Authorities in Utah are on the lookout for the individuals responsible for installing climbing bolts into an ancient outdoor engraving created by Native Americans nearly a thousand years ago. The bolts, typically used by climbers to secure ropes on rock faces, were found at the Pregnant Sheep Petroglyph Panel in northeastern Utah during early November, as reported by NBC News.
The Uintah County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the public for assistance in identifying the vandals involved in the incident. In a statement released to the community, the office disclosed that on November 10th, 2024, climbing bolts had been discovered embedded in the petroglyph panel. The federal Bureau of Land Management’s law enforcement division is urging individuals with any pertinent information to come forward regarding the perpetrators.
Positioned near Highway 40’s Musket Shot Springs Overlook, approximately 11 miles away from the Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado, the petroglyph panel’s precise age remains uncertain. Similar engravings in various parts of Utah have been dated back to 1100 A.D., according to the Natural History Museum of Utah. While the extent of the damage to the site is not fully known, the petroglyphs are safeguarded by both state and federal regulations, including the Archeological Resource Protection Act, as noted by NBC affiliate KSL in Salt Lake City.
Elizabeth Hora, the state archaeologist for the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, emphasized the physical harm caused by scratching the rock surface during such vandalism. She explained that the visual impact often results from the release of dust particles, which can be removed, but the actual rock cannot be replaced once removed. Moreover, the act of defacing the drawings with bolts is deemed disrespectful to the indigenous communities of the state, who hold these works in reverence.
Autumn Gillard, the cultural resource manager for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, underscored the cultural significance of the petroglyphs to tribal members. She drew a parallel between the vandalism of these sites and desecration of religious spaces, highlighting the emotional impact on the tribal community. Gillard equated the intrusive act to defacing a temple or other religious structure, indicating a profound lack of respect for the indigenous peoples’ beliefs and heritage.
Individuals possessing any relevant information are encouraged to contact BLM law enforcement at 800-722-3998 or 801-539-4099.
