Hints on How We Do It:

Books, Reference Materials,

and Other Stuff

Over the years we have had numerous requests for hints on how we locate some of our rock art sites.  A portion of our information comes from the viewers of our web sites with the stipulation that I not reveal the location of the sites that they give me, and others come from contacts within the archaeological community.  The majority of sites, however, come from a lot of leg work and a whole bunch of research that anyone with the desire can do.

Please note that the information below deals with the greater Southern Nevada area.  The information may not be applicable to the area where you live.

A few ideas to get you started

Organized Groups:

One of the easiest ways to get involved in rock art is with an avocational group such as  American Rock Art Research Association  .  This group and other similar groups will many times have tours of various rock art sites in their local areas.  Joining an avocational group in your local area is one way to get an introduction to rock art and to meet other people with similar interests.  Other groups such as off-roading and rock hound clubs can also be of great value.

Researching the Internet:

As everyone knows, there is a wealth of information out on the Internet.  Once you find a web site of interest, email the person that runs the web site.  As an example, I get a fair amount of emails every week and I answer all of them.  Sometimes I can not give out the information that some people want, but many times I can be of assistance.  My favorite saying that I inherited from my wife is,  "If you don't ask, you don't get".

For those of you that are not "search engine" savvy, use combination of words beyond the obvious (petroglyphs, southwest, rock art), which will work, but take it one step further with things like: "petroglyphs Nevada trails", or "rock art Nevada trips" or "back country byways".  Bottom line, think outside of the box -- as the old saying goes.

Libraries:

Don't overlook libraries; they can be your best friend -- especially university libraries.  I have a good friend who is a researcher in another state and he occasionally comes up with gold mines of information on Southern Nevada, which for the price of a bagel he gives me.

Maps and Books: Click on the links at the bottom of this page

Two of the things that I use a lot are topographic maps (the CD versions) and books.  Topographic maps will occasionally have "public rock art sites" listed on them.  When I was doing research for our web sites, I was told by a Nevada archaeologist that "many times public rock art sites are listed on older topo maps" and yes, there are a few on them on the Topo's in Nevada.

There are many good reference books available.  The ones that I own are listed on the links below.  If you live in the greater Southern Nevada area, I highly recommend them.  The books in combination with topo maps, internet research, networking, avocational groups, and libraries, plus a lot of just plain "old fashioned leg work" in the field, may lead you to a new rock art site that is seldom seen or has never been seen by others.

Last hints are for the field:

• Watch for critters and other harmful things that can do damage to your body.  Please take time to check out our "Desert Survival page"  on this web site.

• When you are in the field, don't assume anything.  You probably have read or been told certain things dealing with rock art, such as, it is always on big flat vertical rock; it is only on certain colored rocks; it never occurs above a certain height in this canyon; it is never this or that.  Keep an open mind or you will miss a lot, I can almost guarantee that.

• When you are walking any area, be sure to stop every once in a while and look back.  Many times I have walked right by some really great stuff and if I had not turned around, I would have missed an incredible panel.

• Not only look up at the sides of a canyon / wash, but look down as well.  Many times rock art is almost buried because of the rising levels of silt and debris in a wash.

• Don't assume that the petroglyphs are going to be on just one side of the rocks.  Check all sides including the tops, especially if you can't see the top from your level.

• Check alcoves and under ledges.

• Many times have I heard "Rock art only faces east to the rising sun".  A lot of it does, but that leaves the rest of it facing any darn way the creator of the petroglyphs wanted it to face.  Don't forget -- sometimes rocks do fall and won't be in their original locations, and when they do, who knows which way the petroglyphs will be facing.

• Try to imagine why someone would be in that area.  Unless the area is sacred - which could be anywhere - remember that people a 1,000 years ago needed the same things that we need today to live (minus Starbucks, cell phones, and SUV's): water, food, and shelter.  Keep those things in mind when doing your research or when in the field. 

Other Things:

• Do not walk, stand, climb on, or touch any rock art -- especially pictographs.

• Do not chalk or place any substance on the petroglyphs or pictographs.

• Do not remove any archaeological material from any site.  The fines and jail times are simply not worth it.

• Please report any damage observed at a site to the BLM or responsible agency.

• If you come across rock art in a remote area and you feel that it may not have been seen before, take the time to take photos and record the GPS coordinates.  Report it to the BLM or other responsible agency; if it is a new site, you may get a chance to name it and that is pretty cool.  Then if you want, you can always email me because I would love to see it!

 

If you need to find me, send e-mail to: