Parowan in Iron County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Great Migration

The Story of a Great Journey Told by The Southern Paiutes

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 31, 2025

1. The Great Migration Marker

Inscription. The petroglyph before you tells the story of the migration from old world to new. It depicts a long trail on which many experienced famine, drought, water crossings, cold, ice, and hot sun. The panel also talks of a great Leader. When the people arrived in this new land, conflict arose and the Leader was killed. The arrow inside his head, which touches the top of his head, indicates he knew he would die. The full petroglyph depicts the Leader. He is shown only as a head and body (no arms) and upside down to indicate that he died.

Archaeoastronomy Perspective
What is archaeoastronomy It's a field of study that explores how ancient cultures understood and related to astronomical events, such at the movements of sun, moon, and stars. From 1990-2000, archaeo-astronomer Nowell ("Nal") Morris and archaeologist V. Garth Norman studied Parowan Gap and its petroglyphs.

Morris and Norman believe that, when American Indians came to this site, they found that the Gap's geological features offered a means to chart seasonal celestial movements. They theorize that the petroglyphs record this astronomical knowledge.

Topics.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 37° 54.566′ N, 112° 59.092′ W. Marker is in Parowan, Utah, in Iron County. It can be reached from West Gap Road. Marker is located along the sideway leading from the Parawon Gap parking lot to the petroglyphs. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: W Gap Road, Parowan UT 84761, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Color Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Paiute Perspective (here, next to this marker); Parowan Gap Petroglyphs (a few steps from this marker); Hopi Perspective (a few steps from this marker); Art or Language? / How These Images Were Made

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 31, 2025

2. The Great Migration Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Southern Utah Expedition of 1849 (within shouting distance of this marker); Long-Ago Artisans (within shouting distance of this marker); Settlement of Parowan Valley (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Spanish National Historic Trail (approx. 7.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parowan.

Nearby Petroglyph Panel depicted and described in the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 31, 2025

3. Nearby Petroglyph Panel depicted and described in the Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 9, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.