The outlined cross is an enigmatic icon found in the rock art of much of the American southwest. Of the rock art sites I've visited, I've noticed the outlined cross and its compadres (the double cross, the triple cross, and the outlined I-just to name a few) appear most frequently in the eastern parts of the Mojave Desert and along the lower Colorado River. It is here that I've seen the most variation and the greatest stylization of this element (No doubt this element is king on the other side of the river in Arizona too).
Am I totally whacked in thinking this occurs most frequently in this area? Some say that this element comes from way down south, possibly even from Aztec country. I admit that most of the rock art I've seen is to the north of this area so maybe I'm missing something. Of the sites I've seen and of the photos I've seen, no other area displays this theme as often and as strikingly as this region. I'm thinking a trip down south of the border may be in order to gather more info. on this topic.
These outlined crosses have created a great deal of speculation as to their origin and meaning. I don't have a solid take on the symbology of this element in this context- I simply want to kick around that it is in the lower Colorado River region that this element reaches its artistic zenith. I'd also like to share some of the more fanciful depictions and a couple of the jazzy riffs on these elements I've seen.
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