Many of our artists use a variety of “Petroglyph Symbols” as design themes in their jewelry. Artists such as Myron Panteah, Kee Yazzie, Arland Ben, Lawrence Namoki, and many others have gained widespread popularity creating art with Petroglyph Symbol designs. These symbols have their origin in actual pre-contact petroglyph sites, found throughout the Southwest. The symbols found at such petroglyph sites were carved into sandstone walls many hundreds of years ago.

We love Native American art with petroglyph symbols, because not only are the designs beautifully simple, but each one is packed with cultural meaning and history. Some symbols can carry different meanings depending on the tribe. But often, there is a shared symbology across Southwest tribes.

Here is a list of common petroglyph symbols and the meanings behind them. This list is by no means complete! It is accurate to the best of our abilities, based on conversations with our favorite artists, but may not cover all explanations or potential meanings.

Antelope:

Decisive action 

Arrow:

Avanyu:

Water serpent, metaphor for winding river

Bear:

Powerful healer, strength, spiritual journey through life

Bear Paw:

Strength

Butterfly:

Transformation, bringer of joy and love (learn more about the butterfly symbol here).

Dragonfly: 

Good fortune, always found near springs and life-giving water, insightful, sees through illusions 

Eagle:

Messenger to the heavens, carries prayers, conduit between man and God

Elk Man:

Medicine Man, Shaman

Feather (Prayer Feather): 

Messenger to the heaven. Prayer feathers are hung at the entrance to the home, giving good blessings to anyone who walks through the door. (Learn more about feathers here). 

Four Direction Symbol (Cross):

Sacred number four: represents the four sacred mountains, four sacred crops, four stages of life, and more... (Read more about the four direction symbol here).

Friendship Symbol:

Two humans holding hands or interlocking crescent symbols. Symbolizes friendship and cooperation. 

 

Hand: 

Helping, healing, oldest symbol of humanity

Heron:

Calm and patience

Horse:

Freedom, great stamina, strength

Hummingbird:

Beautiful messenger, healer

Kokopelli:

Fertility, abundance 

Lightning: 

Connecting between heaven and earth, closely associated with the Thunderbird

Migration: 

Represents the circled migration of Native American tribes to end up where they currently live. Metaphor for life's journey. (Read more about the migration symbol here.)

Naja:

Symbol for protection and "warding off evil". (Learn more about najas here). 

Rabbit:

Bringer of good fortune, fertility

  

Rain Clouds:

Rain clouds bring live-giving water, essential to survival in the arid southwest

  

Snake:

Transformation (shedding of skin), metaphor for winding river

Sun (Sunface):

Giver of life, critical for all growth of plants

Thunderbird: 

Earliest explanation of thunder was a bird so large that every time it flapped its wings, it created thunder and storms. (Learn more about the Thunderbird here).

Turtle:

Longevity

Whirling Log:

Healing symbol used most often in Navajo ceremonies. (Learn more about the Whirling Log symbol here). 

Wolf:

Loyalty, intelligence, teacher, and pathfinder