Rock imagery conveys loud and urgent messages across millennia and annually draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to hear what these sites have to say.
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The Moab region is home to some of the most significant archaeological sites and national parks in North America and the Birthing Rock petroglyphs are located in territory belonging to the Anasazi, Fremont, and Ute cultures. The images are based on celestial observations and decorated with animal and human figures. Although there is no reliable dating technique for rock art void of organic matter, archaeologists have dated the panel’s artwork to around 1,000 years ago.
A panel of the Birthing Rock rock art in Moab, Utah, prior to its defacement with racist and obscene carvings. (I.M. Stile/
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According to Inter Mountain Legal, under Utah law “those convicted of painting graffiti may be ordered to pay restitution for any damage caused or to remove the offending graffiti at their own expense.” “Vandalism” is called “criminal mischief” under Utah law and it can be graded in court anywhere from a Class B misdemeanor for less than $500 in damage to a second-degre
The petroglyph wall known as the Birthing Rock was vandalised with several obscenities Jody Patterson
An ancient petroglyph panel known as the Birthing Rock in Moab, Utah, has been defaced with the words “white power” and other obscenities, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced this week. The vandalism follows another recent incident in the region in which a rock climber from Colorado damaged an ancient petroglyph panel known as the Sunshine Wall near Arches National Park by installing climbing bolts on and around the rock art.
The BLM is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for defacing the panel and are still investigating the previous incident. “We are working with professional conservators to remove the offensive graffiti,” the BLM said in a statement. “To prevent further damage, please do not attempt to clean or remove the graffiti.”
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