After security clearances and a spectacular 45 mile drive within the base, we arrived at Little Petroglyph Canyon, just a small sliver of the Coso Rock Art District, but the only section open to the public.
Then followed six hours of hiking, boulder scrambling, awe and wonder. It really felt a privilege to be there.
The petroglyphs were made by chipping, pecking, and scraping away the rocks' patina, exposing the lighter colour underneath. No-one really knows who made them, or when. Some depict tools that can be dated historically: the atlatl (spear thrower) from 3000 years ago, and the bow and arrow from 1500 years ago. The images seem to span many thousands of years; in some cases new petroglyphs partially obscure much older ones.
Some symbols are obvious: bighorn sheep ..
... shamen ...
... hunters ...
... while others remain obscure.
The weather couldn't have been better: warm but not hot, breezy but not windy.
We happily wore ourselves out, then made the long drive back home.
For more petroglyphy goodness, check out the entire flickr set.
1 comment:
'quite the collection!
When there, did you wonder to yourself, "Gee, I wonder if the writers knew their work would be viewed and treasured some 3000 years later?" That's an amazing thought, isn't it?
Without surfing the 'net to find the answer, I am curious why only US citizens can visit the area....
'so glad you were with such interesting people during that visit. Good on them....
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