Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections. . This cultural site is commonly referred to as "Intestine Man and TV Sheep". The collection of styles and types of rock images found throughout Sevenmile Canyon indicate that as early as 7,000 years ago, multiple groups of people used these canyons and thrived on this landscape. These sites hold significance to modern indigenous peoples., The types of rock imagery you see at this site are known as pictographs and petroglyphs. Can you spot the difference? Images painted with natural pigments on the rock surface are pictographs; images pecked into the rock are petroglyphs. The imagery here was created during different time periods and represents a variety of styles that are associated with the ancestral Puebloan, Fremont, Ute, Paiute, and Navajo tribes., Pictographs , Can you find the image of three anthropomorphs, or human-like figures, painted on the rock? Look for two long, tapered figures positioned on either side of a more decorative pictograph in the center, which is often referred to as Intestine Man. The long lines within the center figure are how this panel got its nickname. Do you think they look like intestines?, Looking around the three anthropomorphs, you may identify other representations of the natural world. What do you see?, Petroglyphs , Peeking out from the large boulder on the right are three bighorn sheep petroglyphs with large, rectangular bodies. Behind the boulder, more pecked images can be found in the desert varnish, a natural rock discoloration of clay, iron, manganese, and microbial cultures. Bighorn sheep are often depicted in rock imagery in this region, where they were once abundant and hunted by indigenous groups., Could these images represent a successful hunt? Were they created to pass down knowledge of herd location and movement? While we can speculate on their meaning, it is impossible to fully understand the creator's intent without considering the cultural upbringing, world perspective, and values that they and their modern descendants have safeguarded for countless generations., Visit with Respect , Preserve this valuable part of American history for future generations. Thank you for visiting these sites with respect and learning about the legacy and heritage of the indigenous people still present in the southwest today., Don't Touch Rock Imagery or Make Your Own , Vandalism of petroglyphs and pictographs erases the stories of ancient people and destroys the experience for future visitors., Leave All Artifacts Where You Find Them , Do not remove artifacts. Allow the next person to share the experience. It is illegal to move or take any artifacts, including historic trash, from public lands. Vandalism of petroglyphs and pictographs erases the stories of ancient people and destroys the experience for future visitors. Natural oils on our skin can damage these fragile cultural resources., Teach Kids Respect , Cultural sites are not playgrounds. Keep a close eye on children so that they don't get hurt or accidentally damage the site. Pets should be leashed when visiting cultural sites., For more information, contact: BLM Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab UT 84532 435-259-2100, [email protected] blm.gov/office/moab-field-office, Report crimes against resources: 800-637-9152, Created in partnership with the Utah Department of Transportation. UDOT