Utah organization dedicated to 'preservation and understanding' of Native rock markings

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Representatives from the Utah Rock Art Research Association (URARA) gave a presentation at Page Public Library on Aug. 23 about vandalism to ancient Native American markings and what can be done to prevent it.  

The lecture, sponsored by the Glen Canyon Conservancy, was presented by Diana and Steve Acerson, volunteers with the URARA, which was founded 40 years ago. 

The term “rock art” is controversial, since Native Americans do not consider such images as art but rather as a way for the ancients to communicate with each other, document events and chronicle the past for future generations. Scientists have determined that petroglyphs (“pecked” into the rock) and pictographs (painted on a rock surface) in Utah can date back as much as 8,000 or 9,000 years. 

With the increase in outdoor recreation since the COVID pandemic, the association has noted an increase in damage to ancient Native American images. And it’s not just visitors and tourists who are doing the damage – some locals are also damaging the records with activities like target shooting with firearms, paintballs, painting on the images, scratching, cutting, carving, using chemicals, fire and other forms of defacement.  

Harm can also come from being rubbed by a person’s body, as both skin and clothing damages them. The images can be damaged when stepped on or when people try to “improve” the image to make it easier to see.

The result is the destruction of records that humans left behind thousands of years ago.  

Many people think that rangers from public land agencies are always on hand to stop the damage. Sadly, with continued budget cuts to the land management agency staff, there aren’t enough eyes and ears out there to stop or even reduce the amount of damage being done to this human heritage.  

Volunteer organizations such as the URARA have stepped in to help, in partnership with land management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service.

Other participants in these efforts include Tread Lightly and other outdoor recreation groups, Friends of Cedar Mesa, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, local communities, politicians, military conservation groups, archaeologists, anthropologists, geologists, educators, law enforcement, and Native tribes such as the Navajo, Hopi, Ute, Piute and Goshute.  

Some wonder what would cause a person to damage these ancient images. For some, perhaps it’s ignorance about their importance and significance. For others, it might be arrogance or even the desire to “leave a mark” instead of just observing and enjoying.

Others may think there are so many of these images in the American Southwest and elsewhere that it wouldn’t matter if some were damaged or even cut and chipped from the rock. Children often don’t know better and may have been taught poor outdoor behavior by the adults in their lives.  

Why is it important to protect these ancient images? Failing to protect them would be akin to setting fire to a library. Utah’s state art form is rock art. Various Native American tribes hold these sites as sacred to their cultural beliefs. Many visitors haven’t seen images like them before and are amazed by them. Local businesses benefit when visitors stay longer to see them.

How can people protect these treasures? The first thing is to practice respectful and proper outdoor etiquette and teach others how to behave around these images. Those who show friends and other family members should remind them to be respectful and careful around them. With increased tourism, guides can explain the importance of protecting them and remind them that it is against the law to damage them. The easiest thing to remember is to take nothing but photos, don’t touch them and leave them as they were found.

Another good reason to leave the ancient images alone is that they are protected by the Archeological Resources Protection Act, which forbids anyone from altering, damaging, excavating or removing archeological resources from federal and Native land without a permit from the land management agency.

The law also forbids the sale, purchase, exchange, transport and receipt of archeological resources. Violations can result in fines and prison, with resources confiscated. If a person sees damage or sees someone damaging a site, they should call (800) 722-3998 or local law enforcement.

URARA is a non-political, non-confrontational, nonprofit organization whose aim is “to lead in the preservation and understanding of the value of rock art. To encourage the appreciation and enjoyment of rock art sites. To assist in the study, presentation and publication of rock art research.”  

The educational program is geared for communities, area families, visitors and anyone who uses public lands, including children, who will learn and pass on respect for the traces left by our ancestors.  

Anyone can become a member of URARA by visiting urara.wildapricot.org/join-us or the main website at utahrockart.org.

For more information about the Glen Canyon Conservancy and future events, visit canyonconservancy.org.