Rock Art Site Etiquette
adapted from URARA
Rock Art Site Etiquette
All groups and individuals who visit rock art sites need to realize that any visit may endanger the rock art. This is much more than, "Don't touch the rock art!" A rock art site is not just glyphs on the rocks; it includes the glyphs, the rocks and cliffs, and the surrounding area. To start to understand the rock art, you have to consider the whole site. For researchers and individuals to appreciate a site, the glyphs and the surroundings should be as they were when the panel was made, or as close as posssible.
Mr. Clay Johnson wrote the following list after many years of studying rock art and rock art sites.
1. Minimize the number of vehicles going to the site. Stay on existing roads. Do not pioneer vehicle trails or parking areas.
2. Do not camp or build fires within one quarter mile of rock art.
3. Do not disturb lithics, firepits, rock arrangements or other artifacts and site features.
4. At rock art sites, stay on trails where they exist. Do not disturb rocks, vegetation or microbiotic soil crusts.
5. Do not climb or disturb rocks in chimmneys, slots or gaps in the rock cliffs in the rock art sites.
6. Do not hike or climb above rock art panels.
7. Do not touch in any way the rock art or the cliffs within 100 feet of rock art.
8. Where possible, stay at least 10 feet from the rock art.
9. Do not attempt to remove graffiti, chalking, lichen or bird droppings from rock art.
10. Do not apply any substance including liquid, powder, plastic, cloth, paper or even strong floodlight to or over rock art.
11. Do not allow pets, children or careless associates to behave improperly around rock art.
12. Follow the rules of the site landowner or public land manager where they are more restrictive than above.
If some of the above seem overly restrictive due to--site location, rock type, salvage status or other factors--remember the essence of etiquette and ethics is to behave better than strictly necessary.
Use binoculars to study and telephoto lens or free hand sketches to record panels and panel details. Study the panel as an integral part of the site.
Be constantly aware of the effects of your actions and others at rock art sites. Make your behavior a model. Speak out when needed to prevent damage to rock art.
Take time to appreciate the beauty of the site surrounding the rock art. Look at the mountains and canyons, the water, the plants and the wildlife. Listen to native sounds. Feel the sun and the wind. Sit still until the birds come out and the lizards climb your leg. Take time to appreciate the intricacy and detail of each rock art panel itself rather than trying to see the maximum number of panels. Don't interpret the panel, just sit quietly and watch. Give the rocks time to speak to you.
Copyrighted URARA 1997 (Used with permission)
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
