Monday, September 16, 2013

ROCK ART

Sunday, September 15 – We took the weekend off from hiking. Saturday it rained most of the day and many roads and trails were closed. Sunday we went on the Moab Area Rock Art Tour. This turned into an unexpected delightful day! Be sure to pick up the pamphlet of the self-guided tour at the visitor's center in town.

The petroglyph or rock art are produced by a number of prehistoric people over thousands of years. The petroglyph found in the Moab area are believed to date as far back as the Archaic Period (5500 BC to AD 1).

the ride

The drive down Kane Creek Blvd. to the art site was amazing. The road begins in town at the McDonalds and soon after leaving the city turns into a dirt road following the Colorado River. Off road Jeeps and other 4-wheelers frequently passed or met us along the way. The road has areas widened for passing which made it easy going, even for our dually pickup truck.

dirt road

jeeps

About 2.5 miles out of town we came to the first rock art – Moon Flower Canyon. The site it behind a protective fence to protect the art of vandals. (Why would anyone destroy these sites?) There are people figures, bighorn sheep and a number of abstract elements. The panel is from ground level to a height of about 12 feet.

rock art

rock art

About 1.2 miles from Moon Flower is a huge rock covered with art. There are bighorn sheep, snakes, human forms and a trail.

rock art

After another 1.7 miles, we found a large boulder that sits between the road and the Colorado River with rock art on all four sides.

rock art

The well known “birthing scene” is found on this rock.

rock art

Various animal forms, centipedes, a horse, bear paws and a snake are other features found at this site. A guy riding a bike past us said they call it "newspaper rock."

rock art

Driving down the road an older gentleman and a lady in an old pickup stopped and asked if we were lost or needed directions. We told them we were looking at the art. They gave us some directions to help find additional art and invited us to visit the man's adobe structures built under a rock overhang. What a friendly gesture!

adobe structure

adobe structure

Our last stop was on the South side of town only about a mile from our campground. It is known as the Golf Course Rock Art because it is located across a small road from the golf course. The art is found on a boulder cliff along the road to some new and beautiful adobe homes. This art depicted human figures – such as “Moab Man”, elk, canines, and bighorn sheep.

DSC06791

DSC06793

A popularly referred to imagine is known as the reindeer & sled. Looks a lot like Santa and the gang... :-)

rock art

It was a fun trip and an enjoyable couple of hours we would recommend to others when in the Moab, UT, area. A little “art appreciation” among the beautiful red rock canyons.

looking at red rock

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

12 comments:

  1. We totally missed that when we were there. Another reason to go back.

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  2. That is amazing place, thanks for the picture flashback:)

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  3. That is certainly some ancient rock art!! It is sad that anyone would destroy such wonderful history!

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  4. And, to think if we wrote on rocks today, they might just call in vandalism.

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  5. So much great scenery to see there, hope we can get there some day.

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  6. We like to seek out the rock art. There is some around Deming, NM that we use to take people out to. I will never understand why anyone would deface things like this. When in California, someone spray painted a bunch of rocks along a trail. What a shame.

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  7. Looked like a beautiful day for your Rock Art tour. It is amazing how many petroglyphs and pictographs have survived there in the west. Luckily, many are high enough to avoid vandals. And the weather is perfect for preservation,

    There are more petroglyphs on the walls going out to the Corona Arch. Also, stop and take a few minutes to watch the climbers. It seems to be the place for lessons and beginners. Maybe you two could sign up for a lesson on rock climbing!!

    Hope those sunny skies stay for awhile:)

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  8. We'll definitely have to go back to Moab some day as you guys are turning up all kinds of great places to visit that we've never even heard of.

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  9. We have yet to see Petroglyphs. Hopefully, next winter.

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  10. how interesting that someone put together a tour. . .really, really great. . .thx for sharing!

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  11. Wow! We totally missed this when we were there. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures. One more reason to go back, not that we need much of an excuse!
    Sue

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  12. Another wow to how much we missed in the area. Always a good idea to leave something new for the next visit.

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