AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THIS PHOTO, WE NEVER GOT VERY CLOSE TO THE PURPLE MEN SITE HIGH UP ON A LEDGE.

Purple Men Ruin Gallery

CDM – 237


I visited the Purple Men Ruin Site in Canyon del Muerto on Saturday, March 7, 2026, during my Spring 2026 Rock Art Trip.  This is one of those sites that our guide never mentioned the name of — in fact I am not sure he even pointed it out to us.  It is high up on a cliff face, so all of my photos were taken from a very long distance away.  I was able to identify the site by matching two key elements noted in Campbell Grant’s book on page 260 —  a dog on hind legs, and a hunch backed figure procession.  The site has a variety of colors, with the largest anthropomorph being painted in purple.  There are also elements painted in white, green, and red.  The site is Developmental Pueblo through Great Pueblo and is quite interesting!    

THE DOG ON HIND LEGS ELEMENT IS LOCATED ON THE FAR LEFT PORTION OF THE SITE.
A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT "DOG ON HIND LEGS" AT THE PURPLE MEN RUIN SITE.
MOVING TO THE RIGHT FROM DOG ON HIND LEGS YOU BEGIN TO SEE THE MAIN PANELS AT THE SITE, INCLUDING THE LARGEST OF THE PURPLE MEN.
THE HEART OF THE PURPLE MEN RUIN SITE FEATURES A PURPLE ANTHROPOMORPH THAT IS MUCH LARGER THAN ANY OTHER ELEMENT AT THE SITE.
TO THE RIGHT OF THE LARGEST PURPLE MAN FIGURE YOU BEGIN TO SEE MORE PURPLE MEN AND LOTS OF HANDPRINTS, AS WELL AS SOME GREEN ELEMENTS.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE LARGE PURPLE MAN -- SOME VERY INTERESTING ITEMS!
MOVING FURTHER TO THE RIGHT FROM THE CENTER OF THE PANELS...NOTE THE HUNCHBACK PROCESSION, MIDDLE LEFT OF THIS PHOTO.
THIS AREA OF THE SITE FEATURES A LARGE WHITE MAN SURROUNDED BY LOTS OF GREEN ELEMENTS.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE LARGE WHITE MAN. LOOK RIGHT BELOW THE GREEN HANDPRINTS FOR THREE INTERESTING ANTHROPOMORPHIC FIGURES...A CEREMONY OF SOME SORT?!
A GOOD VIEW OF THE HUNCHBACK MEN PROCESSION ON THE LEFT OF THIS PHOTO.