Counsel Rocks

Counsel Rocks is a fascinating site out in the eastern Mojave desert inside of the Mojave National Preserve. The petroglyphs and pictographs there are on a handful of large volcanic boulders at the base of a mesa.

What is interesting about this site is that a couple of the boulders have deep cavities inside of them some of which actually go all the way through the rock creating a tunnel. Inside these passageways are some nice pictographs. One of the boulders has been called Womb Rock because of its natural openings and likely ceremonial use.

Some believe that the site was used as a solar calendar for determining equinoxes and solstices. The spring equinox would have been a particularly important time for the people living here. Spring would have brought the renewal of food and rebirth to the world. This must have been a very special place. Please respect it.