Thursday, January 30, 2020

"Big Head" Pictographs

"The Park Service has this problem of balancing the mandate to 
preserve the ruins and the mandate to allow the public to enjoy them. 
Maybe that's an impossible paradox."
In Search of the Old Ones by David Roberts

I must admit I've been struggling with this paradox recently. Two things have made me think about it more than in the past. One is my recent opportunity to see some really wonderful, and seldom seen, Native American rock art sites. One of the sites I discovered on my own. I don't even think the Park Service is aware of it or has cataloged it (although I've reached out to them), and it's really a unique site. I feel a sense of responsibility to keep all these sites secret. The second is when I was recently contacted by the Park Service and asked to remove a photo I had posted on Flickr. Their request went something like this: By popularizing and publicizing sacred places (such as Native American rock art sites), very real detrimental effects can occur. They go on to say that this particular site is closed and considered sacred (although there is no indication or signage that the site is closed).

On most things, I strongly agree with the NPS. These sites are fragile and when they're gone, they are gone forever. There's no getting them back. They fade with time so they are slowly disappearing as I type this. We must do whatever is reasonable and necessary to preserve and document them. That includes never sharing location information on social media. I do my best to keep the location of these sites hidden.

But what about educating National Park visitors about rock art and the Native Americans who were here before us? What about cultivating a sense of awe and wonder about these unique cultural resources? Is that "popularizing" or simply educating? Is pretending that these sites don't exist and ignoring them the best way to protect them? I have no good answers, other than, to me, educating people about them while not publicizing their location seems like a good approach. So I've gone full circle in my thinking and come back to where I started: It's an impossible paradox. Oh, by the way, I guess this blog is not on the NPS radar. I've not been asked to take down photos of this site that I posted here. Check it out while you still can, but don't go looking for the site! And I think you will agree, there's nothing on my post that gives away site location.

So I'll stop blabbing and share some photos with you of a recent find. As far as I know, this site is not closed or sacred, although who knows? It's another site that I doubt the Park Service is even aware of. This location is exciting to me for a couple reasons. I just happened to stumble across it on my own, which always makes a site special (vs. someone telling you the location). But more importantly, this is east Joshua Tree. I post about this area all the time. It's my favorite part of the Park because it is so isolated and secluded. It also has almost no rock art! There's only one spot I know of (called Monolith Alcove) where anyone has found rock art in this entire area. So it's really special and significant to find something. 
A great day for a hike, with blue skies and enough clouds to make things interesting!


I spot this large, dome-shaped boulder off in the distance. It takes me off my planned track to the area I am hoping to explore, but it looks to good to pass up! As I get closer, I can see what appears to be two alcoves at the base. The alcove openings look a little like eyes, giving the formation the look of a big head or skull. Very cool!

Closer view

Closer still - profile view
Crawling inside one of the openings, you can actually see it's just one alcove with a partial rock "divider" in the middle.


The alcove is roomy, comfortable, and provides wonderful views. It would be a shady retreat in the summer, and an escape from the elements any time of year.

I take a moment to examine the walls, not expecting to find anything. I've probably climbed in nearly 100 alcoves in this area and never found any rock art, with just one exception. But to my near disbelief, I can make out some very faint pictographs!

Enhancing with dStretch, there's not doubt about it. Looking even closer, there might be some dark pictograph forms on the center right and lower right (small sunburst, perhaps?), along with the clearly visible red pictograph markings. The rock surface of the alcove looks significantly eroded. I'm guessing there was a lot more here many years ago.

I notice another faint pictograph. Can you see it?

Here it is highlighted a little using dStretch:
Looks like a yoni symbol. Not an abundance of pictographs, but finding anything in this area is very significant! In the very unlikely event you run across this site, please leave it exactly as you find it. Don't touch the walls of the alcove, and "take only pictures / leave only footprints". And here's a teaser. I still had time to continue exploring after finding this site. What I found later on this same hike is even more amazing. To be continued!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!!

46 comments:

  1. ...fabulous, but the first one stopped me in my tracks!

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  2. Hello, It is amazing the NPS found your Flickr images and told you to remove it. I guess some things deserve to remain sacred. I am glad you have been there to see it yourself and blog about these sites. Your photos are wonderful. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great weekend ahead.

