Hole-in-the-Rock (Papago Park)

[1] Hole-in-the-Rock is a series of openings (tafoni) eroded in a small hill composed of bare red arkosic conglomeritic sandstone.

Another substantial opening exists in the "ceiling" of the chamber.

There is evidence that the Hohokam, early inhabitants of the region,[2] used and recorded the position of sunlight shining through the latter opening to mark the seasons—notably the equinoxes and the solstices, which were marked by carving a slick area (metate) in the rock.

The openings and main chamber near the summit are easily accessible via a smoothly ascending path that passes behind the hill.

[3] The chamber provides a good view of the city of Phoenix west of the park.