LANDSCAPE SHOT SHOWING PART OF THE EAR CAVE SITE. THE ART IS ABOVE AND TO THE LEFT OF THE SMALL RUIN IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THIS PHOTO.

Ear Cave Site Gallery

CDM – 123

I visited the Ear Cave Site in Canyon del Muerto on the afternoon of Saturday, March 7, 2026 during my Spring 2026 Rock Art Trip.  On page 260 of his book Campbell Grants calls Ear Cave “One of the most interesting sites in the canyons.”  This opinion is based primarily on the unique elements at the site which depict human figures with top-of-the head and left-ear appendages.  While there are a few of these figures elsewhere in the canyons, this site has a large concentration of them.  The art at this site is Basketmaker through Modified Basketmaker with a few Great Pueblo elements thrown in for good measure.  When I photographed the site it was from a long distance away and the light was less than desireable, but I did the best I could.  I hope you enjoy my photos of this unique site!

A CLOSER VIEW OF THE SMALL STRUCTURE AT EAR CAVE.
BASKETMAKER PANEL AT THE EAR CAVE SITE, DOMINATED BY A LARGE EAR MAN FIGURE IN THE CENTER OF THIS PHOTO.
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ABOVE PANEL AT THE EAR CAVE SITE.
FINAL SHOT OF THE EAR MAN FIGURE I CALL "ZIPPER MAN" AT THE EAR CAVE SITE.
A LITTLE DIFFERENT VIEW OF THIS PANEL SHOWS MORE OF THE AREA TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTRAL EAR MAN FIGURE.
THIS EAR MAN FIGURE AT EAR CAVE IS LOCATED NEAR THE SMALL RUIN STRUCTURE AT THE SITE. NOTE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ORNAMENT ON HIS LEFT EAR THIS FIGURE HAS A SMALL HEAD-DRESS AND HIS LEFT ARM IS ADORNED WITH FEATHERS.
ANOTHER PHOTO OF THE FEATHERED EAR MAN. NOTE THE ATLATL ABOVE THE FIGURE AND THE UNUSUAL STRIPED CIRCLE ELMENT TO HIS RIGHT.
THE FAR RIGHT PORTION OF THIS PHOTO SHOWS AN ELABORATE EAR MAN FIGURE THAT IS FEATURED IN CAMPBELL GRANT'S BOOK ON PAGE 261 (FIG.A.11).
TO THE RIGHT OF THE ELABORATE EAR MAN THERE IS A GROUP OF OTHER INTERESTING HUMAN FIGURES (INCLUDING A PURPLE FIGURE) SURROUNDED BY SOME SMALLER ELEMENTS. SOME BEAUTIFUL ROCK ART!
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE RED AND WHITE EAR MEN THAT ARE ABOVE AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE ELABORATE EAR MAN FIGURE.
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ICONIC ELABORATE EAR MAN AT EAR CAVE.
THESE TWO EAR MEN AT EAR CAVE ARE SPORTING NECKLACES.
THE TWO NECKLACE EAR MEN AT EAR CAVE.
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE ELABORATE EAR MAN FIGURE. WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE A CLOSER VANTAGE POINT AND BETTER LIGHT BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE ON THIS DAY.

A few images of the Great Pueblo panels at the Ear Cave Site.

CAMPBELL GRANT DESCRIBES THE GREAT PUEBLO IMAGES AT EAR CAVE AS "CRUDE"...THEY MAY BE CRUDE WHEN COMPARING THEM TO THE ORNATE BASKETMAKER ELEMENTS, BUT INTERESTING NONE-THE-LESS.
I CALL THE FIGURE ON THE LEFT "12 FINGERED MAN".
I FOUND THIS COMPOSITION AT EAR CAVE PLEASING TO THE EYE!