Thursday, February 25, 2021

White Orb Pictograph Site

 When a friend of mine from the blogosphere asked if I would be willing to show him the White Orb picto site, I was all in! GS is someone with a HUGE background in desert exploring, and someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for. It's been over a year since my last visit, and this particular site is rich in cultural artifacts. I had that feeling that there was more to find and see.

I'm keeping the location of this site a secret. Please know that none of the  landscape shots were taken near the cultural site.

Off we went. It turned out to be a perfect day. Very comfortable temperatures along with blue sky with scattered clouds.
 
I always like the way the desert looks in B&W!



Bla bla bla... looks like a giant mouth to me!

East Siberia? I think we are seriously lost!!

Ah, that's better. May be not as lost as I thought. GS finds a large pottery sherd, so we must be getting close. It includes a nice curve and rim section. Very cool find! By the way, on previous visits, I didn't find any pottery sherds. On this visit, between GS and I, we found about five without really looking too hard.
 
I "discovered" this site on my first visit while looking for the White Orbs. There are a few pictos on the rock wall just above the big boulder that GS is resting his arms on.
Color enhanced using Dstretch.

Color enhanced using Dstretch.

But the real surprise is what's BEHIND the boulder in an area so small that it's almost impossible for an adult to squeeze in...
What appears to be small finger and handprints (Color enhanced using Dstretch)
I called this site "children's cave" because I can't imagine anyone other than a child being able to squeeze into this space and leave these small handprint pictographs.
 
As we continue searching for the White Orbs, GS finds this beautiful little projectile point. This really made my day! I've never found an arrowhead before in all my hikes and visits to cultural sites. This might be a good time to mention that, as always, the point, pottery sherds, and anything else we find is left exactly as we find it.
 
I set the point on my backpack in order to better see the detail.

We eventually come across a second pictograph site. This one is really interesting.
I used Dstretch to enhance the color. There are many pictos in the area! GS has Dstretch loaded on his iPhone, so it makes it easier to identify faded pictos. Here's the one he is photographing:
A sunburst within a sunburst. Very interesting and unusual!

Nearby is this net motif, which is more commonly seen.

Finally, we come across the hollow rock we are looking for.
To see what's inside requires you to get down on all fours and belly-crawl into the cave. Sand in my boots, sand in my pants, sand everywhere... but oh so worth it!
 
This combination image shows the unedited photo (top) of the White Orbs and the color enhanced (Dstretch) version on the bottom. Both the pictograph itself and also the white pigment make this truly unique! It's interesting that two of the four visible orbs have red pigment on the inside border, and the one on the far right has a cross motif branching off one side. The meaning and significance of this unique pictograph has been lost to time.
 


The above three photos (color enhanced using Dstretch) are additional pictographs found on the inside walls of the White Orbs cave. A fascinating cultural site!
 
After crawling out from under the rock, dusting myself off, and emptying the sand out of my pockets, I discover this beautiful tenaja, which looks like it could hold water for a number of weeks after a rain. It's likely an important water hole for the locals.

 
Do you notice anything weird about this photo (I mean, besides the dude with the grey beard)?? Out in the middle of nowhere, and not near any trail or road, this wood appears to have been cut with a saw. Very odd! (Photo credit GS)
 
I'm always amazed by how birds can perch on sharp pointy things in the desert and not be bothered!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by.
Stay safe and stay healthy!!




40 comments:

  1. Those pictographs looks like they were made by children. You know like when kids drawing on wallpaper. That´s why they´re so difficult to decode. :)

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  2. Amazing to think those pictographs are still there after how many hundreds of years. wonderful find that arrowhead and the photo were superb as ever

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  3. I like those pictographs. How old are they ? Once again an extraordinary and fascinatng serie of pictures

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  4. ...what a great place to explore, it like going back in time. Your images are beautiful in color and black and white. Thanks for the tour, take care.

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  5. I'm running out of adjectives for your adventures, amazing, wonderful, and all that. I need more words. What a find. And I am impressed by how hard one must work to get access to the rock art. Makes me think that there may be more rock art hidden by sanded over entrances. And the arrow point is wonderful as well. I have seen Native American's demonstrating making similar points with flint, such simple but practiced work resulted in some very sharp poins.

