Death Valley Rock Art

A forum that'll feed your need for exploring the limitless adventure possibilities found in "other" places. Post trip reports or ask questions about outdoor adventures beyond the Sierra Nevada here.
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TahoeJeff
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Death Valley Rock Art

Post by TahoeJeff »

Yeah the super blooms are cool; seen a couple. But in some ways this is even more spectacular.


Here is a canyon WAYYYYY away off the beaten path:


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Up on the walls are the thousands of years old petroglyphs:


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This is at the very top:

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Who made them? What do they mean/represent? Why here?

I don't think these questions will ever be answered....
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Jason
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by Jason »

Very cool! My wife and I love checking out stuff like that. Imagine going back in time and watching that person outline their hand.
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maverick
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by maverick »

Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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rightstar76
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by rightstar76 »

Thanks Maverick! Lots of links to explore.

Other HSTrs into anthropology, archaeology: any articles, books to explain these incredible drawings?
Last edited by rightstar76 on Sat Aug 17, 2019 3:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
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freestone
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by freestone »

rightstar76 wrote: Tue Feb 26, 2019 12:52 pm
Other HSTrs into anthropology, archaeology: any articles, books to explain these incredible drawings?
I'm currently reading The Land of Little Rain by Mary Austin and she mentions the Mojave petroglyphs in her book written early in the 20th century. She said even the Shoshone of that era did not know the meaning.
Short cuts make long delays. JRR Tolkien
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rightstar76
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by rightstar76 »

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Last edited by rightstar76 on Sat Aug 17, 2019 3:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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AlmostThere
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by AlmostThere »

You should run those through dStretch, an app to bring out the paints they used. If you want I can dl one and do that for you to show you how it works.
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TahoeJeff
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by TahoeJeff »

AlmostThere wrote: Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:16 am You should run those through dStretch, an app to bring out the paints they used. If you want I can dl one and do that for you to show you how it works.
That would be great! But as far as I could tell, the glyphs were created by hammering or chiseling the rock. I don't think any pigment was used.
"A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both."

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bobby49
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by bobby49 »

There are two distinct categories of rock art. One chips the rock surface, and it is particularly effective where a dark "desert varnish" is on the surface. Chipping exposes a lighter rock. The other category uses pigments applied on top of the rock surface, but it won't last as long.
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AlmostThere
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Re: Death Valley Rock Art

Post by AlmostThere »

I think that even when it's a petroglyph the iDStretch software does make details pop a little.
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