somehiker---
Yeah, it was a little cynical, but not towards you. I got a little emotional on the "fanatics" part.
But I do think it's a symbol, because it's too symmetrical to be an actual geographic map. It looks more like a philosophic or religious symbol.
It could be a clue to a hidden location, but if so, I think it would be more of a statement of how to go about finding it, rather than a landmark-and-directions type of map.
I think it's a great find, and I sincerely appreciate your posting it, and the supporting information.
Whether it's a map or a symbol, I think it makes a
big statement about whoever made it, and the reasoning behind it. Especially since it appears in three different locations, in about 99% the exact same form (I haven't seen a photo of the one you mentioned at Montezuma's Castle, but I assume it's the same). It appears to be much more sophisticated than those commonly attributed to "Native Americans," so far.
And I do think my
opinionary interpretation is plausible. But while in that train of thought, it sort of triggered my feelings about some other posts, over the last few months, which have been kind of irksome, but at the same time sad.
Sorry I left that post in such a half-baked state, but I felt I had better keep it short before it turned into a rant, or sounded
too serious.
Note: Apparently there is no such word as "opinionary." Oh well.