Below is a grouping of pictures from a hunting camp high on a rocky ridge where ancient hunters made their mark and ambushed their prey.  Knowing the habits and traits of their prey was essential for a successful hunt and future survival.  Bighorn Sheep were adept at navigating high, steep, and rocky terrain, and when they were pursued, they would seek out the most inaccessible areas for safety.  Knowing this characteristic, ancient hunters had a chance to meet their challenge face to face and conquer the elusive Big Horn Sheep.

The petroglyphs below show abstract images as well as more defined images. Many books have been written as to their age and meaning. Interpretation can be left to your own imagination, but some are more obvious. I've seen several of these rock art sites throughout the Great Basin, the southwest and the deserts of California, but this is one of my favorites, as very few people have ever seen it or knows of it's existence.  So with that, I will stop rambling and let you enjoy the pics.

Because of the resolution and amount of the pictures, they may take a few moments to load.  Clicking in the lower right hand corner of each picture will give you an enlarged view.

Rock ring or house circle

Ancient hunting blind where a hunter would wait in ambush armed with Lake Mojave, Pinto Basin, Silver Lake or Humboldt tipped atlatl dart points

Big Horn sheep's view of hunting blind

View of hunter armed with atlatl waiting for prey

The elusive Big Horn

Grouping of images

Tally Marks?

An ancient hunters possible self portrayal?

Rare deer  image in the camp, notice the horns

Image of man and probably a lizard.  Lizards were a quick source of protein

Ancient hunting camp high on a rocky ridge

More tally marks?

View of a kill zone from another hunting blind right below the ridge

Sun or?

Sheep with nice horns

 Tarantula Spider?

Most experts believe the lines with circles and hooks at the end are definite atlatl images

Criss cross atlatl images

Possible Big Horn sheep victim heading for the spirit world. 

Great petroglyph of Big Horn sheep

The elusive prey

Narrow rocky ridge

Man, with lichen growth beginning to cover the image

Double finger loop atlatl

Long stick man petroglyph?

Another view of the hunt or kill zone

3 Big Horn Sheep

Shield of the clan motif?

Unusual petroglyph motif

Possible migration pattern or map to the camp where the lines meet.  The canyons correlate to the lines and the X marks the spot under the ridge where the camp is?

Lines or tally marks, these are probably much older than the rest

Possible centipede leaving his trail

Erosion has taken it's toll on Atlatl Man

Steep canyon slope under the ridge, easily navigated by Big Horn sheep

return to top

return to home

contact us