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Petroglyphtrail.com |
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McKee Springs Petroglyph Replica21inch X 19inch |
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This is a reproduction of a piece of rock art found in Dinosaur National Monument. Many figures such as this were pecked into or painted on sandstone rock walls by a people we have named the "fremont". These people occupied much of Utah from about 200 AD to 1250 AD They supplemented their hunting and gathering life style by settling seasonally in small villages where they grew corn, beans and squash. A severe drought around 1,000 AD forced the Fremont people to abandon thier crops and rely primarily on hunting and gathering. At the same time, they may have assimilated with emigrating Indians from the southwest causing their distinct cultural characteristics to disappear.
Rock Art can be classified by the method used to create it. Petroglyphs are pecked into the surface of the rock, while Pictographs are painted. Rock art is an irreplaceable link to vanishing cultures. No one knows whether these designs were a form of written language, religious symbolism, seasonal calendars, or simply the result of a desire to create. Religious and hunting ceremonies were likely conducted at rock art sites. For the fremont, such ceremonies held the same importance as our own religious activities. We should honor those values no less than we do our own and treat the sites accordingly.
Cultural Sites, Including rock art locations, are protected by federal law, with stiff penalties for articfact collection, vandalism or disturbance of any kind. Touching rock art abrades the surface and leaves a residue of oil and acid that hastens their deterioration. Please do not touch- not even once. This replica was made by photographing the petroglyph, pecking the design on a empty piece of sandstone and then reproducing it by using a casting method. |
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