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  6. beautiful pictures as always - glad u r keeping the site safe by not sharing location.

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  7. Wow, what a great site. It's amazing how many of those you have found.

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  8. That arrowhead is a great find indeed.

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  9. Wow! I am impressed and great shots of a very special place ~ (definitely keep it a secret) Happy Weekend to YOu ~ ^_^

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  10. Wonderful photos and interesting paintings.

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  11. Always enjoy the hike. Amazing views and shots. Great work. What a tour.
    Sherry & jack in NC.

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  12. Many signs of former dwellers here. Exciting and worth the trip. That arrow head is beautiful! You are right, wood sawn with a saw is odd here! Any suggestions? Have a great weekend, Jesh

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  13. It's good that you find these thing--- for yourself, and because you will always protect what you find.

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  14. Beautiful photos from the cave!
    They are really amazing.

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  15. A wonderfull world explored again with great care and finds.

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  16. Very exciting! When the glaciers here in Norway melt, as a result of climate change, hunting gear from the time before the glaciers were formed appears. It's quite exciting!

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  17. Dearest Peter,
    That was a very rewarding trip and fun pictographs spotted and well captured.
    The big mouth, to us looks more like a mushroom...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  18. Those "cut logs" are all over the place. My understanding is that laborers of mines would scour the desert for usable beams and bring them back to the mines. I've found them behind my cabin. Nice pictographs. The sunbursts and baskets seem common.

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  19. Wow … you truly are an explorer. Great finds! All markings are fascinating but particularly the ones found on a human hand!

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  20. The original artists, I think, would be super pleased. :-)

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  21. So great! Thanks to both of you for sharing . When you said that was no doubt an important watering hole for the locals , I know you meant wildlife, but I thought about the ‘locals’ who made the pictographs! And how they too would have been dependent on such water sources.

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  22. Hi there, I tried leaving a comment earlier via the mobile but for some reason it didn't 'take'. The desert scenes you've captured are spectacular and those pictographs are very unique and unusual. I wonder what the orbs signify? I know there is a lot of speculation about the meaning but it would be good to really know the answer. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  23. Agreed. The desert always looks good using black and white format also. Happy you take pictures of things you find and put them back where you found them. Awesome images!

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  24. You have such alot of history there! I think that mouth rock reminds me of a mushroom.

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  25. What a treasure trove of pictographs SPP, very exciting discoveries and another spectacular series of images for us to enjoy ✨

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  26. Beautiful views of the desert and sky. Great pictograph finds. I like the bird too! Great series! Enjoy your weekend!

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  27. Amazing!

    Beautiful!

    How wonderful to have something, which enhances the colors, so you can more fully see them!

    Thank you for taking me here, where I would never be able to go.

    📕 📗 📚 📙 📘

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  28. The desert does look even more spectacular in your B&W photos, Rick. How amazing that you and GS were able to discover so many pictographs and like others I also wondered as to their age. It's also nice that you were sure to point out that after photographing your "finds" you left them in place, as not everyone would do that. And, also nice that you are keeping the location(s) "secret" as you know there would be those who would go in search and some who would not be as considerate in leaving things as found. The large rock formation reminded me of a couple of things, a mushroom was one of those.

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  29. Lots to like about this post, especially the arrowhead! So grateful we get to experience these pictos through your adventures!!

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  30. I can understand you well, once the instinct to discover is awakened then you have so much fun with the thing and when you discover such beautiful things ... a very nice and special day, with great photos
    thanks for the translator
    stay healthy
    Greetings Frank

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  31. What a treat! I love my virtual outings here.

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  32. Another amazing trip. I think I like the sunburst pictograph the best, it was most unusual with the centrepiece. The arrowhead was cool too. And, dare I say it, I think your giant mouth rock looks more like a phallic symbol LOL. Take care, Mxx

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  33. Wow - really beautiful photos. The enhances pictos are truly amazing. I love all the colors in the enhanced versions. I especially love the B&W desert photo. It belongs in a gallery. Looking forward to your next outing!

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  34. Thanks for taking me along!

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