Traces of the Sinagua: the V-V Petroglyph Site
Located just about a half hour southeast of Sedona, the V-V petroglyph site is one of the most spectacular and best preserved petroglyph sites in Arizona. Located on the private V-V ranch until 1994 when the ranch was acquired by the Coconino National Forest, the rock art was likely created by the Southern Sinagua between 1150 and 1400.
During certain times of year, the Sun shines through the small slit overlooking the petroglyph panels seen in the photo below. Large rocks that protrude from the cliff face cast shadows that fall on the panel indicating the vernal and autumnal equinoxes as well as other dates that would have been important to the Sinagua.
The V-V petroglyphs are not the only clues left behind by the Southern Sinagua. The Verde Valley is home to numerous petroglyph and pictograph sites, cliff dwellings, and other ruins, many of which are thought to have been constructed during the same time period as the V-V site. Perhaps the most impressive is Montezuma Castle, a 20 -room cliff dwelling near Camp Verde nesteled about 100 feet above the valley of Oak Creek in a cliff of old lakebed sediments known as the Verde Formation
For directions and hours to the V-V site, check out http://redrockcountry.org/recreation/cultural/v-bar-v.shtml