The Southwest of North America is extremely rich in rock art images of quadrupeds that are mainly executed as petroglyphs. One of the sites featuring many petroglyphs of quadrupeds (mainly sheep and some deer) is Shay Canyon, a tributary of Indian Creek, a drainage which empties its waters into the Colorado River, further west. Discussed in this study are peculiarities concerning the manufacture of several quadrupeds that combine the techniques of pecking with incision; especially the legs. In my opinion incision may have been used (afterwards) because the technique is more ergonomic, but the true reason is still enigmatic.

By Maarten van Hoek