Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve

The Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve (formerly the Deer Valley Rock Art Center) is a 47-acre nature preserve that features over 1500 Hohokam and Patayan petroglyphs on 500 basalt boulders in Phoenix's Deer Valley, Arizona. The US Army Corps of Engineers hired Simon J. Bruder in 1980 to conduct an archaeological investigation before the construction of the Adobe Dam at Hedgpeth Hill. The petroglyphs date back between 500 and 5,000 year. The National Register of Historic Places listed the site in 1984. It was also listed with the Phoenix Points of Pride. The ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences's School of Human Evolution and Social Change manages the preserve and museum.

The museum was designed and built on the site by Will Bruder in 1994.

SHESC and Arizona State University have collaborated to create numerous exhibits that enhance the educational mission at the site. The permanent exhibit, Leaving Marks, The Rock Art and Archaeology of Deer Valley, provides a detailed history of this site and its significance to the surrounding area. The Arizona Humanities Council granted funding for this exhibit. Other exhibits have been on the preserve include Legacy of Landscapes, The Art and Archaeology of Perry Mesa, One World, many Voices: Canyon Records' Artistry, Fragments, Piecing Together Southwest Archaeology, and Puzzle Pieces: New Perspectives of the Hohokam.

The Deer Valley Rock Center museum was designed by Will Bruder and Christy Ten Eyck. It was built in 1994. The museum was created to combine steel and concrete design elements. Its shape is like a boomerang to represent the connection between the city of Phoenix and the preserve. It can be used for teaching, research, presentation, and ongoing exhibits. It is a focal point of the preserve and attracts thousands of visitors each year. It attracts people from all walks of the world who are interested in landscape architecture and architectural design.

Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change. The university has taken many steps to preserve and protect the site every day since 1994. The university offers many ways for the public to explore the site and learn more about it. They also provide education about the indigenous cultures that are associated with the site through a variety media, including publications, guided tours and lectures.

The Arizona State University took control of the site in 1994. They have made it a community focus in six main areas:

The most well-known finds of the excavation are the petroglyphs. They were found between 500 and 5,000 year old. These petroglyphs are a form of rock art that is meaningful and can provide evidence of past life and cultural values. This is the only visual symbolism or medium that is still available today, as all other materials have been lost to time. These petroglyphs can be seen throughout the site and are often studied and examined today. These petroglyphs were first used during the Hohokam Preclassic period ca. 700-1100 for various religious and cultural purposes. AD 700-1100. It is likely that they were lost during the Hohokam classic period, ca. AD 1100-1450.

Many other petroglyphs sites can be found throughout the Phoenix Basin. This indicates a rich history of Hohokam and strong connection to the land. The South Mountain and Phoenix petroglyphs were used for ritual practices, including Deer Valley, South Mountain, and Hayden Butte. A large panel of Hohokam rocks can be seen today at the Leonard Monti Trail in Hayden Butte Preserve, near Arizona State University. Individuals can also schedule guided tours of the petroglyphs at South Mountain, which are not on the traditional trail.