the land, learning more about our past while managing for use into the future. Rock art sites are, "a library, a teaching place for us all," said Octavius Seowtewa. Visitors to sites are welcome to take photos but should be careful to avoid contact with rock art; remember some may be under foot. To ensure that these resources are around for future generations avoid touching surfaces, applying any substance to it, tracing images with a stick, or in any way defacing the sites. Even the oil from hands increases the natural deterioration process of the rock.

Your national forests contain special places of historic and cultural importance to local communities, Native American tribes and humanity. The Gila National Forest relies on partners and volunteers to help us be stewards of these special places.