« Posts by Randy Langstraat

Sego Snake Man

posted in Rock Art

Sego Snake Man

Sego Canyon in the Book Cliffs contains three culturally distinct styles of rock art that are all in close proximity to each other: Fremont, Ute and Barrier Canyon Style. This site is well known and an easy side trip when you are travelling along I-70. Unfortunately, with easy access come vandalism and these panels are no exception to that rule. Thankfully, the main panels located here have been restored as best as could be done. However, some of the other panels in the vicinity have some severe damage.

The above photo is just a small portion of the very large Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel located here. This is one of the more unique anthropomorphs located here and is surrounded by snakes on each side and many interesting circle figures. I know I’ll eventually be posting a wider view of this panel sometime in the future so you can see the full thing.

Since this site is not too far from home, and I’m usually driving past it almost every weekend, I end up stopping there at least a few times throughout the year…..it never gets old.

>> Short Trip to the Book Cliffs

Needles

posted in Rock Art

Needles

In a short canyon near Escalante there are a number of alcoves grouped together known as the Weavers Caves. They have received that distinction because of the many needle-like pictographs painted within. The above photo shows just a very small portion of the fine pictographs found in these alcoves. It truly is amazing just how many figures are painted here, but a lot of them are now pretty faint and hard to see. The most interesting thing to me about this site besides just how many figures are painted in these alcoves is how small each of them are. Many of them are abstract shapes and are painted in very fine lines using multiple colors.

These pictographs are nothing like anything else I have seen in Southern Utah. I am not sure what style these would be considered, but there were parts of them that reminded me of Barrier Canyon Style. I have read that some people believe they might be Espalande or Pecos styles? Whatever their style, they are certainly uncommon for the area and were a pleasure to visit.

>> Grand Staircase – Escalante Ruins & Rock Art

Five Faces

posted in Rock Art

Five Faces

The Five Faces are an outstanding pictograph panel tucked away in a remote canyon within Canyonlands National Park. This panel represents one of the ‘Faces’ motifs which consist primarily of polychrome anthropomorphs that have flat-topped or bucket-shaped heads on top of broad shouldered torsos. Below the panel, there are many ‘metate’ grooves on the large stones. I have visited this panel a couple of times and it still fascinates me. Now I just need to make the time to visit the other panels in the area that represent the ‘Faces’ motif.

>> Davis Canyon

Imperfect Panel

posted in Rock Art

Imperfect Panel

A small Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel located high up near the back of a large alcove. Even though these pictographs have not survived as well as the nearby Perfect Panel, you can see that they were at one time just as detailed. You can click on the image to view a larger size on Flickr where you can get a better look at the fine details that remain.

>> From the Maze to the Mesa

Circle of Life

posted in Rock Art

Circle of Life

When we headed down to Escalante this last weekend, it was one of my main goals to try and find this particular pictograph panel. I had seen a photo of this pictograph a while back, and because it was so unique I just new I wanted to find it and see it for myself. I have seen many petroglyphs and pictographs, but nothing like this one before. It’s very interesting that each person around the circle is different from one another…no two are exactly the same.

Unfortunately, I have no clue what style this pictograph is, but if I had to guess it would be from a later culture, after the Fremont/Anasazi were gone from this area. Perhaps it is Ute or Paiute? There is a small rainbow off to the right (just out of the frame) so maybe I am wrong and it is Fremont? If anyone out there has some thoughts or information on this pictograph panel, I’d love to hear them in the comments below.

>> Grand Staircase – Escalante Ruins & Rock Art

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