Big Horn sheep were an important economic and spiritual animal
for Indians of the southwest. Mountain sheep depictions are common in Arizona and
Utah and a great deal of supernatural significance was attached to them. "Pangwu"
was the word for bighorn sheep - the leader of the animal kingdom. Although common
throughout the southwest, bighorn are actually rather scarce as rock art within
Canyon de Chelly. It's possible that these large game animals were not abundant
in the canyon itself. In addition, the Anasazi in the canyon were mainly farmers
and only hunted occasionally
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