An interesting figure found in the Book Cliffs of Utah that appears to be waving. This panel is located high up on the canyon wall and is on private property, so you cannot get up close without permission from the owners. This photo was taken from the road at 400mm and then cropped some more. I have seen this figure referred to as Barrier Canyon Style before, but I’m not so sure I would classify it as such? This section of the canyon contains many different styles of rock art in close proximity, including Ute and/or Paiute, Fremont and Barrier Canyon Style. It must have been an important place! Below the waving figure there is a band of horseback riders that were most likely painted by the Ute or Paiute. The figures in this panel were created by wetting chunks of red ochre and drawing directly on the canyon wall.
Transformation Scene
Let’s finish off the week with an overview of one of my favorite pictograph panels; The Ochre Alcove in the San Rafael Swell. Just amazing detail in this one!
Ascending Sheep
The Ascending Sheep pictograph panel is another of my favorites. Many times I am awestruck at the size of some of these Barrier Canyon Style panels because they are so large. This panel, on the other hand, is completely the opposite. The figures here are actually very small. Even though they are small, the details found in this scene are just amazing! Take, for example, the central figure surrounded by the tiny sheep. It is an anthropomorphic figure with what appears to be a sheep’s head, a snakes tongue and possibly bird feet. It’s also holding a bird-like figure on one hand and a tiny snake dangles from the other. Click on the image for a larger view so that you can admire all the fine details yourself!
Supplication Panel
There are so many awesome petroglyph panels near Moab, but this one has got to be one of my favorites in the area. There is a lot going on it this panel, and it’s probably telling a story that we will never understand. My favorite figure is the large Barrier Canyon Style anthropomorph that the smaller ‘supplicant’ figures seem to be facing. This panel is still in excellent condition, and I really hope that it stays that way! I could just sit at the base of this panel and study it all day!
Cedar Mountain Petroglyphs
This is a portion of a large petroglyph panel located at the base of Cedar Mountain near the Silent Sentinel that I posted a photo of yesterday. To me, it looks like there may be both Barrier Canyon Style and Fremont figures carved into this interesting panel.