Visiting the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel in Utah gives a vivid glimpse into the deep historical past of the area. Nestled throughout the rugged panorama of the San Rafael Swell, this exceptional rock artwork website options putting pictographs created by early inhabitants in the course of the Archaic Interval (8000 to 2000 BC), in addition to by the Fremont tradition, who lived within the space from roughly 300 to 1300 AD. The panel showcases an array of stylized human figures, warriors, and summary symbols painted in wealthy reds and earthy hues. Although time and fashionable vandalism have taken their toll, the photographs stay a strong testomony to the religious and cultural lifetime of the individuals who as soon as thrived on this desert expanse. The Temple Mountain Panel is a incredible roadside cease when visiting Goblin Valley State Park, Hanksville, or Inexperienced River, and solely requires a couple of ft of strolling to get pleasure from.
Visiting the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel
I lately spent a few days again within the Muddy Creek Wilderness, absorbing the solitude with some day hikes and tenting alongside Behind the Reef Street—one in every of my favourite spots for dispersed tenting within the Swell. After climbing by way of Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons within the afternoon, I made a decision to swing by a favourite roadside cease: the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel. Because it’s proper alongside the path to my campsite for the night time, it made for an ideal detour earlier than settling in and setting myself up for an early morning hike by way of Crack Canyon.
The signed parking space sits simply off Temple Mountain Street, which additionally leads towards Goblin Valley State Park and different areas within the Swell branching off from UT-24.
With parking for a couple of dozen autos, the lot not often fills.
A split-rail fence retains guests about 100 ft again from the pictographs, however even from that distance, they’re straightforward to identify and admire.
Stretching about 30 ft throughout, the panel options an array of figures—each human and animal—in addition to handprints and summary designs. A few of the most putting pictures embrace a towering human-like determine holding a snake, one other determine that seems to be carrying a toddler (its small head peeking over the taller one’s again), and, off to the left, an eerie anthropomorphic head paying homage to these seen in Sego Canyon.
The bigger anthropomorphic depictions share a putting resemblance to the Barrier Canyon Fashion pictographs discovered within the Nice Gallery of close by Horseshoe Canyon, which all the time makes me marvel—might the identical arms have created each? It’s in all probability unlikely, however it’s a enjoyable thought to entertain.
Additional down the rock face, the place a big part of sandstone has damaged away, stands a Fremont-era depiction of a warrior subsequent to a different determine, now principally erased by erosion. Sadly, the warrior picture, like different sections of the panel, have been marred with bullet holes through the years.
It’s all the time a fast cease—this time simply 10 minutes or so—however even in that quick go to, I’m reminded why I preserve coming again. There’s a quiet energy to the panel, and I all the time go away with questions. What else as soon as adorned this wall? What tales have been misplaced to the weather? And most of all—what was the artist attempting to say? Some solutions, I am sure, we’ll by no means really know.
