Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
SET IN STONE
Spend quarantine downtime researching Nevada’s fascinating rock art sites
ROCK art is a significant feature of Nevada’s protected open land areas. Unfortunately, most of those areas are closed as part of the coronavirus shutdowns.
Families spending more time at home could use the opportunity to do some internet research on the rock art visible in Nevada’s state parks and land areas managed by the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.
American Indians pecked or etched these patterns thought to be abstract, as well as calendars and representations of animals and humans, into the natural desert varnish that forms on some rock surfaces in our dry climate. These petroglyphs expose the lighter rock underneath. Patterns and figures now stand out against the darker patina making them highly visible, even from some distance. With pictographs, which are rarer, the drawing is painted on the rock. You won’t see these as much because of weathering and exposure to the elements. The ones you do see are found in naturally sheltered areas such as rock alcoves, caves and overhangs that have preserved the pigments.
The most recent rock art is from historic times, for some of it depicts European people carrying rifles. Scientists can make only educated guesses about the age of older art. Some is very old indeed, as it has acquired a new coat of desert varnish. And some seems to have been carefully renewed by later generations, themselves long since vanished. One unsolved mystery is why it isn’t found everywhere but is highly concentrated in certain places.
If you have children, you might wish to show them images and introduce them to rock writings. Nevada’s open lands offer great ways for children to learn about our region’s rich Native American culture. Explaining that not even archaeologists, who have studied rock art for decades, always agree on the true meaning of particular symbols, can get children excited and willing to join the conversation.
Petroglyphs and pictographs found in our region are irreplaceable cultural treasures. Defacing them, moving a boulder or bringing one home with you are all federal crimes. Be sure never to touch the rock art, as the oils from your hands can ruin them. Also, never climb on rocks, boulders or cliff faces that contain rock art; carry binoculars to get a more responsible, and safer, look at inaccessible rock art.
Internet sites where your family can spend a little research time are: bradshawfoundation.com, nvrockart.org and sierrarockart.com.
Once virus closures are lifted and people are back out hiking, visit some of our rich Nevada petroglyph sites such as Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area just south of Las Vegas, Grapevine Canyon in Lake Mead National Recreation Area and White River Narrows in Basin and Range National Monument. Other local places to see rock art include Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock National Conservation Area.