Possible total eclipse portrayal. Fremont or Ute. Moffat County,
Colorado. Photo: Peter Faris, September 1987.
Most recognizable from the automobile license plate from the state of New Mexico, the Zia sun symbol is actually a good representation of the moment of totality in a solar eclipse when the corona of the sun becomes visible and the sharp-eyed viewer can see the prominences in the solar atmosphere. Indeed, that is the only time one can see this phenomenon with the naked eye, and this suggests that any sun symbol with points, rays, or projections beyond the outer circle might be a representation of a total eclipse. Such an example would be the familiar sun symbol we recognize worldwide. The example illustrated above is from a private ranch in Moffat County, in northwestern Colorado, and may be attributable to the Fremont culture, or the later Ute people of that area.
Sun symbols at McConkey Ranch, Vernal, Utah.
Photog: Peter Faris, 1990.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the symbol generally accepted as a Sun symbol for most peoples of the Southwest is the concentric circle representing the sun disk. A representation of the sun done differently might possibly be assumed to record a remarkable or unique view of the sun, like a total solar eclipse.
As before, I will happily entertain any other examples you might wish to submit. Indeed, it would be interesting to be able to do a posting of a variety of candidates. Please forward any you have to me at rockartblogmail@yahoo.com.
As before, I will happily entertain any other examples you might wish to submit. Indeed, it would be interesting to be able to do a posting of a variety of candidates. Please forward any you have to me at rockartblogmail@yahoo.com.