Moab Area Rock Art XI | Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Solar Snake 2011 by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I’ve been anticipating the Summer Solstice for much of the year so that I could visit the Solstice Snake petroglyph. For about two minutes on the Summer Solstice a dagger of light shaped like an arrowhead appears on the head of this very large and well executed petroglyph of a snake. I wanted to be there to get a photo of the sun interaction and am glad that the weather cooperated. It was an amazing experience!
This is the photo I had been planning on taking for months. In the end I think it turned out pretty well.
Solstice Snake by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Of course, while I was in the Moab area I went out searching for some new rock art, too. Here’s a new panel of petroglyphs I came across. They are very faded, but there’s a lot going on if you look closely.
Faded Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A closer look at the previous panel.
Faded Designs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A Barrier Canyon Style anthropomorphic figure found along the Colorado River.
Colorado River BCS by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This Barrier Canyon Style anthropomorph found high up in a shallow alcove looks like a turtle to me.
Turtle Man Up Close by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I also made a return visit to the Golf Course Panel for a few photos close to sunset.
Transparent Anthropomorph by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The well-known Moab Man petroglyph found on the Golf Course Panel.
Moab Man by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
On my way home I made a short detour into the Book Cliffs. Over the weekend when I was hiking with Philippe, he mentioned that he had gone to visit the Robidoux Panel when he first arrived in Utah and found that it was now broken. I wanted to see just how bad the damage was for myself.
Time Takes it’s Toll by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I last visited this panel on December 18, 2010 and it was still in one piece then. Here’s a photo I took that day.
My Last Robidoux Photo by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr