November 10, 2012

Back in Time

The morning after our outlaw ride, we travel back in time, down Horseshoe Canyon, through which Barrier Creek flows.  The 3000 year old pictographs found in the canyon represent a unique style.  Archeologists called this Barrier style because of the expansive panels of rock art found along this creek.  
Here's a view looking into the canyon from a Phillips Petroleum Company road built in the 1920's.  The "road" on the east side of the canyon is washed out in places and is now only passable on foot or horseback.
Golden cottonwood leaves are in their glory.   
Imagine living in this canyon in 1000 B.C. . There is year round supply of water in the canyon, even today.  Hunting must have been good around these clear pools.  The women and children would have harvested Indian rice grass seeds, sunflower seeds, and berries. 
This panel of rock art is known as The Great Gallery.  Some of the figures appear to be battling each other, so perhaps the era was not entirely peaceful. 
The above photo provides size perspective.
Did these ancient people celebrate Halloween?  I see at least one spooky figure. 
Here's another panel of pictographs.  No doubt a careful observer would find much more rock art in this canyon.

Who are these desperadoes?  They appear to be on the run.  (Actually, Mischief got bored with photography and wandered off toward the water hole.  I had to go fetch him.) 

20 comments:

  1. The pictographs are in amazing condition! Yep, one of those figures does indeed look spooky! And the reflection of the cottonwoods in the creek is very nice. Too bad Mischief wasn't impressed with all the picture taking. ;)

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  2. Janie, These are wonderful photos - I felt like I was with you. The yellow cottonwoods are gorgeous. I especially like the photo of tiny you off to the side - it shows size perspective so well. Don't you wonder what some of these figures represent. I'm glad they're high on the wall, so it's harder to deface them. Snowing a little in Denver and (hopefully) a lot in Breck!

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  3. Such beauty and the ancient art work is amazing

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  4. These pictographs are amazing! They remind me of the photos I've seen at Shamans Gallery out towards Toroweap. I could handle living there. Your header shot is Awesome with the pool reflecting the golden aspen.

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  5. I'm glad Mischief didn't wander too far. The pictographs are fantastic, even if they do include a spooky figure or two. The cottonwoods are gorgeous.

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  6. Hi Janie, I was absolutely blown away by this post. It felt like I was transported into a time 1000 years ago in that beautiful canyon. I just love the pictographs which are in such a good condition. Thanks for sharing. *Sigh* I don't want to come back to the present, LOL! Hugs Jo

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  7. What a fascinating place and history. I enjoyed it...

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  8. What a great find. Such mystery people to us.

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  9. Wow---neat canyon. We saw a really neat canyon this past week in North Carolina... It was the Linville Canyon --but we didn't (or couldn't) hike down to the bottom.

    Next on my list of things to see now that I've seen the blooming Aspens --is to see the Cottonwoods... Gorgeous!!!!!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  10. The Great Gallery is amazing and I am always in awe of that beautiful scenery out there.

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  11. Those yellow cottonwoods are amazing. I've seen a little native art near Mesa Verde but nothing like what you've pictured here.

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  12. the Barrier Reef is about the most famous of our local panels. You got some wonderful pictures of it.

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  13. The pictographs always amaze me...so cool to see the size comparison too.
    I see Mischief has a deserving name! Thank you for sharing.
    Xo

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  14. Excellent pictures. I especially like the cottonwoods showing off their fall color.

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  15. Its amazing what lies off the beaten path. Those cottonwood leaves are like a beautiful ray of sunshine.
    Seeing the pictographs are like stepping back in time.

    Thanks for sharing the beauty and history, Janie.

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  16. A very interesting post. I love the water reflection of the cottonwoods! and the pictographs are wonderful. I hope no one damages them in the future.

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  17. What a great place! It looks like the pictographs are pretty secluded, thank goodness, so people will leave them alone.

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  18. this entry makes me crazzzy jealous!! (but i love it!) . I love lvoe petroglyphs, and these are beautiful. Is this BLM land? Did you hear about the horrible thing happened near Bishop, CA recently? Some lovely people destroyed a bunch of petroglyphs, really devastating. But back to your post- awesome photos, looks like a perfect day!!

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  19. Those are quite some views! I like the one of you, Mischief, and Boss overlooking the road in the canyon. The view of the cottonwood trees in the picture below it reminds me a little of Canyon de Chelly. Really beautiful reflection you captured in the water. Wow! Pictographs are always interesting to view. That's quite a few in just one area.

    Sorry for not commenting sooner. I thought you hadn't been posting to the blog as your posts have not been coming up in my reader. :-( Any possibility you would consider adding a 'sign up for e-mail' widget on your blog? I would be sure to see them that way. :-)

    Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    Lindy

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