Indian Petroglyphs
On the canyon wall across the highway is a
panorama of ancient and modern Indian
art, pecked into the red sandstone. Depicted
are symbols of Indian warriors, mountain
sheep, bison, deer, horsemen, snakes
and geometric designs.
Archeologists belive that most of these
petroglyphs were done by Indians of the
Southern San Rafael Fremont culture,
which flourished between 600 A.D. and
1300 A.D. The Fremont art includes older
portrayals of animals, lines of hand-holding
men and the triangular-bodied figures with
horns, spears and shields.
The more modern petroglyphs, including
the horsemen and many of the hunting
motifs appear to be the work of the Ute
Indians in relatively recent time. They show
less weathering and less attention to detail
than the Fremont art.
These petroglyphs are fragile and easily
marred. Please help preserve them for the
enjoyment of others.