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  3. It's hard isn't it? I share your grief and dilemma. You want to share with the world but there is always the nagging thought that maybe too much publicity about a place, a park, a discovery, even a state, will destroy it as it drives others to seek it out and maybe for the wrong reasons. I showed on my blog how the ancient ogham writings in my community had to be covered up to keep the vandals away. They were located in a place that was once rural and secluded but now close to a major highway and near trails. So much development is coming to the front range of Colorado and so much is being lost. I read how instagram is driving people to many places that attracted few people years before but now the "photos ops" has caused these places to cope with traffic, littering, vandalism, etc because of the increased publicity. One place in Colorado like that is Hanging Lake. It requires a hike to reach it's unusual beauty, and sadly vandals were destroying it as well as commercial interests that were ignoring rules to get their photos. The state now requires permits and limits the amount of visitors. But how do you tell someone that they can't visit a place? How do we hide the beauty of where we live because we don't want others to come to it? It's impossible! I really wish the public followed the "take only photos and leave only footprints rule," but sadly they don't. When the government closed down last year didn't Joshua Tree NP suffer vandalism of trees being cut down, etc? That was horrific to me! I love your blog and the areas you show and the petroglyphs you share. May readers would never see them otherwise! Please keep doug this but also please keep on keeping exact locations a secret. Maybe we can both keep encouraging people to respect our natural lands and those that came before us! Thanks for all you do!

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    1. Thank you, Pat. Your perspective and thoughts are helpful to me.

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  4. Incredibly beautiful pictures from an equally beautiful place and surroundings

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  5. I understand your feelings. First there are wonderful natural formations you explore and then you add ancient pictures. They need to be sheltered and preserved. I like that you don't share locations on social media. All we need is a bunch of tourists marching through delicate areas. I remember my first visit to the Valley of Fire outside Las Vegas back in the 80's. I was overwhelmed by the beauty and the ancient native writings on stone. Then I saw graffiti next to the ancient writings and I wanted to scream No!

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  6. Awesome, stunning area couple of words I can use to discribe the photos you took.Got to admit that is a great find in that alcove, not somethging you would find here

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  7. It is a dilemma, but funny thinking back over the short time I have followed this blog I always got the impression you were VERY respectful of the artifacts and inscriptions and drawings. I have been in awe how you found them.
    Always I enjoy your photography and envy your ability to find the past art work and formations. We are hoping next year to spend some time in the deserts.

    Always good stuff here.
    Sherry & jack

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  8. Major issues in Hawaii for sure! Our first people the Hawaiians are very Present and eager to protect living cultural and religious sights. You may have heard about the protectors of Maunakea.

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  9. Wonderful photos as usual, Peter! The sunburst over the rock is fantastic!

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  10. I think vandalism of sacred sites has been going on for a long time, even in the name of science. I visited an ancient Maori rock art site last year and great chunks had been hewn out of the rock face so the drawings could be placed in museums. This was done in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today there is a protective railing in place, but it is too late really. Sad.

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  11. Amazing place. Fantastic pics.
    Have a nice weekend.

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  12. I guess it is the eternal dilemma when sites of great historic importance and/or those that are sacred in nature are discovered. Does the public right to know trump the potential for abuse and degradation? Difficult moral questions to be sure. Big hugs for Lilly.

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  13. I'm sure it's amazing to find. It's great that you're taking pictures to preserve them for the future, and I'm glad you're not sharing exactly where you're finding them. I suppose NPS doesn't want people who would damage them to go looking.

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  14. Awesome finds in such gorgeous landscape. Thank you for not sharing where these are.

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  15. It is an impossible paradox and although I respect the Park service and realize that they have an impossible task but I don't think that they are the last word in how to protect things. For example I love Mormon Row in the Grand Tetons National Park and I have read how they refused to allow firetrucks to put out fires of some of the buildings there because they didn't want the sagebrush damaged.
    I respect your ethic of never giving site specific information but still posting photos. I also respect Native American's rights on keeping sacred sites secret. I think resolving everything is impossible.

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  16. I love going on your hikes and adventures with you. It is truely an amazing area with plenty of treasures. You have never to my knowledge told exactly where you were. In fact you make it a point not to release that information. And I think you are right in acknowledging the fact that the NPR probably doesn't even know some of the sights you find. Keep up the good work and enjoy
    MB

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  17. You do the right thing. You respect and protect what's there.

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  18. The pros and cons of a discovery. Then you must let your conscience speak.

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  19. Perfect choice for a first Photo! That Sunshine was glorious!

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  20. I noticed that even in the sky many of the clouds looked like feathers. I would say these are sacred grounds and should be protected. I am happy that you are exploring and going on adventures but if a million people started doing what you do all of this would be ruined. Agreed with S.C. leave it to your conscience. I leave today with a glorious feeling of AWE. The past is speaking to us through your discovery.

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  21. That first photo, with the sun-kissed rock and cloud formation, is just wonderful! What a thrill it must be to find the pictographs that have been hidden for so many years, to think about the people who made them so long ago and feel their presence. It’s commendable you make such effort to keep their locations a secret and surprising that the NPS has eyes and ears out to discover photos on Flicker.

