Mesa Prieta a black mesa is on the left side of NMHwy-68 close to Velarde before the highway goes into the Rio Grande Gorge to Taos. It is on private land owned by the Wells Petroglyph Preserve.

The mesa was formed by a basaltic lava flow approximately 3.3M yrs. ago. When the Rio Grande began to flow through the area it eroded the softer sedimentary layers beneath the basaltic layer creating a mesa. It is the site of one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in New Mexico. Archaeological surveys have estimated that there are anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 petroglyphs on the Mesa. These artifacts contain examples from the Archaic,  Pueblo, and Spanish periods. They show evidence of human habitation in the region dating back 10,000 years ago.

The Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project was created in 1999 and has over 100 volunteers doing the work of the organization, including recording and serving as docents. Be sure to check their website to find out when tours are available.

---

Gallery

 

---