DANIEL STALEY, WITH HIS FAMILY'S HOGAN IN MOTHER EARTH CANYON IN CANYON DE CHELLY.

Back to Back Petroglyph Gallery

 

I visited several small petroglph sites in Canyon de Chelly on the afternoon of Sunday, March 8, 2026 during my Spring 2026 Rock Art Trip.  All of them were located in or near Mother Earth Canyon, which is property that our guide’s family (The Staley Family) owns in Canyon de Chelly.  A little after noon Leander Staley handed us off to his father Daniel who took us to see the family property including their Hogan.  He also took us to several very old petroglyphs near or on their property.  None of these petroglyphs were anything to write home about.  As far as I can tell, none of these sites have formal names or have assigned site numbers in Campbell Grant’s book. One of the panels had back to back flute players, so that is what I named this small gallery. 

SIGN AT THE GATE TO THE STALEY FAMILY PROPERTY IN CANYON DE CHELLY, AKA MOTHER EARTH CANYON.
SMALL PANEL THAT FEATURES BACK TO BACK FLUTE PLAYERS IN LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE PHOTO.
A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT THE BACK TO BACK FLUTE PLAYERS.
REMAINS OF A SMALL RUIN NEAR THE BACK TO BACK FLUTE PLAYERS PETROGLYPH PANEL.
A PETROGLYPH DEPICTING A SHIELD FIGURE -- VERY UNUSUAL TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN CANYON DE CHELLY.
VERY FAINT HUMAN FIGURE IN THE MIDDLE AND ON THE RIGHT. IS THAT PERHAPS A BOW ON THE LEFT?
TWO VERY OLD AND DEEPLY INCISED PETROGLYPHS.
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS SMALL PANEL YOU CAN MAKE OUT A HUMAN FIGURE AND AT LEAST ONE QUADRAPED.