ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE ROCK ART AT CEREMONIAL CAVE...SO MANY INTERESTING ELEMENTS!

Ceremonial Cave Gallery

CDM – 88


I visited the Ceremonial Cave Site in Canyon del Muerto on the late afternoon of Saturday, March 7, 2026 during my Spring 2026 Rock Art Trip.  I also visited this site the next day to take advantage of of better lighting from a better viewpoint.  I was excited to see this site, since Campbell Grant (on page 256 of his book) said this about Ceremonial Cave:  “The painted panel is about sixty feet long and is the most diverse and interesting painted site in any of the canyons”.  This long low shelter has small and carefully painted elements from Modified Basketmaker through Early Developmental Pueblo, and they are a delight to experience.  There are a variety of human types, positive handprints, outlined zigzags, dot patterns, animal tracks, and miscellaneous abstract elements.  

Ceremonial Cave is on property that is privately owned and is fenced with a locked gate.  We were fortunate to be granted access on the afternoon of our second day in the canyons, which made for much better photographs.  The light wasn’t great, but it was wonderful to be able to get a closer look at this beautiful site.  Just below the cave, as well as on other parts of the property, were blooming peach trees, which played an important role in the history and culture of the Navajo people.  The Spanish brought the peach trees to the region in the 1600s and the Navajo truly made them their own.  In this first set of photos you can see the blooming peach trees in front of the cave.

APPROACHING CEREMONIAL CAVE YOU CAN SEE THE BLOOMING PEACH TREES AND SEVERAL NAVAJO MUD AND ROCK CISTS INSIDE THE CAVE.
THE FAR LEFT PORTION OF CEREMONIAL CAVE. THE NEXT FOUR PHOTOS MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TO THE FAR RIGHT SECTION OF THE CAVE.
THE ROCK ART IS PLENTIFUL IN THE CENTER PORTIONS OF THE CAVE.
THIS CENTER PORTION OF THE SITE IS PACKED WITH INTERESTING ROCK ART.
MOVING TO THE RIGHT, THE ART BEGINS TO THIN OUT.
THE FAR RIGHT PORTION OF CEREMONIAL CAVE.

Human figures are numerous at Ceremonial Cave: in rows, holding hands, and sometimes what looks like family units.  Females are identified by their big hips, not by genitals or hairdress.  There are many figures that I would call “men on the bus” type, which can be seen all over the Southwest.  But the ones in Ceremonial Cave are the most intricate and beautiful that I have ever seen.  There also lots of turkeys and a number of quadrapeds.  In the photos below I attempt to show details of some of these amazing elements…enjoy!

NOTE THE FEMALES IN THE LINE OF RED FIGURES IN THE UPPER LEFT OF THIS PHOTO -- THEY HAVE LARGE HIPS.
A NUMBER OF HEADLESS BIRDS IN FLIGHT...UNIQUE MODIFIED BASKETMAKER STYLE.
MORE BIRDS, AND STARTING TO SEE SOME ANTHROPOMORPHIC FIGURES.
THE PANEL STARTS TO GET VERY BUSY AS WE NEAR THE CENTER OF THE MAIN PANEL AT CEREMONIAL CAVE. STARTING TO SEE LOTS OF NICE HANDPRINTS IN DIFFERENT COLORS.
LOTS TO SEE HERE!
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS TO THE SIZE OF THESE ELEMENTS, THE TWO BIRD-HEADED FIGURES (RIGHT SIDE OF PANEL, ONE WHITE, ONE RED) ARE ABOUT 6" TALL.
LOTS OF DOTS. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE MAIN PANEL AT CEREMONIAL CAVE.
INTRICATE DETAILS THROUGHOUT!
THE TWO RED FIGURES IN THE UPPER LEFT THAT ARE FACING EACH OTHER ARE BOTH FEMAILES. SEE FIG. 4.29 ON PAGE 179 OF CAMPBELL GRANT'S BOOK.
LOTS OF WHITE ELEMENTS AS WE NEAR THE END OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ART AT THE SITE.

Attempting to demonstrate some of the details on the human figures at Ceremonial Cave with these last few photos.

NOTE THE USE OF WHITE DETAILING ON THE FIGURES CHASING EACH OTHER IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PHOTO.
MALE AND FEMALE HOLDING HANDS. IS THAT A CHILD WITH THEM PERHAPS?
OUTSTANDING!