The Petroglyph Birds of Mesa Prieta

The Petroglyph Birds of Mesa Prieta
From USD $110.00
  • Duration: 3 Hours (approx.)
  • Product code: ImagesofBirds
It's a pleasure to share the vista of gold during the harvest season high on Mesa Prieta. Come and enjoy the scenery with a special Petroglyph Bird Tour.  Katherine Wells graciously offered her portal to have a sack lunch and drinks that are included with a two hour tour. Our Project Archaeologist, Dr. Chester Liwosz, who is known for his enthusiastic, energized and informative webcast "Chat with the Archaeologist" will be your guide. He is also a registered professional archaeologist from University of California, Santa Cruz. You will be guided through the Wells Petroglyph Preserve to experience and understand the cultural significance of birds in the region. Petroglyphs of raptors, macaws, Northern Flickers, turkeys, and various waterfowl are among the thousands of sacred and mysterious images etched on the basalt rock on Mesa Prieta. 


We are offering two time slots to better serve you. You can choose to start your tour at 8:45am or 11:45pm. Lunch time is between 11:00 - 1:00pm. You are to check in with us at the parking lot at your start time. After booking your tour, you will be sent a confirmation email with an attached map to the Wells Petroglyph Preserve. This is the only way to find the preserve as it is not on Google Maps and there is no signage. The preserve is located near Velarde, NM.


If you have additional questions, please review General Information for All Tours. Please be advised, all purchases are non-refundable.

The Wells Petroglyph Preserve was created in 2007 when Katherine Wells donated 156 acres on Mesa Prieta to The Archaeological Conservancy. The Preserve was later expanded to 181 acres. Katherine purchased the petroglyph-rich land on the mesa in 1992.  She had the vision for a preservation and educational effort for Mesa Prieta and the determination to develop a program dedicated to its protection. Today the Wells Petroglyph Preserve, overseen by The Archaeological Conservancy and managed by the Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project, is made available to the public via docent-led tours.