Have you ever seen a story carved into a rock? This week on The Children’s Hour, we explore the meaning and magic of petroglyphs – images etched into stone by ancient hands. Our Kids Crew visited Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project, home to more than 60,000 documented carvings, and talked with archaeologist Jerod Roberts, educator Sandy Romero, and volunteer Judy Chaddick.

Then we met up with Ranger David Ottaviano from Petroglyph National Monument to learn how these fragile images are preserved. We also heard from Todd Scissons, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer from Acoma Pueblo, about what petroglyphs still mean to Pueblo people today. Come discover how these images are more than just pictures. They’re powerful messages from the past still speaking to us now.

On our journey, we learned how petroglyphs are made by pecking away the dark surface of lava rocks, revealing lighter stone beneath. The images might show animals, spirals, symbols of the sun and moon, or even spiritual journeys. Some carvings line up with the sun during equinoxes or solstices, helping people keep time and honor sacred traditions. We explored why it’s important not to touch petroglyphs, and how even small acts—like going off-trail—can damage them. Experts told us that protecting these sites helps us care for living cultures, because many Pueblo people still live in the same lands as their ancestors who carved these messages long ago.

Tribal historian Todd Scissons from Acoma Pueblo explained that petroglyphs are like storybooks carved into stone. They record important experiences and prayers, and connect people to their ancestors. He shared how the spiral symbol shows a journey—a path walked by his people through time. And we learned how different tribes see similar meanings in these images, because many Pueblos share the same roots and stories.

The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., a New Mexico-based nonprofit. This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Gus Tafoya, Sarah Gabrielli and our intern Thaniel. Our show was recorded at Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project, near Velarde, New Mexico USA by the Kids Crew, and at Sunspot Solar Studio. Our theme music was composed by C.K. Barlow.

The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, The Native American Radio Network.

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