‘Irreplaceable,’ prehistoric petroglyphs vandalized in Utah

A pair of historically and culturally significant petroglyphs were recently vandalized on public land, according to the Bureau of Land Management’s Utah office.

Petroglyphs are windows into the lives of humans hundreds or thousands of years ago, according to the National Park Service. The prehistoric rock carvings were made by people chiseling directly into the rock surface. Once they are damaged, they cannot be restored to their original condition, officials said.

The vandalism occurred along Highway 279 and near the Hell’s Revenge Trail, the Bureau of Land Management announced Friday. Both instances involved vandals scratching names into the historic rock faces.

These irreplaceable cultural resources are protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act,” BLM said. “Vandalism or unauthorized disturbance of archaeological resources is a serious federal offense and can result in significant fines, imprisonment, and/or exclusion from public lands.”

The petroglyphs are considered cultural resources. The carvings connected people’s everyday lives with the natural and spiritual worlds, according to the National Park Service. Officials ask that visitors respect these historical sites and help to protect and preserve them for future generations.

“They featured anthropomorphic figures, animals, and design motifs,” the NPS said. “While the images may appear familiar, their meanings remain a mystery. Clues about their meaning come from their setting and archeological remains or ethnographic evidence, including stories and traditions passed through generations. When visiting petroglyphs and pictographs, please treat them with as much respect as you would any home or religious site.”

Anyone with information that could help identify the people responsible for the vandalism is asked to contact Moab BLM Law Enforcement at (435) 259-2131.

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