Guidelines For Preserving Rock Art
- First and foremost, DO NOT Touch. Even a small amount of the oils from our hands can erode petroglyphs & pictographs and destroy the patina (color) of the carved, pecked or painter image. Any interaction with the surface may interfere with dating efforts.
- DO NOT try to make rubbings or molds from petroglyphs. (Take a picture instead!)
- DO NOT introduce any foreign substance to enhance the carved, pecked or painted images for photographic or drawing purposes.
- When climbing among the rocks be careful, making sure that you do not dislodge loose stones that may cause damage to the petroglyph & pictograph boulders. Falling rocks may scratch the carved and pecked images causing unintentional damage.
- NEVER re-arrange the rocks or move things from where you find them. The petroglyphs & pictographs are important individually and in relation to each other. To even try and understand a petroglyph or pictograph it needs to be viewed in relation to its environment: including the adjacent image(s), the entire basalt escarpment, and the surrounding landscape.
- DO NOT add your own marks to the images. The introduction of graffiti destroys the petrographs & pictographs and is disrespectful to contemporary Native Americans and their ancestors.
- Beware of vandalism or collection (stealing) of petroglyphs. It is against the law! Report violators to either local law enforcement agencies, BLM or a National Parks & Recreation office.
- Behave in a manner of respect for the sacred or magical lands that the petroglphs adorn. Many of these places held special meanings for those that carved them. It may be that it was a holy place of worship for those early inhabitants. For all we know of some petroglyph sites, they may still be places used for outdoor worship.
By all means, hike out in the desert and enjoy these free galleries, but do so responsibly. Exercise extreme cautions when viewing and photographing petroglyphs. Whenever you stumble upon a treasure trove of artistic history, try to think of it as your own private viewing. Take the time to revel in its history. Try to place yourself there, perhaps a thousand years ago, leaving a message for some future generation.
