The Coso Petroglyphs have been subject to various interpretations as to their meaning and function. One perspective argues that the drawings are metaphoric images correlated with individual shamanic vision quests. Alternatively it has been argued that they are part of a hunting religion that included increase rites and were associated with a sheep cult ceremonial complex. However these alternative explanations might be somewhat complementary in that the medicine persons could have been the artisans but their messages might have often been associated with religious observances centering on the veneration of bighorn sheep. In addition to the extant petroglyph rock art, the Coso People carried out extensive working of
obsidian tools and other 'manufacturing.' There is considerable archaeological evidence substantiating trade of these products between the Coso People and other
Indigenous peoples of the Americas and
Native American tribes. For example, distant trade with the southern Californian Pacific coast
Chumash People is confirmed by
archaeological recovery from California sites in
San Luis Obispo County, California and other coastal indigenous peoples' sites. Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons are situated on property of the
China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. The two canyons are a designated U.S.
National Historic Landmark. In 2001, they were incorporated into a larger
National Historic Landmark District, called the
Coso Rock Art District. In 2014, the
Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival was created as an annual celebration and showcase the petroglyphs located in the two canyons. ==See also==