Indian Ruins

 There were very ancient American Indian ruins in the Petrified Forest. The above pic is of a kiva, which was a ceremonial chamber used by only the men, women were not allowed in them. Most across the southwest states were round but the one here was square. These were made of just rock but there was one that we didn't see that was made of petrified rocks.

 Beside of the ruin was a small canyon full of huge boulders. Many of them were covered with petroglyphs or rock pictures. Some of these were the easiest to make out what they were of as any I have seen. The writings are done on the rocks that had a dark brown covering that was easy to scratch off but they have stayed like this for several hundred years.

 Many places in the park were these signs that described what had happened at different area. This one tells of the petroglyphs.

The Puerco River runs very near the ruins shown above. I took this pic as we were crossing the river on a bridge. Not much water in it here. If I were to go west about a hundred miles or maybe less I would find the Puerco River in New Mexico. Interesting to see that this little river, that many places is completely dry, goes west to the Petrified Forest. There was more in other areas, but not many of the rivers in the southwest states compare to those in the east and northern states.

More Petrified Forest

This is a piece of petrified log that was cut and polished in 1950 that was in the museum.

Dinosaur type critters thought to have lived about the same time the rocks were actually trees. Skeletons and fossils have been found in the Park.

 This petrified log is called Agate Bridge. There were old photos in some of the books that showed people on the bridge posing for pictures. In recent years the bridge has had to be re-enforced with concrete to make sure it didn't fall. No one is allowed on it now.

 These two peaks are called the Tee Pees. There are cones like this in several places in the Petrified Forest and The Painted Desert. It is thought that there might be tons and tons of petrified logs under these cones and other dirt areas. You can see where the Tee Pees are gradually wearing away from the wind and rain. It had actually rained a day or so before we visited the park and you could see a trickle of water around the base of the peaks.

At every place people could get out and hike or look at the Petrified Forest there were ravens begging for food. Big beautiful birds that we found out liked Cherieos. Don't know if we were supposed to feed the or not but everyone was. They nest along the cliffs. I don't remember seeing other birds except a hawk. We did see several lizards which are common here. The park is not good country to see lots of animals in. Too barren and not much to eat there.

Petrified Forest National Park

Most people don't know it but there is petrified wood at various places in almost all countries of the world. But it is the Petrified Forest in Arizona that has the most beautiful colors in the rocks. Actually petrified wood is not wood. It is the rock that developed over thousands of years  when trees fell, were under water for long periods of time and very extremely tiny partials of sediments worked it's way into the wood and replaced the wood and formed into rock retaining the shape of the tree and it's limbs. Over the years the rock is covered up by dirt, sand, and water many times, rolled over, broken, and shaped by nature. Most of the petrified rocks of the world are not very colorful but those of the petrified forest are. Many of them have crystals, and other bright, pretty rocks in the petrified wood. I visited this amazing National Park recently with my sister who lives about an hour away in Springerville, AZ. I was so enchanted by the rock trees and all the geologic history of the area I found it hard to quite taking photos. Here are some that I took. I am in the blue shirt in the pics and Sis is in the brown. Most of the photos in this post are of the Rainbow Forest which is right by the Visitor's Center. Note the sign I saw on the restroom door at the Visitors Center. This is sign tells it like it is. There are very few restrooms or places to get water or gas. Make sure you have enough of both and can "hold it" until you reach the next town. If starting from this point it is about 26 miles to the Painted Desert National Park where there is another visitors center, gas station and snack bar. Towns are even farther away. Having lived in the southwest states most of our lives this was no problem for us.

 This photo shows pieces of petrified wood still mostly covered in dirt.

 This rock was really eye catching with the crystals in it.

There were several wild flowers just starting to bloom as spring was just coming to this high desert country. It was over 7000 feet above sea level in the petrified forest. This higher elevation can effect many people. Mostly you might get a headache or feel really sleepy even if you think you have had enough sleep.

One long log that almost looks as if someone had cut it with a chainsaw.

 There was a school group that were visiting and they all sat on this long log for a photo section.

 You can buy petrified wood at the visitors center but it is illegal to pick up any to keep. You can touch and feel the rock but that is all. All photos after this one of the sign were taken by Sis.