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Faded Glory

posted in Rock Art

Faded Glory

The Courthouse Wash pictographs located just inside of Arches National Park near Moab are an amazing display of Barrier Canyon Style pictographs. Unfortunately, in 1980 vandals made an effort to destroy this panel by scrubbing it with stiff brushes and a cleaning abrasive. The National Park Service has attempted to repair some of the damage, leaving the panel in the state you see in my photo above. I have seen some photos of this panel pre-1980 and it was definitely an amazing site. I would have loved to have seen it before it was vandalized. This panel really gets washed out while in direct sunlight, but luckily, while I was there a big cloud blocked the sun for a short time and I was able to get a few good shots where I could bring out some more of the details.

>> Moab Arches and Rock Art

Snake-in-Mouth Alcove

posted in Rock Art

Snake-in-Mouth Alcove

I spent many days searching for this particular site. I knew which canyon it was in, but was still unable to find it. After a few trips to the area I was finally able to find these amazing pictographs with the help of a friend, and I realized that they were within my sight all the days I had missed them previously!

This panel is located in a large alcove high above the canyon floor. It’s a bit of a steep scramble to get up there, but well worth the climb.

Once in front of the pictographs, you are treated to an excellent example of Barrier Canyon Style rock art. Inside the large anthropomorph’s mouth is a small blue snake from which this panel’s name derives. I will probably have to post a closer shot of this panel in the future for you to appreciate all of the finer details, but for now just enjoy the scene in it’s surrounding alcove.

>> Yellow Comet Alcove

Skeleton Shaman

posted in Rock Art

Skeleton Shaman

The Skeleton Shaman at the Head of Sinbad in the San Rafael Swell is not only one of my most favorite pictograph panels around, it’s also one of the best preserved examples of Barrier Canyon Style, too. It’s no wonder that every time I am in the area, I have to stop and admire these beautiful pictographs!

>> The Ascending Sheep & Ferron Box

Horned Serpent

posted in Rock Art

Horned Serpent

A horned serpent and an anthropomorph from the Transformation Panel in the Ochre Alcove. I have a hard time picking my favorite rock art site (there are just so many cool ones!), but this one would definitely be up near the top of my list!

>> Three Fingers to Temple Wash

Unexpected Panel

posted in Rock Art

Unexpected Panel

Here’s a Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel that my friend Philippe and I ‘unexpectedly’ found while searching out some rock art in the San Rafael Swell. It’s an amazing panel and we both spent a good amount of time examining all the fine details. One thing I noticed while visiting this panel and searching the surrounding area for more rock art is that there was no footpath leading to this panel…not even a footprint anywhere around.

When I got home, I asked around to see if this panel had a name, and to my surprise, I was unable to find anyone else who has seen this panel before! While I am sure that we are not the first people to stumble across this panel, it’s kind of cool to find out that it’s not very well known at all.

This is an overview photo of the very large, tall and complex panel. I have other closeup shots of the different sections that I will probably post here in the future!

Get out there and start exploring….you never know what you might find!

>> An Unexpected Surprise in the Swell

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