Many things can be said about protecting Nevada's Rock Art and other historic resources. In order to appreciate it enough to protect it, we feel the right to see it--whether by photos, books, websites, media coverage or actual site viewing--is very important.
Public awareness of the actual locations of historic sites makes them vulnerable to site damage and vandalism. This is the main reason why Nevada Places. Com shares pictures with interested viewers but does not give out petroglyph locations or site names. We have seen a lot of needless destruction.
What can we do to protect our historic heritage?
1. Love, look and leave. Don't touch, disturb, damage, excavate or remove anything from the site location.
Adopt as your own the comprehensive " ROCK ART SITE ETIQUETTE " list used with permission by URARA.
2. Organize and be active participants of local groups to promote awareness and appreciation of Nevada's heritage.
3. Join excellent organizations such as:
Protecting Nevada's Historic Resources
Modern graffiti written over ancient rock art. River Site, Horse Shoe Area.
Pictographs scribbled and scratched over.
A few examples of site damage:
Recent target practice.
Aggressive digging for artifacts is commonly found at sites.
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
Quoted with permission from a recent article in URARA's informative monthly newsletter VESTIGES titled "ETHICS Part III," August 2004, Volume 24, Number 8, written by Steven Manning:
"We are visiting irreplaceable treasures of inestimable value and only a few people come close to realizing it. Rock art is not like a scenic feature, like a rock formation or a tree, that if destroyed only results in its singular loss. If rock art is destroyed so is knowledge about our ancestors and information about a way of life we know very little about, and who knows if that one destroyed panel may have held the key to unlocking some of the secrets."
This page was last updated: August 20, 2006
To safeguard against vandalism, the names of the featured rock art (petroglyph & pictograph) sites have been changed and the locations omitted.
Copyright 2006 NevadaPlaces.Com
