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On July 25, the Petrified Forest Paleontologist crew set out on an early morning excursion to explore one of Arizona’s best kept historical secrets, the Hidden Cove Petroglyph Park located just behind Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook. City employee Mike O’Dell met with the Petrified Forests’ lead paleontologist Dr. Adam Marsh and other members of the program to dig up a little history.
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The Hidden Cove Petroglyph Park is home to the Moenkopi Rock formation that displays the ancient Hopi illustrations that draws visitors, from locals to tourists from around the globe. After the city purchased the property in the 1980s to use as a runoff site for wastewater, the value inherited had yet to be realized. It wasn’t until O’Dell stumbled upon the sandstone panels while exploring the grounds that Holbrook was made aware of just how significant the land was.
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Since unearthing the ancient treasure nearly three decades ago, one of O’Dell’s ambitions have been to bring attention to the park and its significance through education and exposure to anyone who shared an interest for the local gem.
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Shortly after being selected as a board member for the Holbrook City Council, Marsh, who has worn many hats during his time with the Petrified Forest since 2013, went on a tour of the park with O’Dell. During their visit, Marsh examined areas of the rock which he informed O’Dell could potentially hold fossils. To the untrained eye, this would just look like ordinary ripples or bumps in the rocks, but for a paleontologist it’s anything but ordinary.
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Laughing, O’Dell recalled the moment Marsh made the discovery saying, “He just hopped up and was crawling under the rocks on his back, he was excited.” After his discovery, Marsh coordinated another tour with O’Dell so he and his crew could explore the formation more thoroughly and maybe excavate a few of the fossils.
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During the near three-hour adventure, the crew came across rocks with fossil prints which Marsh speculated might be the pattern left by a larger amphibian after it slid through the water. “These rocks and fossils inside of them are Middle Triassic in age and are around 240 million years old,” Marsh explained.
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His team uncovered small amphibian bones. They examined fallen boulders looking for fossils and uncovered a two-inch long upper-leg bone of a Triassic Amphibian. Marsh assured these would be added to the natural history exhibit at Hidden Cove Golf Course. Not a bad day for a paleontologist in Holbrook, Arizona.
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When asked if he would be taking advantage of this opportunity in the future, Marsh confirmed it is something he would like to continue, adding, “It’s pretty unique to have a sort of rock celebrity in your back yard.”
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