Unexplained Rock Features in Southwestern Arizona

Bibliographic Data

ID5982195
AuthorsBill Broyles (Research Associate, University of Arizona Southwest Center, Tucson, AZ, USA), Richard Martynec (Independent Researcher, Tucson, AZ, USA, corresponding author), Rein Vanderpot (Statistical Research, Inc., Tucson, AZ, USA), Sandra Martynec (Independent Researcher, Tucson, AZ, USA)
Year2018
Volume84
Issue2
Pages143-168
Publication date2018-04-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueKIVA (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0023-1940 • E-ISSN: 2051-6177
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00231940.2018.1443543
OpenAlexW2795858526
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited11

Human-laid configurations of native rock are common archaeological features in southwestern Arizona, but we have observed six large rock features that do not readily fit into the current categories or explanations of purpose. Our features are distributed across a large area and as far as 150 km apart. All are exceptionally large piles of cobble-sized rocks placed perpendicularly across foot trails, in four cases lying along the crest of a pass, one on a mesa, and one at the mouth of a canyon. Taken as units, they rank among the most massive rock features in the region and are not yet explained. In this paper, we describe these enigmatic features and offer suggestions as to their builders, age, and purpose

Archaeology · Canyon · Cobble · Crest · Geography · Geomorphology · Mining engineering · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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