Rock Art of Cocoraque Ranch

Janine Hernbrode will provide this rare opportunity to access Cocoraque Ranch

Joaquin Burruel established the private Cocoraque Ranch at a permanent water source west of Tucson sometime before 1883. The Ranch itself is young compared to the large hill behind the Cocoraque Ranch house. Native people used the hill as a sacred site for over 4,000 years. They left behind many petroglyphs — images pecked into the boulders — that represent important beliefs of both the image creators and Native American people today. In a special project sponsored by AAHS from 2013 to 2018, 31 volunteers led by Janine Hernbrode recorded the glyphs at both the public BLM site and the private ranch.

The private boulder-covered hill has the highest concentration of recorded rock imagery  in South-Central Arizona. On the hillside, there is a wide variety of images, including depictions of people, animals, flowers, and abstract forms such as circles, zigzag lines, grids, and dot patterns. Many bell rocks that ring when struck are another notable feature. These were likely used to produce music during ceremonial and community gatherings.

 The petroglyphs span most of the hill, from the base along the creek up to the summit. They vary greatly in age, with the darker ones being older. Just across the creek at the bottom of the hill, you can see some of the most ancient, very dark glyphs, some of which have been overlain by newer drawings. While the oldest glyphs may be 4000 years old, it is believed that the Tohono O’odham people created some of the lighter glyphs after the Spanish arrived in 1690.

Climbing the hill will give you the best experience, but you do not need to climb it to see the oldest glyphs, the Ranch house, and several bell rocks. These can be accessed after a moderate walk. You may borrow a wooden mallet to ring the bell rocks, as the wood is softer than the boulder and will not damage the rock’s patina. 

There is a $20 charge for the Ranch. Carpooling will be arranged, as the road to access the Ranch can be challenging, depending on the weather and vehicle clearance. Four Wheel Drive is recommended to navigate deep sand, clay-lined puddles after a rain, and rocky stretches of road. The climb to the top of the hill is strenuous and challenging (see photo below). However, with binoculars, you can view many of the glyphs. 

Field trips are a benefit of AAHS membership. This will be a full-day trip. If there is energy left, R.E. Burrillo will lead a short trip to the nearby Cocoraque Butte site. Field trips are limited to 20 members.

To register, email Katherine Cerino at katherine.cerino@aahs1916.org