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Footprints In the Desert: The Stones of Taliesin West

Frank Lloyd Wright and the Petroglyphs of Paradise Valley

When building Taliesin West nearly 100 petroglyphs were found at the base of the adjacent McDowell Mountains. Several of these glyphs were built into the organic layer of Taliesin West.

In the course of constructing Taliesin West atop the rim of Paradise Valley, Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices discovered nearly 100 petroglyphs at the base of the adjacent McDowell Mountains.  The ancient carvings were on boulders near where Wright quarried the stones for his winter home.  Inspired by the enigmatic glyphs, Wright integrated several of the glyph-adorned boulders into the organic layer of Taliesin West.  Following a review of Wright's use and placement of boulders, this presentation explores the archeological context of petroglyphs at Taliesin West in order to understand when they were made, by whom, and for what purpose. 

Presented by Aaron Wright, Preservation Archeologist with the non-profit Archeology Southwest in Tucson.  He holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Washington State University and is the author of the award-winning book Religion in the Rocks: Hohokam Rock Art, Ritual Practice and Social Transformation. 

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