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  22. What a great find!!
    These are amazing pictures.

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  23. Glad you brought up this conundrum. Me thinks that it's about the intent, whether it's education, or spilling the secret to make oneself known as a photographer. As far as I know you, it is not the last. Still hard to decide what should be done. There will always be people who are reckless and vandalize, instead of being respectful, but I also understand showing pieces of history! Awesome captures here, Peter. Have a great weekend!

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  24. So amazing to find pictographs! It is just fascinating to even think of it. The Big Head rock really seems a human head with eyes and everything...
    Have a great weekend!

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  25. Wow, another series of great pics !

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  26. Fabulous series again SPP, loved the views from the cave. I guess it's good that the National Park people are interested in doing the right thing but as you say if the public were more educated about the rock paintings that would be even better ✨

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  27. What a find for you and us ~It is quite a paradox ~ but glad you found this ~ Great photography as always ~ the rock formations are always intriguing to me ~ so different from the ocean where I live ~

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  28. We obviously have different scenery to you but the mantra is the same in some places as in there are sacred spots that people are meant to adhere too and respect but it doesn't always happen especially from the tourism industry. On the other hand if there is no signage how are people suppose to know?

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  29. I can completely relate to the paradox. We experience the same quandary every time we visit a national park or unique part of the wilderness. From a selfish point of view, we want to enjoy it, so what right do we have to prevent others from having that experience? But then, others can't have the same experience we've had if millions of people visiting it have transformed the site into something less than it was originally … We all need to continue to discuss this and look for solutions. In the meantime, we can enjoy your always-fabulous pictures. The first one is special beyond words!

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  30. Great find. Beautiful rock formations and clear blue sky.

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  31. I've been thinking of a response for a couple of days, because I have mixed feelings. It could the the desire of those for whom the site in question was sacred to not have any kind of warning signs. But I also wonder if the fact that the site was closed off by rocks is something that is usual for these types of sites - maybe it was sealed off that way for a reason? (I am just speculating). I agree there is nothing in your posts to indicate location and that you are always responsible in the way you explore. I love your posts but if you question if it is best not to blog about certain things you have found, I think I would say "follow your gut". There are some irresponsible folks out there, as we all know! It's a type of paradox but I think the side of "not telling" wins out for me. So sad that, in our world, that kind of choice must be made.

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    1. Thanks, Alana. I appreciate your response and I can tell you put a lot of thought into it. Following my gut is good advice. Now that I know this site is closed, I will not be visiting it in the future.

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  32. I understand what your saying...and I have to say I am a little perturbed/disturbed (not by you). As a historian, it is important to preserve artifacts/history etc. However, with that said, keeping things hidden from the public is not something I agree with. I think concessions can be made by all parties...I wonder, if you could reach out to the Native American tribe (s) that own the land. There is def. a story to be told. Face it, some stories are meant to be told and some not...I'll say it again, as historians one has to follow the story and sometimes the good is told, sometimes the not so good and sometimes the indifferent and sometimes folks just don't care to hear whatever (so I am finding out with my current project). Kudos to you for being brave to explore. By your photos, personally, you are preserving the history.

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  33. Without the location, their request is silly. National Geographic photographs this stuff all the time.
    Can't wait for the next bunch of photos.
    That big head looks just like a skull!

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  34. You blab all you want ... just keep posting your beauty

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  35. The pictures are, as always, stunning ... and a tiny bit eerie (those eyes following me). And your text certainly thought-provoking. I can sure see both sides of this argument. (Those darn gray areas in life are so hard on my brain.). In addition to the greater philosophical question, I’m somewhat boggled thinking about the NPS staff member whose job t is to troll Instagram ...... anyway, I’m grateful to have seen these remarkable pictures of East JT ... and sights I’d never see, even if you drew a detailed map. Thanks for the beauty and for making me think. Both much appreciated.

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  36. Beautiful rock formations! It is a real dilemma, trying to balance preservation and public access. My two visits to the Petrified Forest, quite a few years apart. Huge quantities of rock had been removed, maybe only a pebble or small stone at a time, changing the overall appearance. Also, Petroglyph National Monument has had some of its pictographs vandalized by graffiti. Low staffing levels leave them open to unsupervised visits. So sad.

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  37. First of all. Superb finds! And grrreat photographs!
    I think it's good to document these. No harm done when you're just sharing the sights. Thank you for that. I'm truly enjoying these posts. :)

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  38. It is a dilemma either way.

    Beautiful shots!

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  39. Great find. The thing is, that nowadays we can't trust people's common sense. Most of them just don't have it. I think it's a good way to share photos and say nothing about the exact place.
    Greetings from Poland.

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