Forge of Creation

Petroglyphs — Valley of Fire

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The Valley of Fire deri­ves its name from red sands­tone for­ma­tions, which were for­med from sand dunes during the Juras­sic period. Prehis­to­ric users of the Valley of Fire were the Ana­sazi who were far­mers from the nearby fer­tile Moapa Valley. The times­pan of appro­xi­mate occu­pa­tion has been dated from 300 B.C. to 1150 A.D. Their visits pro­bably invol­ved hun­ting, food gathe­ring, and reli­gious cere­mo­nies, although scar­city of water would have limi­ted the length of their stay. Fine exam­ples of rock art left by these ancient peo­ples can be found at seve­ral sites within the park. The most nume­rous being along Petroglyph Trail, lea­ding to Mouse Tank.