This particular site is one that's been on my list for quite a while. It's not hard to get to, and I'll attempt to keep it anonymous by throwing in a few photos that have nothing to do with the rock art location. You know the drill!
The location information I had was approximate as well as vague. It sounded like any rock art in the area would be challenging to find and possibly spread out over a relatively large area. So let's go take a look and see if we can find anything!
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| A gorgeous day to be searching for rock art! |
This is one of those areas that felt "friendly" and "welcoming". I know, that sounds strange, but I don't know how else to explain it. I was hiking alone, so human interaction had nothing to do with my feelings. But something here made me feel happy and positive. Likewise, I've been in areas that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Bad vibes. Something bad must have happened in the past, and I'm anxious to move on. How do these feelings get transmitted? That' a big mystery, but when hiking alone in remote areas, the feelings can be very strong. This place had good juju.
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| Finding a pottery sherd is a good sign that there may be other artifacts in the area. |
After some searching, I found this interesting petroglyph. It reminds me of a spreadsheet!
Close to spreadsheet petroglyph is a second petroglyph. This one reminds me of a cluster of grapes. I don't mean to make light of these petroglyphs. They were likely very significant, perhaps even sacred, to the Native Americans that made them.
Not too far away I found a third petroglyph.
It's a rake or comb design, which is a fairly common petroglyph (and also pictograph). This one is notable for its prominent location high up on a boulder, as if shouting out "look at me!" Again, the exact meaning of these petroglyphs has been lost to time.
I searched high and low through the areas boulders, but found nothing else. I've seen photos of additional rock art reported to be in this area, but try as I might, I couldn't find it. That's OK. I felt fortunate to find what I did, and I couldn't ask for a better day for a hike!
I'll leave you with a handful of my favorite photos from this hike. The skies turned out to be very dramatic, and that always enhances the desert landscape.
Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Trails!
...fabulous my friend. The blue skies and clouds are gorgeous and the sub rays are out of this world. I just read that over on Maui that an area with petroglyph was used as a target range for paintball idiots! Thanks for taking me along again.
ReplyDeleteThe Native American Ute tribe that lived in my part of Colorado had definite places they would not go, usually if there had been a large loss of life from a prior conflict, so maybe that was what you were feeling? The petroglyphs you saw were very interesting! I am amazed the elements have not worn them away. WE have petroglyphs on some red rocks near our foothills but the area is remote in a descending rock canyon that is full of rattlesnakes--a big deterrent!
ReplyDeleteGood and interesting hike. The sun going behind the rock really did it for me they were stunning
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sky.
ReplyDeleteDearest Peter,
ReplyDeleteYou indeed managed to make dramatic photos with those skies!
Glad you found lots of interesting things to capture.
Hugs,
Mariette
incredible skies during your walk
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful contrast between sky and landscape.
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was a lovely hike. At least you found some petroglyphs. Amazing that one was out in the open like that.
ReplyDeleteinteresting find
ReplyDeleteYou really are a courageous man! Hiking alone... : ) You took beautiful pictures, as usual!
ReplyDeleteStunning photos
ReplyDeleteI love those rays of light @ #11&12. Tripod and smallest possible aperature? Lil bit of lens flare but not too much. After all you´re aiming strait into sun. Do you have L-series lens or what? Hi from your "Camera Cousin" in Finland! :)
ReplyDeleteNo tripod, but yes, smallest possible aperture. I'm guilty of overusing the effect, but practice makes perfect, right?
Delete👍
DeleteYour starburst pictures always enchants me. The clouds add lot of drama to desert landscape!
ReplyDeleteIt's the 10th picture that is my favorite, but all are fine. The one rock formation at the beginning looks like a friendly whale to me....
ReplyDeleteWishing you beauty, safety, and Good vibes
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day!
Gorgeous photos, love the rock formations and the skies! Take care, have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteNice finds and some dramatic colors in your photo's. As always a pleasure to look at.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about some areas have positive vibes and others seem scary. I've learned to trust those feelings.
ReplyDeleteGreat rock art that you found. Kudos to you for keeping the place anonymous.
It's amazing to me that these art artifacts have lasted.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to wonder if you've ever taken a bad shot in your life. Thanks once again for a lovely and informative post.
ReplyDeleteI understand about places that have good juju. I hope you find more "treasures" on your hikes.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
gorgeous images. glad you found those petroglyphs.
ReplyDeleteI like the prickly pear plant standing alone doing it's thing, any idea how old the pottery shard is?
ReplyDeleteI love looking for rock art as you call it and which it is of course. The sky is so beautiful too
ReplyDeleteMB
I would trust that gut feeling! I had an interesting experience once when viewing an art installation (an extensive feeling of dread, so much so that I thought of leaving the exhibit), and it turned out (once I read an explanatory placard) that some material had been taken from the site of a European terrorist attack. It was intentional, to illustrate a point the artist was trying to make). But your pictures, as usual, ranged from wonderful to "wow".
ReplyDeleteHow exciting it must be to see those petroglyphs! Beautiful captures all.
ReplyDeleteWonder what that spreadsheet petroglyph means ...Oh, I know what you mean, it's not only the visible world that counts, but the invisible world and history definitely counts in what we feel at certain places! Can't remember if I wrote that I changed my username from Jeshie to Emille? What all we do to keep our blog going!! Have a good one:)
ReplyDeleteYou were blessed with some wonderful skies for those photographs, with the kind of clarity we seldom see here. The petroglyphs are as enigmatic as ever.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous photos! Bet you enjoyed your hike as much as clicking those photographs.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about having a negative feeling of a place. Beautiful scenery and sky photos in this post. Interesting petroglyphs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by at my art blog. It was quite a while since I visited you also as I don´t post much skies nowadays. A couple of weeks ago I painted one rockart from New Zeeland and thought I might do some more. There are many countries that has them.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the feelings. I have them to. Some places can be disturbing, others are welcoming. I think only sensitive people can feel it.
Beautiful cloud formations. My favorite is the one cactus reaching up to the cloud. It is a wonderful piece.
As always, incredible shots. Blue skies are nice, but clouds add so much texture. My favorite shot is the fourth one!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent rock art and sky photos ~ Xo
ReplyDeleteLiving in the moment,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
pps ~ delay in comment due to illness
So exciting to find the petroglyphs but honestly SPP, every shot you take in Joshua National park is a work of art to me 💜
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind!! Thanks so much.
DeleteGreetings and Salutations! I listen to bad and good vibes also. Incredible images.
ReplyDeleteYou make everything look friendly and inviting . . . (and, always beautiful.)
ReplyDelete