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A Great Hunting Scene

posted in Rock Art

A Great Hunting Scene

This is probably one of the most famous petroglyph panels around. The Great Hunt Panel in Cottonwood Canyon, a side canyon of Nine Mile Canyon, is an incredible display of Fremont petroglyphs. One theory about this panel is that the horned anthropomorphic figure near the middle and top of the panel may represent a hunt shaman with a herd of bighorn sheep during a migration and that the lines connecting all of the figures may represent consanguinity. Whatever the possible meaning behind this panel, the fact remains that it is a must-see site for any rock art enthusiast!

>> Nine Mile Canyon

Horse & Lichen

posted in Rock Art

Horse & Lichen

This historical and beautifully incised horse is carved right above the very colorful lichen on this sandstone wall. It is believed that this horse was most likely created by a Ute which may depict their encounters with the U.S. Calvary. The number ‘8’ on the front hip of the horse is most likely a brand that has been traced back to General Crook’s command, who was chasing the Apache through Arizona and New Mexico in the late 1800s. It’s possible this carving may be of a captured horse.

While visiting this site, the biting gnats were terrible! If I stopped moving for more than a few seconds they swarmed around me and were unbearable. As I searched the area I was lucky to find a few of the petroglyphs, including this one, and managed to pull off a few photos before the bugs overran me. I’m sure I missed some petroglyphs at this site since I had to keep moving, so I will need to return another time to finish exploring.

>> White River Area Rock Art

Sunlit Tracks

posted in Rock Art

Sunlit Tracks

I visited this petroglyph site along the Colorado River near Moab just before sunset after a long day of exploring ruins and rock art. The low angle of the sun seemed to strike this panel perfectly giving off a nice orange glow. The most prominent part of this panel that stands out the most to me is the vertical line of tracks that seem to travel down the smooth sandstone surface. There are also your typical bighorn sheep petroglyphs and some snake-like figures on the lower left.

>> Veterans Day on the Island in the Sky

Rochester Creek Panel

posted in Rock Art

Rochester Creek Panel

A different perspective of the very impressive and well known petroglyph panel at Rochester Creek in the San Rafael Swell. Some rock art experts attribute the panel to the Fremont, while others believe it is Barrier Canyon Style….I’m guessing it is a mixture of both with some other later styles in there, too. It’s an amazing panel and there are many other petroglyphs located nearby, so I will have to post some closer and more detailed photos in the future.

>> Swell Rock Art & Arches

Circles and Stripes

posted in Rock Art

Circles and Stripes

A unique perspective of a concentric circles petroglyph found in Mule Canyon. While exploring the ruins and rock are in this particular alcove I happened to notice the light was reflecting onto the top portion of the large alcove creating a nice glow and enhancing the dark stripes above. I then framed this petroglyph so that I was able to capture part of the glowing ceiling in the top right portion of the frame. I’m very happy with the result.

>> Mule Canyon

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