Black Dragon Wash is about 30 miles west of Green River, Utah at the eastern edge of the San Rafael Swell. The canyon is named for a pictograph that appears to depict a dragon, although the dragon figure was painted in dark-red, not black. There are a number of other Archaic, Fremont and Barrier style figures as well, one of which resembles a dog.
Very intriguing is the large number of "counting" figures. One theory is that these may be part of an ancient calendar system. We may never know.
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The Black Dragon |
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Black Dragon Canyon pictograph panels |
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A praying dog? |
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Black Dragon Canyon pictograph panels |
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Larger-than-life Barrier style figures at Black Dragon Canyon |
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Black Dragon Canyon pictograph panels |
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Rochester Creek and the Moore Cutoff Road
The Rochester Creek Panel is south of Ferron, Utah. There is a massive petroglyph panel (the Rainbow panel) here, along with several smaller panels. There are a wide variety of human, plant and animal figures, some of which are more than a little strange. Including one that looks like a horned alligator, another that looks like a warthog or hippopotamus - and some sexually explicit images.
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Rainbow petroglyph panel at Rochester Creek |
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Rainbow petroglyph panel at Rochester Creek |
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Rochester Creek petroglyphs |
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The origin of these panels are not definitively known - some think they're of Fremont origin, others think Barrier culture. In any case, there are a number of unique figures here.
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Rochester Creek petroglyphs |
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Rainbow petroglyph panel at Rochester Creek |
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Rochester Creek petroglyphs |
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The Moore Cutoff Road petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks are north of I70. The petroglyphs consist of several very large snakes, among others. There is a clear line of dinosaur tracks across a nearby rock face.
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Moore Cutoff Road snake petroglyphs |
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Moore Cutoff Road snake petroglyph |
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Moore Cutoff Road dinosaur tracks |
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Buckhorn Wash/Cottonwood Wash
The Buckhorn Wash pictograph panel is north of I-70 along the Cottonwood Wash Road.
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Buckhorn Wash pictographs |
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These pictographs are Barrier Canyon-style and well over 2,000 years old. They were probably painted using fingers or brushes made from animal fur or grasses. The pigment was a mixture of powdered hematite and a carrier which may have been animal fat, eggs, urine, blood or some other fluid which would allow the pigment to sink into the sandstone.
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The Alcove Paintings - the artist used the curve of the rock to frame his work |
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Buckhorn Wash pictographs |
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Note the number of snakes in these figures. The snake is a common component of ancient art all across America for all cultures and all time periods. Also notice the holes in the chests of many of the anthropomorphic figures. The holes were intentionally pecked - but who did it? When? Why?
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Barrier style |
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Buckhorn Wash pictographs |
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This site, like many others, was seriously damaged by vandalism in the past. Much of the damage was repaired (as much as it's possible to do so) in 1995. But there are also natural elements that conspire to erase these works of art - wind, water and ice, in particular.
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Barrier style pictographs |
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Buckhorn Wash pictographs |
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Fremont style petroglyph |
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Several miles beyond the pictograph panel there are also some petroglyph panels.
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Buckhorn Wash petroglyphs |
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And a half-mile further is a massive dinosaur track on a sandstone ledge above the road.
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Buckhorn Wash petroglyphs |
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Buckhorn Wash dinosaur track |
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Buckhorn Wash petroglyphs |
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Head of Sinbad and Lone Warrior Pictographs
The Head of Sinbad site is located several miles north of I-70, but access involves a roundabout (and confusing) 20-mile unpaved route that crosses I-70 via a soft sand road through a culvert. Four-wheel drive might be a good idea - a high-clearance vehicle certainly is. The site is in an alcove in a sandstone bluff (see photo below). Ghost Rock is one of the landmarks.
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Ghost Rock |
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Sandy road to Head of Sinbad pictographs |
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Head of Sinbad pictographs |
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Head of Sinbad consists of two groups of Barrier style figures painted with dark red pigment. The pictographs are at least 3,000 years old and have been featured in National Geographic. Click on the photos to see the fine details - the small birds, snakes and other figures that surround the larger figures.
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Head of Sinbad Barrier style pictographs |
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The Lone Warrior is in the same area as the Head of Sinbad. It consists of a lone figure with a shield and a faint petroglyph panel close to the ground.
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Lone Warrior petroglyph |
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Lone Warrior pictograph |
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